Santa Barbara Black Culture House Returns In February 2024

Five years since its inception, the Santa Barbara Black Culture House returns for in-person programs for Black History Month (February) 2024. The Black Culture House, a pop-up space with a wide range of cultural events celebrating Black art, culture, history, and life will be hosted at Soul Bites Restaurant, 423 State Street on February 3, 4, 10, 17, 18, 24, and 25. All events are open to all members of the community and are FREE. Soul Bites opens at noon and events start at 1PM.

“February 2023 was our most successful edition to date,” says Darrell M. McNeill, who, with his wife and partner, Sally A. Foxen-McNeill, is co-founder, co-executive producer, and co-curator of Black Culture House, “We packed the house every weekend, and everyone was so positive. We’re building and I feel we’re going to do even better this year.”

Santa Barbara Black Culture House returns to Soul Bites Restaurant, serving elevated soul food, at 423 State Street. The restaurant is owned and managed by Stirling and Rose Nix-Bradley. “Stirling and Rose are not only invaluable partners to Culture House,” says McNeill, “but they are invaluable to the Santa Barbara arts community as a whole for opening their space, especially for those on the grassroots level. There’s not much bandwidth in town for what we do.”

The Santa Barbara Black Culture House 2024 will present the following programs:

• Saturday, February 3, 1pm – Video concert: “BRC Orchestra Performs Sly & The Family Stone’s ‘There’s A Riot Goin’ On…’” An archived performance by the BRC Orchestra—the repertory company of the Black Rock Coalition—of Sly Stone’s dark masterpiece, “There’s A Riot Goin’ On” performed at New York’s Brooklyn Academy of Music. Hosted by writer Miles Marshall Lewis and intro by Carmen Dixon of Black Lives Matter, NY.
• Sunday, February 4, 1PM – Interview with Greg Williams, founder of the band Switch: A pre-taped interview with Greg Williams, musician, composer, and producer, shares his experiences leading Switch, one of Motown’s last hitmaking bands, and mentoring pop superstars, DeBarge.
• Sunday, February 10, 1pm – Poetry jam featuring The Obsidian Scholars: Organized by Gateway Educational Services, Obsidian Scholars is a haven for Black students—grades 4 through 9—from Santa Barbara County, exposing them to Black history, art, community, and civic engagement. They will share their original poetry, in fond memory of Santa Barbara poet laureate, activist, and local institution, Sojourner Kincaid Rolle.
• Saturday, February 17, 1pm – Book discussion: ‘The Isley Brothers: 3+3’, by Darrell M. McNeill. Musician, producer, writer, and Culture House co-founder, Darrell McNeill discusses his new book “The Isley Brothers: 3+3,” part of the “33 1/3″ series on essential albums in pop music. He’ll read excerpts and be in conversation with Aaron Jones, Director of the UCSB Educational Opportunity Program.
• Sunday, February 18, 1pm – Live electronic music with Leah King. Musician, composer, vocalist, writer, artist, curator, dancer, educator, podcaster and creative coach Leah King will perform her latest original, eclectic solo works.
• Saturday, February 24, 1pm – Live jazz/funk with The Funky Neighbors. Contemporary instrumental trio from Los Angeles, featuring bassist Stevie Martin, keyboardist Damon Wilson, and drummer Terrence Huggins.
• Sunday, February 25, 1pm – Live theatrical reading by The Robey Theatre Company of Richard Wesley’s “The Talented Tenth.” After a successful month-long run at The Los Angeles Theatre Center, The Robey Company will perform a live reading of Mr. Wesley’s play about the conflicts of race, class, material success, cultural obligation, identity, and the quest for internal affirmation while navigating external expectation.

The 2024 edition of Santa Barbara Black Culture House will be hosted at Soul Bites Restaurant, at 423 State Street.  Doors open at noon, events begin at 1pm. All events are all ages and FREE to the general public (Some events may contain sensitive subjects—parental discretion is advised). Santa Barbara Black Culture House is sponsored by the Black Rock Coalition and made possible by a Towbes Fund For The Performing Arts grant through The Santa Barbara Foundation.

For more information, email Darrell McNeill and Sally Foxen-McNeill at SBBlackCultureHouse@gmail.com and follow “Santa Barbara Black Culture House” on Facebook, Instagram, and X (Twitter).