Music at the Intersection Introduces “MATI Places” and Unveils Details of Annual Conference
Sept 12-15, Grand Center Arts District will be a hub of Music, Art, Thought and Innovation - starting with Music at the Intersection’s new District-wide MATI Places initiative (Sept 12), followed by the return of its free conference for creative professionals (Sept 13) and culminating in a two-day, world-class festival (Sept 14-15)
St. Louis, Mo. – July 2, 2024 – Music at the Intersection is filling up more of the fall calendar, inviting music fans to start their experience earlier, with the introduction of a new Grand Center Arts District-wide “MATI Places” on Thursday, September 12 and the return of its 3rd annual Conference for artists and creative professionals of Friday, September 13. Both MATI Places and the Conference are free, making participation - and education - accessible to even more members of the St. Louis community, and beyond.
Music at the Intersection Festival and Conference schedule of events, Sept 12-15:
Sept 12 - MATI Places (free; certain activations may have a cover charge)
Sept 13 - Music at the Intersection Conference (free to attend with registration)
Sept 13 - Kickoff at the Big Top (ticketed)
Sept 14-15 - Music at the Intersection Festival (ticketed)
MATI Places
Thursday, September 12, 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Grand Center Arts District and Locust Business District are getting in the Music at the Intersection spirit. Called “MATI Places,” some of the area’s most dynamic businesses and organizations are activating unique music, art and community engagement programming in the ramp up to the highly anticipated festival weekend. On Thursday, September 12, attendees can walk St. Louis’ central corridor, experiencing - all within a one-mile radius - everything from rooftop yoga and diva dance parties to steampunk tech and pop-up fashion. Mixed into the fun will be opportunities for artists and creative professionals to learn and network.
“Art, music and creativity are the core of Grand Center and Midtown all year round,” said Chris Hansen, Executive Director of Kranzberg Arts Foundation. “There are so many incredible businesses and organizations in this area of the city. MATI Places gives us an opportunity to spotlight them and amplify their creative programming, encouraging music fans to start the weekend early and explore.”
Participating MATI Places include:
Work and Leisure with Habitat Financial (3015 Locust): Office Hours and Happy Hour with DJ Mahf
Hidden Gems (3318 Locust): Divas Through the Decades!
Heydays HQ! (3139 Olive): STEAMFUNK
Harris Stowe State University: Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (3205 Olive): Creative Elevation; Inspire, Innovate, Impact!
TURN Restaurant (3224 Locust): Happy Hour: Music, Small Bites & Drinks!
Urban Harvest at Sally’s Rooftop (3224 Locust): Don’t Kale the Vibe! Revelry on the Rooftop
Blueprint Coffee at High Low (3301 Washington): Specialty Drinks
Field Club Media in Sophie’s (3333 Washington) and KAF Art Yard (3316 Washington): Inside/Out
Mind Speak Consulting at Mid Coast Media (3318 Washington): The Spin; A Discussion About The Cultural, Creative and Economic State of Being a Deejay
Grand Center Inc. x Kranzberg Arts Foundation at Strauss Park (3534 Washington): The BloX Party, A Youth Activation
The Dark Room at The Grandel (3610 Grandel Square): MATI Places Afterset - produced by The Townsend Agency and in partnership with the Recording Academy - feat. “Frankie DoWop & The Thundacats” and Eldraco
Most MATI Places events are free to attend. Some RSVPs are required and certain activations may have a cover. Details are available at www.musicattheintersection.org/matiplaces
Music at the Intersection Conference
Friday, September 13, 9:15 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Taking place at .ZACK (3224 Locust St.) and presented in collaboration with the Recording Academy and Evntiv, Music at the Intersection’s 3rd annual conference will focus on Music, Art, Thought and Innovation (M.A.T.I.). The conference is free to attend and features a variety of national and St Louis-based industry leaders.
