The Fallser Club celebrates this historic month with a full lineup of exciting programming
The Fallser Club marks the 100th anniversary of Black History Month this February with a month-long series of performances and events highlighting Black music, art, film, and comedy. They’re not just honoring Black History, they’re making it!
The celebration begins on Sunday, February 1, with Black Excellence in Action, a day-long kickoff event featuring Philadelphia hip-hop artist Reef the Lost Cauze. Designed as both a cultural gathering and a community showcase, the event will spotlight local Black businesses, artists, and organizations, setting the tone for a February centered on themes of resistance, pride, and joy.
Black Excellence in Action is co-sponsored by The Fallser Club and Philadelphia activist Nigel Ousey, founder of SeeBeyondMySkin.org, who worked closely with the venue to shape the programming.
Reef the Lost Cauze, a long-time presence in Philadelphia’s hip-hop community, is known for powerful lyrics that address issues ranging from mental health and healthcare access to public safety and civic responsibility. His work has earned him respect across generations of listeners, making him a fitting choice to anchor the opening event.
“I wanted to uplift local socially-conscious artists and promote their ideas,” says Ousey. “I also wanted the music to appeal to a wide audience, especially young people. When I listened to Reef the Lost Cauze he seemed like a perfect fit. I love that he is vocal about issues today that affect the Black community, and I appreciate that he doesn’t shy away from tough subjects. And he is super talented.”
A Month of Performances
Throughout February, The Fallser Club’s programming reflects the breadth of Black artistic expression, with events ranging from comedy showcases and album release parties to jazz, soul, hip-hop, and global music performances.
Comedy fans can expect stand-up and spoken-word events. Music offerings span multiple styles and generations, with performances by internationally influenced artists, Philadelphia legacy musicians, and contemporary singer-songwriters. Several nights are dedicated to special one-time events, including EP and album release parties, while others invite audiences to experience long-standing musical traditions shaped by Black artists in Philadelphia and beyond.
Together, the lineup offers a chance to explore different entry points into Black cultural expression — whether through humor, storytelling, dance music, or more intimate listening experiences.
Deep Roots in the Neighborhood
Located at 3721 Midvale Avenue, The Fallser Club is a favorite gathering place in East Falls since opening in 2022. The 5,000-square-foot nonprofit venue was created to support community connection through music and the arts, with an emphasis on accessibility, local talent, and inclusive programming.
The building itself has long served as a neighborhood cultural space. Originally opened as the Midvale Theatre in 1914, it operated as a silent film house before becoming the Falls Theatre during the early years of sound cinema. After decades of changing uses — including a long stretch as a neighborhood grocery store — the space was ultimately reimagined as The Fallser Club as a way to return it to its roots as an entertainment hub and gathering place.
That sense of continuity informs the Club’s approach to programming today.
“The Fallser Club is deeply committed to representing diversity in all its forms — across genres, cultures, identities, and lived experiences,” says Executive Director Ashana Larson. “Our programming is intentionally inclusive, amplifying artists whose voices and traditions have not always been centered in mainstream music spaces. We believe original music thrives when many perspectives are welcomed, respected, and celebrated.”
She notes that Black History Month provides a meaningful opportunity to bring that commitment into sharper focus.
“Through Black History Month, we are able to honor the foundational influence of Black artists on nearly every genre we present, while creating space for contemporary Black musicians, storytellers, and cultural leaders to share their work,” Larson says. “It allows us to deepen community conversations and celebrate cultural legacy — not just in February, but year-round.”
Local Black Excellence
Philadelphia has long played a central role in the development of Black artistic and cultural movements, with generations of musicians, performers, writers, and activists shaping both local neighborhoods and national conversations. From early jazz and Philly soul, to hip-hop and Afrofuturism, Black artists in Philadelphia have consistently used creative spaces as sites of expression, resistance, and community building.
As Black History Month marks its 100th anniversary — evolving from Negro History Week in 1926 to a month-long observance recognized nationwide — venues like The Fallser Club continue that tradition by creating space for both reflection and celebration.
A full schedule of February events, including dates and ticketing, is available at thefallserclub.com.
The Fallser Club
3721 Midvale Ave
@TheFallserClub on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Which Nobody Can Deny
Here’s to 100 years of Black History Month! This official recognition began in 1926 when historian Carter G. Woodson established Negro History Week that February.
Woodson founded the observance to challenge the widespread exclusion of Black history from schools, libraries, and public life. He believed that understanding Black history was essential not only for honoring the past, but for building a more accurate and complete understanding of American history as a whole. As Woodson famously argued, “If a race has no history, it has no worthwhile tradition.”
Negro History Week was intentionally placed in February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. Over the decades, the observance grew through schools, churches, and community organizations, expanding beyond a single week. In 1976, during the U.S. Bicentennial, Black History Month was formally recognized nationwide.
This February marks a century of organized efforts to study, preserve, and share Black history as a key part of American life, culture, and civic identity. Today, Black History Month continues to serve as both a celebration of achievement and a reminder of the role that history, education, and cultural expression play in shaping more informed and connected communities.
Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions for celebrating Black History Month? Please chime in below! Click the links here for more information. As always, email us at editor@nwlocalpaper.com if you’d like to connect further.
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