Home > Austin Music Source > Archives > 2008 > April > 05 > Entry
Spring smiles on Urban Music Fest
Photo by Jay Janner AMERICAN-STATESMAN
- Photos: 2008 Urban Music Festival
- Video: A Texas-sized ‘Cupid Shuffle’
- Video: 13-year-old r&b singer Mariah Roberson
- Video: Is there a future for the Urban Music Festival
After last year’s Urban Music Fest was hampered by inclement weather — including a freak April ice storm — today’s bright sunshine and clear blue skies were no doubt a big relief to everyone involved in this year’s one-day event at Auditorium Shores.
While the festival’s headliner, Jeffrey Osborne, was geared to an older crowd, the early part of the family-friendly event focused on showcasing young talent. Solo artist Tje Austin, accompanying himself on guitar, performed acoustic soul reminiscent of a young Ben Harper. Meanwhile fast-rapping ATX youth KJ Hines brought a hype man and a team of backup dancers onstage with him.
Hines, referring to himself as ‘The Prince of Austin’, plugged his new shoe endorsement deal, coaxed a shout out from the parents for his obscenity-free rhyme style and used his backing line to demonstrate his new dance track ‘The Beach Bunny Hop’. Taking a cue from 17-year-old rap sensation Soulja Boy, Hines is hosting an online video competition around the dance.
Between sets the audience, scattered across the lawn in camp chairs shaded by brightly colored umbrellas, was entertained by short sets from the Reagan High School marching band.
One of the early standout acts of the fest was Mariah Roberson, a 13-year-old R&B singer with killer pipes well beyond her years. Mariah emerged last year from the Soultree Collective, a mentorship program for young R&B and soul musicians.
Since her involvement with the Collective, the Ridgeview Middle School student from Round Rock has established herself as a powerful solo artist on the rise. Mariah is scheduled to begin filming a 20th Century Fox movie, “Let The Church Say Amen,” featuring Marvin Staples and R&B singer Maya in July. Early next year Mariah will travel to New York to appear in the Broadway production ‘Mama, I Want to Sing’.
As the sun began to dip in the sky and the Texas Relays competition at UT closed down for the night, fans of the more established acts on the bill began to filter into Auditorium Shores. But those of us who showed up early were left with a striking sense that there’s a wealth of young talent in our city that extends far beyond Austin’s well-hyped schools of rock.
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Permalink | Comments (3) | Categories: Urban Music Fest
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By Gene
April 7, 2008 4:25 PM | Link to this
This need to be on the front page!! This is real news about real positive young people!!!!
By Roy
June 2, 2008 4:05 PM | Link to this
After many years of being away from Austin I’m very pleased that people are finally getting it again. By moving in the right direction. Next year I will be residing back home and look forward to attending this venue and others.
Austin has a rich history in live music as far back as I can remember. Growing up in East Austin and residing across the street from Rosewood Park many evenings were spent listening live preformances from the old Anderoson High Band to concerts at Doris Miller . Sitting on the rock wall enjoying to greats as Ella James, Bobby Blue Band, B B King, Muddy Waters, etc., while my parents were inside.
I want to wish the Urban Music Festival many years of success. And knowing next year I can actually be among the thousands enjoying live music from youth to the present. So keep up the good work.
By Dj Low Profile
April 6, 2009 9:15 AM | Link to this
This better stay around, it’s a blast…Austin needs this! It is a beautiful event and I wish the mayor and other city leaders would take part to show how supportive we are as Austinites! Word up!