Overview
With a voice that can “boom like a cannon,” JUNO Award winner Jully Black headlines this year’s KUUMBA Festival, bringing her trademark groove, soul and R&B sounds that have made her a platinum-selling recording artist and one of the CBC’s “25 Greatest Singers Ever.” Reminiscent of R&B royalty Whitney Houston and Mary J. Blige, Jully Black has torn up the stages alongside legendary performers Alicia Keys, Elton John and Celine Dion, including songwriting collaborations with Destiny’s Child and Kardinal Offishall. Bringing her own style of music rooted in her Jamaican heritage and Canadian R&B, audiences can expect a clutch of her Canadian Top 40 singles and popular songs, like “Rally’n,” “Seven Day Fool” and “Sweat of Your Brow,” including new tracks from her latest album, Three Rocks and a Slingshot.
The concert will be opened by up-and-coming R&B songstress Aqyila whose soulful melodies lead to musical enchantment.
Presented by TD Bank Group through the TD Ready Commitment.
About Jully Black
Juno award-winning singer and Canada’s Walk of Fame inductee Jully Black has been recognized as a visionary, trailblazer, truth-teller and Canadian Icon. She has written songs for and collaborated with industry heavyweights like Nas, Destiny’s Child and Ian Thornley (Big Wreck) to name a few. Black has shared stages with the likes of Alicia Keys, Kanye West, Elton John, Celine Dion and Jesse Reyez.
The platinum-selling recording artist, named one of the 25 Greatest Canadian Singers Ever, is also a talented actress, entrepreneur, motivational speaker and fitness leader whose philanthropic work has taken her around the world. Her wildly successful 360 health and wellness programs and her charity The Jully Black Family Foundation are a part of her ongoing mission to “help people love themselves a little bit more each and every day.”
About Aqyila
Toronto-based vocalist and songwriter Aqyila started writing songs in her bedroom and self-released her first single, “Vibe for Me (Bob for Me),” which gained over 1 million streams within a month. Following the success of the song, she then partnered with Sony Music Canada in 2021 and received a JUNO nomination for Contemporary R&B Recording of the Year. Landing on notable Spotify playlists such as Teen Beats, Mood Ring, It’s A Bop and TikTok’s 100 All-Time Top Tracks Chart, Aqyila has garnered more than 10 million streams on Spotify worldwide and over three million creation posts on TikTok backed by notable artists such as Bebe Rexha, Lizzo and Monica. Now, she’s back and better than ever, kicking off with her first track, “Pressure,” from her debut EP released in January 2023.
Dates & Times
February 17
6:30pm – Doors Open
7:30pm – 9pm