Sound Stage 2026
Friday, August 21st 2026
8:00pm
Tickets $23.93 (including fees)
Curated by Cyrus Aaron
with Featured Artists Briana Swann and Jamie Owens
SOUND STAGE is a live performance campaign that supports independent artists and promotes the need for community spaces. Annually, we select at least six performance artists, regardless of career status, to take center stage for a live concert at our 89-seat theater in the East Village. Artists are financially compensated for the live performance, and receive tech support, promotional materials, and archival performance footage.
Briana Swann
Growing up in the church and immersed in a wide spectrum of musical traditions, vocalist Briana Swann infuses every performance with warmth, depth, and soul. Her artistry transcends genre, weaving together the legacies of some of the world’s greatest singers and songwriters while showcasing her own unique voice. A rising presence on the New York jazz scene, Briana has graced premier stages including Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Joe’s Pub, and The Jazz Club at Aman New York. Beyond her work as a performer, she is also an actor and writer, bringing an interpretive sensitivity that lifts lyrics off the page and ushers the spirit of the music to the forefront. With every song, Briana creates a space where storytelling, emotion, and artistry meet.
Jamie Owens
Jamie Owens is a New York-based R&B vocalist whose artistry is anchored in the soul-stirring traditions of gospel, jazz, and contemporary rhythm and blues. Renowned for an evocative vocal prowess and an emotionally resonant stage presence, Jamie has graced iconic global stages, including the legendary Apollo Theater, Blue Note (New York & Tokyo), Le Poisson Rouge, and the Brooklyn Academy of Music.
Beyond solo performances at cultural landmarks like Café Wha? and Ginny’s Supper Club, Jamie has toured and collaborated with acclaimed jazz visionary Abiah, establishing a reputation as a sophisticated collaborator within New York’s elite jazz and independent music circles. Jamie’s versatile career also spans national television appearances on Sesame Street and a standout turn as a finalist in the Coca-Cola True Talent Search at the Apollo.
Whether commanding an intimate listening room or a world-renowned theater, Jamie delivers a profound sonic experience marked by warmth, technical depth, and a magnetic connection to the audience. It is an artistry that honors the bedrock of Black music while carving out a soulful, contemporary space that is entirely Jamie’s own.