Kimaya Diggs in Concert at the Emily Dickinson Homestead

The Amherst Business Improvement District (BID) and the Emily Dickinson Museum are bringing live music to the Emily Dickinson Homestead. On Friday, August 7 from 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM, Western Massachusetts artist Kimaya Diggs will perform on the Dickinson family lawn between the historic Homestead and Evergreens properties. The concert is free and open to all.

Kimaya Diggs is a singer-songwriter from Western Massachusetts whose music weaves together folk, soul, jazz, and R&B to explore themes of grief, resilience, love, identity, and the search for meaning.

Recently off tour dates with Mavis Staples, Emily King, Trombone Shorty, and more, Diggs navigates her world with stories. Penning her first one-woman show as a little kid, she’s published fiction, earned a Callaloo fellowship for poetry, and works days as a speechwriter—not to mention the accolades her songwriting’s earned, including a New England Music Awards nod, gigs at legendary folk haunts like Club Passim, and appearances at Green River Festival, Rubblebucket’s Dream Picnic, and the Emily Dickinson festival.

“I’ve always thought of my writing and music as one thing—connective storytelling,” Diggs explains. But while her mother was sick with a twelve-year illness, Diggs felt unable to share the whole truth. Her first LP, 2018’s Breastfed, was largely about her mom, but it wasn’t until her passing that Diggs was free to use songwriting to process. “Sharing my grieving experience has resonated with people; they’re excited to hear something that’s not all good,” notes Diggs. To help cope, Diggs and her husband Jacob Rosazza—also her musical collaborator—rescued an ex-racing dog, Quincy. Though they shared only two years together, caring for the traumatized animal helped Diggs find purpose. “Having him was challenging, but at the same time, he’s why we survived the first year without my mom,” offers Diggs. “It was special to get to love a creature so much—because of, in spite of, and in addition to the challenges he came with.” Losing Quincy gave her greater insight on heartache, so she named her newest album after him. 

“With the completion of our new Carriage House Tour Center, the Emily Dickinson is thrilled to expand our programming,” said Patrick Fecher, Associate Director of Communications at the Emily Dickinson Museum. “We are delighted to welcome the Amherst community to our grounds, and honored to partner with the Amherst Business Improvement District and Kimaya Diggs on this wonderful event.”

Local beer (Abandoned Building Brewery), wine (Black Birch), cider (Carr’s Ciderhouse), and seltzers (Berkshire Brewing Company and Princess Water) will be available for purchase for patrons 21 and older, with non-alcoholic beverages available as well.

This event is organized by the Amherst Business Improvement District and the Emily Dickinson Museum in partnership with New England Public Media and Amherst Center Cultural District.