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April 24-26, 2026

Word of South

Keyon Harrold

Keyon Harrold

Keyon Harrold is a GRAMMY® nominated trumpeter, vocalist, composer, and producer whose music defies boundaries. A genre-fluid innovator, he blends jazz, hip-hop, R&B, blues, andcinematic soul into a signature sound that is both raw and refined—emotional and electrifying. With a career anchored in versatility and excellence, Harrold has emerged as one of the mostcompelling voices […]

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Kevin Powers

Kevin Powers

Kevin Powers was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia. Since publishing his first novel, The Yellow Birds, in 2012, his books have been translated into more than a dozen languages. He has been a finalist for the National Book Award and a recipient of the PEN/Hemingway Award, the Guardian First Book Award, the Prix Littéraire […]

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Kevin Moffett

Kevin Moffett

Kevin Moffett is the author of two collections of short stories, as well as The Silent History, a collaborative novel that first debuted as a serialized digital narrative for mobile devices, about which The New York Times wrote, “This fascinating project manages to feel relentlessly thoughtful and new.” His most recent novel, Only Son, published […]

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Kevin Bales

Kevin Bales

Kevin Bales’ career started at the University of North Florida in a budding if little-known jazz program. He met and performed with, and went on to record and tour with, a number ofmonumental artists who had settled into the burgeoning North Florida jazz scene. Giants like Wynton Marsalis, Louie Bellson, Eddie Daniels, James Moody, Ben […]

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José A. Serrano

Jose Serrano

José A. Serrano is an accomplished upright and electric bassist whose artistry bridges Jazz, Latin, and classical traditions. Raised in Venezuela and now based in Tallahassee, José holds classical training and a Master’s Degree in Jazz Performance from Florida State University. He has performed with the FSU Jazz Ensemble alongside Monti Alexander in a PBS-broadcast […]

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Jordan Smart

Jordan Smart

Jordan Smart is a Kentucky based folk singer-songwriter known best for his raw delivery of heartfelt songs ranging from achingly personal to intensely topical and satirical protest. Inspired by the likes of John Prine, Malvina Reynolds, Phil Ochs, Barbara Dane, Woody Guthrie and many others, Smart crafts thoughtful lyrics heavily saturated with a deep sense […]

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Jim Rugg

Jim Rugg

Jim Rugg is an Eisner and Ignatz Award winning cartoonist, designer, zinemaker, and illustrator. His books include Alien Disclosure, Hulk Grand Design, Street Angel, the PLAIN Janes, Conspiracy Comics, True Crime Comics, 1986 zine, BW, Afrodisiac, Adults Only, Supermag, Octobriana 1976, and Rambo 3.5. He is the co-creator of YouTube’s Cartoonist Kayfabe channel. He is […]

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Harvey Street

Harvey Street

Harvey Street blends indie and alt-rock sensibilities with grace, carving a powerful new groove into contemporary music. Described as “disciplined electricity,” the band is best known for their energetic live experience. In addition to four headline tours, the band has supported notable acts such as Flipturn, Moon Taxi, Futurebirds, The Stews, Arcy Drive, Daniel Donato, […]

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Gareth Pearson

Gareth Pearson

Gareth Pearson is referred to as “The Welsh Tornado” which is particularly appropriate, seeing as this special talent combines fingerstyle pyrotechnics, with explosive lead runs making Pearson one of the most exciting acoustic musicians gigging today. Gareth has a distinctive style that can be heard through his creative and innovative arrangements which cover a wide […]

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Frank X. Walker

Multidisciplinary artist, Frank X Walker is Professor in the department of English and Creative Writing at the University of Kentucky. A Cave Canem Fellow and co-founder of the Affrilachian Poets, he is the author of thirteen collections of poetry including Load In Nine Times, winner of the 2025 Pen/Voelcker Award for Poetry and Turn Me […]

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