The 502s are a beach folk band from Florida, often called "the happiest band on Earth.” With breezy banjos, shout-along choruses, and an energy that bursts like a cannonball into a swimming pool, their music feels like sunshine you can dance to. Their song "Just A Little While" made a viral splash with over 100M streams to date. With a heavy touring presence, and sold-out run last fall, the band will continue to take their infectious, high energy live show on the road through the summer with dates alongside Lake Street Dive and at festivals including Boston Calling, Bourbon & Beyond, Borderland Music Festival, Iron Blossom Festival and more. A go-to for instant joy, The 502s first song via Big Loud Records, "Summer Fling," is out now. Press play and you’ll be barefoot in the sand, laughing with friends, and singing at the top of your lungs—even if it’s just in your kitchen.

On season one of NBC's “The Voice,” Nakia quickly became a fan favorite, using his big grizzly voice to transform pop songs into his own unique style. While producers focused on his relationship with his husband and his struggle to make ends meet as a blues singer, what they didn't show you on TV was just how much Nakia accomplished on his own prior to the show. Long before Nakia was a semifinalist on CeeLo Green's team, he was a beloved member of the Austin music community, fronting bands, performing solo, and working with some music's biggest names. 

After the whirlwind of reality television died down, Nakia placed his focus on writing songs for his six-song EP, "Drown In The Crimson Tide," and the tour that followed. Four years later he recorded and released his acclaimed album, “Blues Grifter.” Nakia has recently been composing for film (Wasted On The Young) and TV (Skeleton Crew, Demon Doctor). Prior to the pandemic, Nakia had just begun writing new original songs and performing solo shows, and putting together a new band. When live events were canceled due to COVID-19, Nakia put more of his efforts into artist advocacy and led his nonprofit, Austin Texas Musicians, to advocate for the creation of emergency relief funding to musicians and music venues in Austin. Matthew McConaughey recently surprised Nakia with a private Zoom call where McConaughey named Nakia one of four, “Local Legends” as recognition of his volunteer work for the Austin music community during the pandemic. 

Nakia has been an active member of the Austin music community for over 17 years, and is an outspoken advocate for organizations such as HAAM and The SIMS Foundation. He has also served as the Chair of the Austin Music Commission and as a Board Governor for the Texas Chapter of the Recording Academy. Nakia is a two-time Black Fret artist grant recipient and currently lives in Austin, Texas with his husband Robert and their Bouvier des Flandres, Baker.

For more information on Nakia visit nakia.net

Just B Yoga is a donation-based yoga community center that produces podcasts, exposes local spoken artists and musicians and shares motivational speakers.

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