Music At The Intersection Festival Tells St. Louis’ Rich Musical History
Over 50 artists are taking the stage for the Music At The Intersection festival in St. Louis on Sept. 9 and Sept. 10. Four stages will occupy the Grand Center Arts District showcasing both local and major music acts.
Hosted by the Kranzberg Arts Foundation, this year is the first since the pandemic. This will allow more artists and attendees to enjoy the festivities.
“We can’t wait to get everyone back together to celebrate St. Louis, celebrate our footprint on the songbook and also show you what’s next,” said Chris Hansen, the director of the Kranzberg Arts Foundation.
Showcased in a city with a rich musical legacy, Music At The Intersection adds another chapter to St. Louis. As travelers venture to the Midwest destination, music and magic are waiting for them to arrive at the intersection.
A Festival That’s St. Louis Made
Every year, Music At The Intersection brings some of the world’s top performers to St. Louis. This year, the festival will feature hip hop and jazz artist Thundercat, singer and saxophonist Masego and the jazz fusion group Snarky Puppy. The festival also will showcase musicians homegrown in St. Louis. Rapper Smino is one of the headliners this year at the festival. Other St. Louis artists taking the stage include Mai Lee, Sir Eddie C and James Biko.
Music At The Intersection called in a few other notable friends, including New Orleans group Tank & The Bangas. Hansen said the goal of Music At The Intersection is to bring music and people together.
“It’s programmed in a way that brings together people of all ages and walks of life,” he said. “It’s not just a festival for one type of person.”
Hansen said Music At The Intersection is a reminder of St. Louis’ rich music history. With so many local, regional and mainstream acts, the festival upholds the city’s living music legacy.
“We’re creating a generational event truly rooted in our ‘why’ with a heavy-hitting artist lineup deeply representative of St. Louis’ heritage and musical future,” he said. “Attendees get to hear world-class musical talent and have an experience non-replicable anywhere else. This is anything but cookie-cutter. It’s a festival you only get if you come to St. Louis.”
Hip-Hop Magic Happening At The Intersection
There’s no telling who attendees may run into at Music At The Intersection this year. The event occupies a large footprint in Grand Center Art District. A rising creative hub in the Midwest city, Hansen says music, artisan style, and cuisine will be on full display.
“Our aim is a truly accessible, multi-dimensional and dynamic urban music experience that’s civically rooted and generationally connected,” he said. “A ticket to Music at the Intersection delivers St. Louis block-party vibes with top-tier talent in an environment primed for musical and artistic exploration.”
According to Sauce Magazine, festival organizers placed an emphasis on accessibility and safety for this year’s event. Multiple cooling stations will be placed around the festival grounds. There also will be wellness areas for people who need a break from festival stimulation and overcrowding.
Music At The Intersection will honor the 50th anniversary of Hip Hop. The festival will feature a musical timeline of the history of the genre from the 1970s to now. DJ Grandmaster Flash will be hitting the stage, along with Cameo, Arrested Development, and Phony Ppl. A plethora of St. Louis Hip-Hop acts and DJ’s also will be performing. This will showcase the impact the genre has had on the city.
“This is a festival and a musical lineup that you can only experience in St. Louis,” Hansen said. “Each year, what we bring to the table will only happen once, and it will only happen here.”
