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Urban Music Festival: Early scene report
Now in its fourth year, the Urban Music Festival organizers seem to really have the formula for the event worked out. The festival is timed to coincide with the Texas Relays weekend, one of Austin’s biggest African American social events, which brings an influx of people from all over the state into the city. Couched as a family-friendly alternative to the party scene downtown, the event kicks off at 11 a.m. The crowds, however, don’t tend to roll in until the relay events at the University shut down for the evening and the sun begins to dip.
Rather than resist the phenomena, this year, festival organizers seem to have accepted it, breaking the festival lineup into two distinct programs, one national and one local. While the big draw for the festival is the national program that begins at 6:30 p.m. with rap originators Sugar Hill Gang, the early part of the fest provides an invigorating celebration of the local urban music scene with an inspiring focus on Austin’s young talent. When we showed up at 3:30 p.m. the Reagan High School band marched in front of the big stage, performing to a small but enthusiastic crowd seated in lawn chairs, using umbrellas to shield themselves from the sun.
Meanwhile, on a makeshift side stage tucked away by the bathroom station UpRise Productions hosted a program of youth rappers and dancers. Using a low-key sound system and performing to a group of friends and family clustered under a few shade trees, these young people threw down hard. Vigorous break dancers from Out of Control, a razor-tongued female rap duo called Graffiti Tongue, and a large collaborative crew called the Cipher Warriors all showcased their skills. The day was young and the crowd was still somewhat sparse but there was already plenty of talent on display.
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Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: Urban Music Fest
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By Kathy Ivey
April 9, 2009 10:23 AM | Link to this
Hi Deborah,
I was looking for a review on the Artist Jan’ ell that performed at the Urban Music Festival on April O4 at 3:00 or 3:30 do you have any reviews on her performance?? She was very GOOD! and we would like to read more about her. www.reverbnation.com/janell Thanks