ºüÀêÊÓƵ is celebrating the groove this weekend with the fourth annual Music at the Intersection. The two-day festival features a broad slate of soul, jazz, blues and hip-hop artists as well as a conference and pre-festival events.
With a lineup of legends, locals and emerging artists, Saturday’s MATI concertgoers added to a palpable energy from the stage that grew stronger throughout the day for the all-ages crowd that also reflected the city’s diverse makeup.
ºüÀêÊÓƵ showed off its musical chops early on with a crisp set at 2 p.m. from Starwolf, who dropped electro beats from their album “Tropical Disco.†Influenced by artists like Chic, Washed Out, Chromeo and Jungle, the band’s pulsing, beat-driven club vibe transitioned well to a daytime audience.
Also representing the area were rapper Tef Poe and singer Jordan Ward, whose sets at 4 and 5 p.m., respectively, created a strong buzz amongst the crowd.
As the day progressed, the crowds grew as several big-name national acts were set to appear, including Big Boi. A Grammy winner and one half of OutKast, Big Boi is one of the most commercially successful rap acts of the past few decades. His blend of Southern hip-hop with seasonings of funk, soul and psychedelia made for an energetic set.
Throwing down a vibe that got the Washington Avenue Stage attendees grooving, his clever lyricism, wordplay and audience banter flowed with ease. Big Boi told onlookers that he normally didn’t take gigs at this time of year because his son was playing college football but promptly added that he was glad to be in ºüÀêÊÓƵ performing for such a raucous crowd.
His set, filled with hand waves, sing-alongs, and feisty call and responses saw Big Boi and rap partner Sleepy Brown throw down several classic OutKast cuts, including “Ms. Jackson,†“So Fresh, So Clean†and “The Way You Move.â€
“Can’t Sleep,†from his most recent album “Big Sleepover,†and “Kill Jill,†from “Boomiverse,†were also crowd pleasers.
Sleepy Brown, whose smooth-as-butter vocal stylings were the ideal contrast for Big Boi, was also in top form. Together, they worked the crowd as they tore it up for just over an hour.
Between sets, the MATI faithful grabbed a bite at the food truck court and shopped along vendors row. They also took in sets from local DJs located throughout the festival grounds.
Walnut Park native Chingy returned home to a warm welcome from an exuberant crowd. The rapper, who changed the nomenclature of the genre, fired off a kinetic filled set with hits, including “Right Thurr†and “Holidae Inn,†Taking fans back more than 20 years with his 2003-era party anthems.
Following his set, Mayor Tishaura O. Jones presented him an official proclamation naming Sept.14 as Chingy Day in the city of ºüÀêÊÓƵ. Accepting the award, he recognized his roots growing up here and acknowledged that he always tried to represent the city wherever he went.
Performing at around the same time — 7:45 p.m. compared to Chingy’s 8:15 p.m. — was Afro-Cuban sensation Cimafunk, whose set at the Big Top was the talk of showgoers for the rest of the night.
Headliners Black Pumas came, saw and conquered with a 90-plus-minute set of psychedelic rock and soul. Serving as a preacher, ringleader and cheerleader, singer Eric Burdon was a force of nature as he seamlessly connected audience and artist. Operating as a tight unit, complete with background singers and a conga player, Black Pumas brought their A-game to an audience that ate it all up.
The band’s rhythms, harmonies and lyrics coalesced into a sugar-sweet sound that elicited handclaps and hollering as old and new schools came together. Equal parts Bobby Womack and Marvin Gaye, Burton, buoyed by his band’s musical agility, provided the perfect cooldown after a night of heavy beats.
A highlight of the proceedings happened when Burton brought out Music at the Intersection artist-in-residence trumpeter Keyon Harrold to play with the band.
Harrold’s finesse meshed perfectly with the band, while also offering a taste of what to expect for his Sunday set.
The audience swayed and swiveled all night long through “Know You Better,†“Black Moon Rising,†“Old Man†and a rousing “Colors.†Burton began the encore with a cover of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car,†before being joined by the rest of his band for a stunning “Rock and Roll.â€
The final day of Music at the Intersection is stacked. New Orleans’ Trombone Shorty, Grammy winners Esperanza Spalding and Samara Joy, and Chaka Khan are featured amongst others.