Secret Set Sessions: A Mystic Finale at The Carver

By Bastion DeNine

The Carver has always stood as more than just a venue. It’s a portal into legacy, rhythm, and reclamation—and on Friday, June 6, 2025, we stepped into something timeless. Jackie Venson and Kam Franklin closed out the Carver’s 2024–2025 season with a genre-bending performance that was intimate, electric, and deeply rooted in Texas creative culture.

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For this final show, The Down Market was invited to go behind the scenes—to walk the historic halls, capture the pulse of the night, and spotlight the people and preparation that made this moment unforgettable. We called it Secret Set Sessions, a nod to SXSW’s unlisted shows and the hush-hush magic of late-night performances that feel like they’re just for you.

Before the crowd even filled their seats, we were there—backstage with Jackie running through riffs, Kam stretching her vocals in an empty dressing room, the band laughing over last-minute adjustments, and the Carver staff prepping the space with calm precision. These quiet moments had the kind of reverence that only history can hold.

Kris Lopez, our creative photographer, captured this energy through a cinematic lens. From audience arrivals to post-show reactions, his photography gave texture to what words couldn’t hold: Black joy, powerful artistry, and a room full of people ready to feel.

Jackie’s set was transcendent. Her guitar playing? Possessed. Emotional. Generational. Kam commanded the stage with spirit and fire. Together, they reminded us that music doesn’t just sound—it speaks, it insists, it builds worlds

This collaboration wasn’t just about documentation—it was about witnessing something real. Thank you to the entire Carver Team for allowing us to be a part of it. We felt the love, the legacy, and the future all in one night.

—Bastion