Sukoon Sessions is a live performance series at Nabala Café modeled after NPR’s Tiny Desk—small, intimate, high-quality performances designed to uplift local Black and Brown artists in an intentional community setting. “Sukoon” means stillness in Arabic, and the series creates a space where art, culture, and presence come together in a grounded and accessible way.

Each session features a carefully curated artist performing in a stripped-down, close-knit environment that centers storytelling, musicality, and connection. Unlike large venues, Sukoon Sessions are intentionally small, allowing audiences to engage deeply with artists and their work. Performances will be recorded and shared online, expanding visibility for participating artists while keeping the in-person experience intimate and meaningful.

The project is open to the public and rooted in collaboration. We will partner with local cultural workers, organizers, and creative networks in Uptown and across Chicago to identify artists whose voices deserve amplification. Sukoon Sessions creates a platform for emerging and established Black and Brown artists to build audience, strengthen networks, and share narratives often underrepresented in mainstream spaces.

In a neighborhood experiencing rapid change and displacement, Sukoon Sessions strengthens community through art. It offers a consistent, welcoming third space where creativity is honored, local talent is celebrated, and culture is experienced up close.

Sukoon Sessions is ambitious in impact yet simple in format—intimate performances, powerful storytelling, and real connection. It’s about making space for artists to be seen and heard, and for community to gather with intention.