Austin360 blogs > Almost Urban > Archives > 2006 > July > 13 > Entry
A little bit urban?
Dear ACL Fest promoters:
I understand that your festival, like its namesake television show is geared toward a roots-rock crowd. I do, however, see hints of a more diverse appeal in your 2006 lineup — splashes of indie-pop, glimmers of soul. It makes me a little sad though, that no urban music acts from our fine state are on the bill. I get that this has grown from local fest into national music event, but if we’re bringing folks from around the country down to Texas can’t we show them a little homegrown flava?
Need a big name act? Beyonce’s probably a little too flashy and H-town boys like Chamillionaire and Paul Wall might be too rough, but what about Erykah Badu? Her brand of earthy, hip-hop oriented neo-soul seems like it would fit right in.
Or, try an alternate route and sprinkle a few smaller names into less conspicuous early slots throughout the fest. Here are three suggestions of ways that great Texas hip-hop and R&B acts could blend in, charm your crowds and spice up the festival a little.
Slide Dallas’ PPT into the opening slot for Gnarls Barkley. These guys blew my mind at The State of Texas Hip-hop show a month back. They sing, they dance and they work a crowd like champs. When I saw them, they had the scant offering of ladies in the crowd swooning. Hard. I’m convinced that in a larger arena they have the kind of rockstar charisma and sizzling soul that could send the crowd overboard.
How about Austin’s own Element 7D opening for Damien Marley? If you’re into the hard driving conscious reggae of Bob’s youngest son, you’d probably also get into the kind of serious rasta tinged hip-hop soul Ele drops on tracks like “Child of the Ghetto” and “Hold On”. Plus, Ele’s fiery “Murder Rap” done over the beat to Marley’s amazing 2005 hit “Jam Rock” is so raw that I think it actually tops the original.
Close out the Washington Mutual stage gospel showcase on Sunday with a short set from 14-year-old R&B princess Lakrea. Sure, she’s a kid, but she’s got a deep voice and a naturally inviting performance style that many artists twice her age struggle to achieve. Plus, her youthful exuberance makes her mad entertaining. The crowds at the Urban Music Festival loved her. I think she could win over the ACL folks, too.
Other local urban music acts that I feel could mix in at ACL: Zeale 32, D Madness, Mr. Blakes, Ter’ell Shahid, Global, Rochelle Terrell, Dallas’ Strange Fruit Project, Hydroponic Sound System, or Money Waters, V-Zilla from Houston, San Antonio’s Mojoe.
Once again, I know I’m not exactly your target demographic, and I think y’all are doing a bang-up job with this fest, but perhaps you could add just a little more flava? Please?
pz,
ds
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