For its second year, the Music at the Intersection festival is gaining momentum, headlined by Erykah Badu and Gary Clark Jr.
Neo-soul singer Badu and rocker Clark will join more than 50 artists performing on September 10 and 11 on four outdoor stages at the Grand Center, including the Big Top circus tent. A small fourth stage has recently been added to the festival plans.
Other lineup highlights include blues legends Buddy Guy and Joe Louis Walker; jazz hipsters Kamasi Washington and Robert Glasper with Terrace Martin; soul-funk darling Hiatus Kaiyote; R&B singer BJ the Chicago Kid; southern rock band JJ Gray & Mofro; Booker T. Jones of Booker T. & the MG’s; jazz guitarist John Scofield; old-school R&B actor Rose Royce; and rising blues-soul band Southern Avenue.
Among the St. Louis acts on the bill are the Urge, Murphy Lee and Kyjuan, Ptah Williams, Georgia Mae of Lamar Harris, NandoSTL, the Bosman Twins, Foxing, Reggie Son, Adam Maness and Emily Wallace, the Kasimu- tet, Dylan Triplett, Saint Boogie Brass Band, Soulard Blues Band and Lydia Caesar.
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The festival will also feature tributes to St. Louis legends Tina Turner, Albert King and Henry Townsend, as well as a celebration of Montez Coleman, the East St. Louis jazz musician who died in January.
Music at the Intersection debuted over three days in 2021 with headliners Roy Ayers, Gregory Porter and Lalah Hathaway. Performances were held indoors due to the pandemic, but this year’s lineup is moving outdoors.
The new footprint will accommodate up to 10,000 attendees each day.
Kaiyote Break
Photo by Tre Koch
Saint Boogie Brass Band trumpeter Keith Clair performs February 12, 2022 as part of the Brass Band Blowout at Golden Record.
Photo by Zachary Clingenpeel
“Each year, our goal is to make this festival more accessible, diverse and multifaceted,” says Chris Hansen, executive director of the Kranzberg Arts Foundation, which produces Music at the Intersection. “In addition to blues, jazz and the heritage genre, which was central to our programming last year, we have national to local artists in everything from hip-hop and R&B to indie rock, soul and funk.
“An attendee can buy a ticket with a favorite like Erykah Badu, Buddy Guy or the Urge in mind, but this ticket gives them access to an incredible and dynamic urban music experience – and we hope they explore it by whole.”
Official concerts before and after the party will take place in the performance halls of the Grand Centre.
The festival grounds will open at 11 a.m. daily. The event will also include the launch of a mural market with live art demonstrations, artist talks, murals, high-definition projection mapping and immersive video art; entertainment and attractions such as pop-up circus shows, immersion cabins and a flying trapeze; and a selection of food trucks.
The Midwest Music Summit, Sept. 9 at .Zack, will connect musicians to the music industry. Five panels of speakers will focus on professional development and mentorship, featuring representatives from various pockets of the industry. The event is presented by TuneSpeak and the Recording Academy.
Music at the Intersection tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. March 11 at metrotix.com and musicattheintersection.org/tickets.
Music at the Intersection 2022
Courtesy of the Kranzberg Arts Foundation
General admission tickets for early birds are $69 for one day and $129 for both days.
General Admission Plus tickets ($175 and $325) include a private bar, indoor restrooms and access to exclusive programming at Sophie’s Artist Lounge. VIP tickets ($350 and $650) include these benefits, plus access to the VIP village, dedicated viewing areas and a festival poster.
Pre-sale tickets are available now through select partners’ e-blasts. Get more information at musicattheintersection.org.
