Meklit Hadero is an Ethiopian-American vocalist, songwriter, and composer, known for her electric stage presence, innovative sound and vibrant cultural activism. This exciting and exclusive performance in Hampton Roads will feature works from her latest album, released March 8, 2024: Ethio-Blue.

Meklit’s Ethio-Jazz performances have taken her to renowned stages across 4 continents. Her albums have topped world music charts across the US + Europe, received rave reviews, and been covered extensively by the press. Meklit has collaborated with renowned artists such as Kronos Quartet, Andrew Bird, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and the late creator of funk music, Pee Wee Ellis.

Meklit is a National Geographic Explorer, a TED Senior Fellow, and a former Artist-in-Residence at Harvard University, and former Chief of Program at the famous Yerba Buena Arts Center in Sand Francisco.  She is the co-founder of the Nile Project, a featured voice in UN Women’s theme song and the winner of the 2021 globalFEST Artist Award. Her music has been featured by the New York Times, BBC, CNN, NPR, Washington Post, Vibe Magazine, San Francisco Chronicle, Boston Globe and many more.

Meklit is co-founder, co-producer and host of Movement, a podcast, radio series , live performance series and community building initiative uplifting the stories, songs and cultural power of immigrant musicians. The show airs monthly on PRX’s The World to an audience of 2.5 million listeners.  Season 2 of Movement launches July 16, 2024, wherever you get your podcasts.

“There is a raw beauty about Ethiopian vocalist and songwriter Meklit. Her voracious musical appetite is always evident, and she manages to honor her heritage while remaining fiercely original.” – JAZZ TIMES

*Reserve your free seats before they run out: https://culture.virginiabeach.gov/710/1017

Learn more about Meklit (rhymes with beat)

Art that pushes the envelope is taking over The Z this April. The Z Fringe Festival showcases unique creative works in a weekend of adventurous theater and performance art. Featuring exciting, self-produced works on two Z stages. #MeetMeAtTheZ to celebrate art that makes a statement! 

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The Z Fringe Festival, April 4-6, 2025 is 3 days of self-produced, performance-based works in the Main Stage and Studio with ticket proceeds for each show going back to the producing artist. Performance submissions are open to works of any genre (and across-genres… and totally beyond genre categorization…) that have a viewpoint, that tell a story, and/or showcases of short works with a connecting theme – including Works In Progress.  Visual Art submissions are open to works in any media, including craft vendors.

The Z Fringe 2025 producers: Terry Flint, Moriah Joy, Jason Kypros, and Akin Ritchie

2 full weekends of creativity are back at The Z! 

Showcases of music, comedy, theater, kid’s entertainment, open mics, a silent auction, and interactive art projects take over our block of Town Center this October in the don’t-miss event of the season! Come see what The Z is all about-there’s no arts fest like Proteus!

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GET YOUR ALL-ACCESS PASS TO GET TICKETS TO ALL EVENTS

Meet me at The Z for the FREE Proteus Block Party! Showcases of music, comedy, theater, kid’s entertainment, open mics, and interactive art projects take over Town Center this October in the don’t-miss free event of the season! Come see what The Z is all about-there’s no arts fest like Proteus!

• Main Stage:
  • 3:30 Kids Comedy
  • Video reels
• Studio:
  • 4:15 & 5:15 Children’s Theatre of Hampton Roads
  • 4:45 Z PLaywright’s Lab
  • 8:00 PM Plan B Comedy Show
• Lobby & Terrace:
  • GSA Art
  • CTHR mingle
  • Games
  • Vendor tables
• Plaza Stage:
  • 3:30-5:30 Rotation of Open Mic performers
  • 5:30 Festival Awards
  • 6:00 Headliner Performance
• VIEW THE FULL PROTEUS LINEUP

The Proteus Festival Music Contest is for emerging and early-career musical artists!

See performances from our five finalists at Proteus Festival, and watch as a winner is crowned by a panel of music industry professionals. The grand prize is a headlining concert in the Live at The Z Music Series and a recording package in The Z’s recording studio.

The Vocal Jazz Summit is an annual conference designed to bring together jazz enthusiasts, emerging and established artists, industry leaders, and the greater jazz community to connect and engage one another in celebration of the artform, present unique educational experiences, and provide an environment to nurture and grow the jazz community. The weekend will engage festival-goers with live performance, interactive workshops and masterclasses, and networking opportunities.

Featuring:

• Samara Joy
• Stephanie Nakasian
• säje

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