The live experience
What reaches the room
Damon Locks's Black Monument Ensemble (BME) is a Chicago-based collective founded by Damon Locks that champions a private, Black-grounded acknowledgment through performance—what critics describe as a dynamic fusion of gospel, jazz, hip-hop, and sound collage. The ensemble’s work centers on The Black Nod, a concept of communal recognition and resilience expressed through sound, voice, and archival texture. BME has earned wide critical attention for its fearless experimentation and socially conscious approach to music and performance.