New for 2024, the conference will include a keynote discussion with hip-hop songwriter and performer, Big Boss Vette. Hailing from St. Louis, Big Boss Vette skyrocketed to fame with viral hits like 2019's "Bad Bitch" and 2020's "Outside." Her journey from social media sensation to chart-topping artist with hits like 2022's "Snatched" and "Pretty Girls Walk" is a testament to the power of hustle and talent. Big Boss Vette will talk about her life, her music and what motivates her success.
“This conference was born out of a call to action from various St. Louis groups for more professional development tools in order to build capacity and attract industry,” said Chris Hansen, Executive Director of Kranzberg Arts Foundation. “We designed the conference with a long term vision, as something we can continue to expand and evolve. Year three features new panel topics, heavy-hitting thought leaders from St. Louis and beyond, and the opportunity to hear directly from top rising talent. We’re providing resources to artists and creating a space for innovative discussion - followed by a weekend of world-class music.”
"Creative people are the brightest hustlers I know," said Sam Foxman, President of Evntiv. "There’s no school or class that packs this much real-world experience into one day with the caliber of speakers we have. And, by the way, it’s free."
Conference panels and sessions will cover the topics of:
Arch Grants presents START UP CITY: Why I Chose STL to Start My Business
The Intersection of Art and Gaming
How to Make Money as a Creative Entrepreneur
The Business of Fashion: Designing, Making, Selling and Styling
Taking on Investors: The Dos and Don’ts of Outside Money
The Recording Academy® presents Indie and Unstoppable: Building Your Music Career
Content Creators Roundtable: How to Leverage Podcasts, TikTok and Instagram to Build Your Brand
Big Boss Vette: My Life. My Music
Congrats, You Made Money! Here’s How to Keep It: How to Build Wealth as you Build your Career.
Participating panelists are a diverse cohort of musicians, entrepreneurs, activists and community leaders including:
Aaron Mottern - Founder & CEO, AGOGIE
Abram Donavan - Game Designer, Graphite Labs, Senior Level Designer for Mr. Run and Jump (produced by Atari)
A.J. Haynes - member of soul rock band Seratones, Secretary of the Recording Academy Memphis Chapter
Amit Dhawan - Owner, Synergy Productions
Angelica Harris - Founder, Top Tutors for Us
Big Boss Vette - Hip-Hop Artist, Songwriter, Entrepreneur
Brandin Vaughn - CEO & Founder, Classic Culture Clothing Company
Candera Thompson - Founder & CEO, Bask and Bloom
Charles Whitehead - On-Air Talent for Nintendo of America
Drea Ranek - Owner & Co-Founder, Lusso
Emily Lohse-Busch - Executive Director, 39 North AgTech Innovation District
Erin Frankenheimer - music business development professional, Governor on the Recording Academy Memphis Chapter
Gabe Angieri - Executive Director, Arch Grants
Gerard Craft - CEO, Niche Food Group
Hailee and Kendra - Digital Creators, Entrepreneurs, Owner of @haileeandkendra
Izzy Polanco - Owner & Stylist, Restyled by Izzy
Jacob Turner - Professional Baseball Player & Co-Founder, Moment Private Wealth
Jamar Pinkston - Visual Storyteller, Videographer, Photographer, CEO, Church Productions
Jeff Clarke - Owner, Mother Model Management
Jessie D. Miller - Owner, Jessie D. Miller Interior Design
Lando Peyton - Digital Creator & Owner, @ItsEpicEats
Laura Sawyier - CEO & Founder, LKS Styling & Consulting
Mary Clarke - Owner, Mother Model Management
Mark Sawyier - Co-Founder & CEO, Bonfyre
Mary McKenzie - Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Volcano Bean
Matt Raithel - Professor of Practice of Game Design, Maryville University
Morgan Casey - Digital Creator & Owner, @dateideasandthingstodo
Nell Schiffer - COO & Partner, Hill Investment Group
Quiana Lynell - Jazz musician, Vice President of the Recording Academy Memphis Chapter
Reid Wick - Membership & Industry Relations, the Recording Academy
Reshma Chattaram Chamberlin - Co-Founder and Chief Branding & Digital Officer, SUMMERSALT
Richard Nava - Game Design and Development Consultant, Tari Labs
Sam Foxman - President & Co-Founder, Evntiv
Shani Bennet - Co-Founder & CEO, Figozo
Suzannah Powell pka Boyfriend - rapper and pop artist, Governor on the Recording Academy Memphis Chapter
Tim Luchini - Founder & CEO, Intramotev
Yinka Faleti, J.D. / Venture Partner, Ascend Venture
Those interested in attending the Conference can RSVP at www.musicattheintersection.org/conference or directly at www.MetroTix.com (or by phone at 314-534-1111). There are individual tickets for each workshop / panel. Attending the conference is FREE. However, there is a small ticket processing fee at sign-up.
