Photography courtesy of Music at the Intersection
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Now in its third year, Music at the Intersection is known for big, thoughtful lineups that situate St. Louis as a crucial city in the American musical landscape. This year’s festival, on Saturday and Sunday, features such history-making legends as Herbie Hancock, Arrested Development, and Grandmaster Flash alongside homegrown icons, such as Smino, Marquise Knox, Denise Thimes, and more. With more than 50 acts across two days and four stages, in addition to offerings beyond the music, there's a lot to take in. Here's an overview of the action.
Photography courtesy of Music at the Intersection
Arrested Development
The Music
The city—and the whole country, really—is focused on hip-hop this year, 50 years since the 1973 party in the Bronx widely considered to be its origin.
“St. Louis celebrates hip-hop,” says Chris Hansen, executive director of the Kranzberg Arts Foundation, which produces Music at the Intersection. “It has permeated and become part of everyday life, art, fashion, and culture. This year, we get to pay special attention to it, give it love and lift it up.”
The '90s are considered a golden age of the genre, and Arrested Development is an unmistakable voice of that decade—they’ll be on the Washington Avenue stage at 5:30 p.m. Saturday. St. Louisan Smino is making it big on the national stage right now, and he’s on the Washington Avenue stage Saturday at 9:30 p.m. Grandmaster Flash, a pioneer of hip-hop from its earliest days, is on the City Wide stage from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Sunday. Don’t miss Pharoahe Monch, Earthworms, or Sir Eddie C, or the exhibition curated by DJ G.Wiz looking at the past 50 years of hip-hop here in St. Louis.
“Elemental” is a yearlong event series celebrating hip-hop across its half-century history, sponsored by Walls off Washington, Music at the Intersection, Kranzberg Arts Foundation, 4Hands Brewing Company, and Mighty Kind Seltzers. The series will offer a capsule apparel collection, dropping at the festival.
“It’s going to be a fun way for people to get engaged, that directly supports and engages the five elements of hip-hop, and you get to go home with something that connects you to the mission and the why,” Hansen says.
Photography by NickLe Tellier, courtesy of Music at the Intersection
Herbie Hancock
It’s not just the hip-hop offerings that are mind-blowing this year. “Our jazz and blues lineup is second to none,” Hansen says. Grammy-winning jazz-funk group Snarky Puppy is on the Field Stage Saturday at 8:45 p.m.
Greats like Thundercat, Cameo, Peter Martin, The Bad Plus and more are on hand. And none other than Herbie Hancock, historic jazz giant, plays the Washington Avenue stage Sunday at 6:45 p.m.
Catch excellence in R&B and neo-soul from groups like Phony Ppl, Angela Winbush, Masego, Ravyn Lenae, The Suffers, and Say She She. Tiny Desk Concert’s 2017 winners (and Grammy nominees) Tank and the Bangas are sure to be a fan favorite.
Check out the full lineup ahead of time to make a plan for which acts to see.
Beyond the Stage
“We’ve learned that St. Louis loves this festival,” says Hansen. “It is uniquely ours and you have to come here to see it.”
While the festival remains true to its formula, it continues to grow and refine. This year, says Hansen, expect more family-friendly programming, VIP experiences, art activations, and improved entry and wayfinding. Food and drink options as well as vendors round out the experience.
The days before the festival also bring micro-conference Intersessions to the city, with programming September 7 and 8 looking at artist development, the city’s music economy, professional development and more. It’s a lot of St. Louis thought leaders in one place—registration is necessary but free.
Single-day tickets start at $99, and you can buy weekend passes and upgraded experiences such as indoor restrooms, exclusive Sophie’s Lounge programming, and speed passes for food trucks and bars.
