Listen to any of Worcester’s many radio stations and you’ll hear songs influenced by black musicians. Jazz, rock, and hip-hop all come from African-American roots, and Afrobeat and Jamaican dancehall can also be heard on local airwaves. All of these genres and more will take center stage at the Black Music Festival on June 24th at Worcester Common.
The Black Music Festival will feature performances from Worcester hip-hop heavyweights Radi Girl and Big Nate All-Star, the latter of which toured the US last summer with Wu-Tang Clan and Nas.
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“Beyond Last Year” Plan
The festival’s lead planner is Charles Luster, co-founder and chairman of the grassroots Uncommonwealth Group and executive director of the hydroponics program 2Gether We Eat. Luster said the celebration coincides with Black Music Month, just days after Juneteenth.
“June is Black Music Month, so what we want to do is celebrate it in every culture that plays Black music. You can get the kind of music,” Luster said.
Guitarist David Allen, who has opened for Earth, Wind & Fire and Tower of Power, will perform, as will his son Noah, who joined the National Youth Orchestra’s jazz band as a trumpeter. DJs, comedians, and dancers are also on stage throughout the day, and festival-goers can shop from local small businesses and enjoy a variety of food from 9am. and continue into the evening.
Luster said that when he founded the Uncommonwealth Group with friends and neighbors, he had two goals in mind: teaching elementary school students and hosting a festival that celebrates black culture. The organization put together its first black music festival last year, attracting more than 700 attendees, and Luster expects an even larger crowd this year.
“This year we are going to wow people with a range of different foods. said. “I am really looking forward to surpassing last year.”
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respect leadership
One of the highlights of the day was the Black Excellence Awards, also hosted by the Uncommonwealth Group, recognizing the achievements of Black Worcester residents.
“[It’s]the various black men in the community who helped achieve great things,[Unity 97.9 FM executive director]Ernie Floyd and his radio station, and[boxing gym]Camp Get Right.” It’s for various community leaders like Kendrick Ball,” Luster said. “They are doing great work in our community and we want to show that we appreciate all that they do because winning an award goes unnoticed. ”
This year’s Black Excellence Award winners include Floyd, Ball, last year’s state championship-winning North High School boys’ basketball team, and students from Vernon Hill Elementary School.
If all goes well, Worcester Common will be filled with music, nonprofits, voter registration tables, food and positive energy on June 24, Luster said.
“We want to use music to bring communities together. It’s our goal to work with any organization. It’s great to be able to celebrate black music and black people,” said Luster. Told.
The Black Music Festival and Awards of Excellence will be held on June 24th from 9am to 8pm at Worcester Common. Free admission. For more information, visit uncommonwealthgroup.com/blackmusicfestival.
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