Terrance Simien, Photo by Jake SpringfieldZydeco music’s Terrance Simien and Step Afrika! percussive dance are the latest artists announced by the Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center.
The 2026-2027 season will mark 30 years of unforgettable performances at the Alys Stephens Center, which is part of the University of Alabama at Birmingham Center for the Arts. The season will kick off this fall.
Tickets are on sale now for these performances plus artists previously announced for the milestone season. They include Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp of “Rent!,” Béla Fleck, Black Violin, Blind Boys of Alabama, Audra McDonald, Samara Joy, Cirque Mechanics, Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, and Eric Essix.
UAB staff and student discounts are available. For tickets or more information, call the ASC Box Office at 205-975-2787 or visit AlysStephens.org.
Become a member to hear new artist announcements and secure the best available seats before tickets go on sale to the public. For the latest updates and announcements, follow the Alys Stephens Center on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
2026 Arts Block Party
Join UAB Center for the Arts on Friday, Sept. 18, for its 2026 Block Party, the biggest arts celebration of the season with music, art, food and fun for all ages. The event will kick off at 5 p.m., with the concert at 7 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public.
The 2026 Arts Block Party evening will feature food trucks, vendors, music from a live DJ, exhibitions, interactive art experiences, giveaways and a lively outdoor concert from Terrance Simien and The Zydeco Experience. The galleries at the Abroms-Engel Institute for the Visual Arts will be open for guests to explore, with hands-on activities from AEIVA and ArtPlay.
Rolling Stone magazine calls two-time Grammy Award winner Simien “a zydeco master.” An eighth-generation, multicultural and multiracial, French-speaking Louisiana Creole, he brings more than 40 years of powerful performances rooted in Black American zydeco traditions. Simien blends infectious rhythms, soulful vocals and deep cultural storytelling into performances that move audiences across generations and borders. Leading a dynamic intergenerational band of veteran and rising Gen Z musicians, Simien delivers a live experience that honors tradition while pushing the music forward, making every performance both a celebration and a cultural statement.
Step Afrika!
Step Afrika! is the world’s first professional company dedicated to the tradition of stepping, a powerful form of percussive dance rooted in African American culture. Feel the rhythm and experience the energy live on the Alys Stephens Center stage Sunday, March 7, 2027, 5 p.m. Tickets from $15. Buy tickets.
Step Afrika! is a global leader in step dance and percussive performance, one of the top 10 African American dance companies in the United States and known for pushing creative boundaries and elevating this dynamic art form. With a blend of percussive dance styles practiced by historically African American fraternities and sororities, traditional African movement, and an array of contemporary forms, Step Afrika! performances are much more than dance shows. Integrated songs, storytelling, humor and audience participation make each performance unique. The program features innovative new choreography alongside signature works shaped through the company’s long-standing collaboration with South Africa, highlighting the global impact of stepping traditions. Step Afrika! promotes stepping as an educational tool for young people, focusing on teamwork, academic achievement and cross-cultural understanding.