UAB Arts Block Party

The 2026 Arts Block Party 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.