The Conference is sponsored by Kranzberg Arts Foundation, The Regional Arts Commission (RAC) of St. Louis, Steward Family Foundation, World Wide Technology, Rio Vista Foundation and Evntiv, with support from the Recording Academy.
More About Music at the Intersection Weekend
New for 2024, Music at the Intersection has added a special Friday night “Kickoff at The Big Top” concert in partnership with St. Louis CITY SC. The event on September 13 under The Big Top (3401 Washington) in Grand Center will feature dance music duo DRAMA, in addition to CITY SC’s five Homegrown artists: Brock Seals, Hazmat, Lani Rose, Matt Jordan and Tonina. Gates open at 5 p.m., with Homegrown performances starting at 6 p.m. Special happy hour food and drink specials will be available from 5-6 p.m. GA “Kickoff at the Big Top” tickets are $30 and can be purchased at www.musicattheintersection.org/tickets or directly at www.MetroTix.com (or by phone at 314-534-1111).
Running September 14-15, Music at the Intersection Festival will feature more than 50 national, regional and local acts across four stages throughout Grand Center Arts District’s outdoor festival footprint – a mix of urban streets and green spaces, stretching across Washington Avenue, just east of Grand Blvd. Festival grounds open at 1 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. on Sunday. Performances will take place within that outdoor footprint until well after sunset.
Headliners include psychedelic soul band Black Pumas, 10x Grammy winning queen of funk Chaka Khan, rapper Big Boi (of Outkast), New Orleans trombonist and trumpeter Trombone Shorty, 5x Gramming winning jazz bassist Esperanza Spalding, funk group Lettuce, 2x Grammy winning 24-year-old jazz singer Samara Joy and St. Louis rapper Chingy. The festival also features Ferguson-born trumpeter Keyon Harrold, a 3x festival alumnus, in a new role as Music at the Intersection Artist-in-Residence.
Tickets are currently on sale at www.musicattheintersection.org/tickets or directly at www.MetroTix.com (or by phone at 314-534-1111). Tier 1 tickets are sold out. Tier 2 prices start at $175 for all-weekend access or $95 for a day-pass. Limited GA+ and VIP tickets are also available.
With community at its core, Music at the Intersection continues to build partnerships that celebrate and elevate everyone in St. Louis. The festival is once again partnering with Mvstermind’s artist performance bootcamp, Mvstercamp. Additionally, werQfest, St. Louis’ arts and culture festival highlighting the black queer, trans and non-binary community, is also bringing fresh programming to the festival.
On Sunday, festival gates open at 11 a.m. for a gospel brunch - with special brunch-focused food and beverages - in partnership with Gospel Music Hall of Fame. Pop-up choirs will entertain attendees in the food truck court, and gospel artists Jeremy & LaToya will kick off Sunday’s WOW Stage. Music at the Intersection performers past and present, including Jordan Ward and Keyon Harrold, credit St. Louis’ gospel music as an influence. This will be the festival’s first year featuring distinct gospel programming.
Music at the Intersection is also partnering with The International Institute and Festival of Nations throughout 2024 to ensure the city’s multicultural communities and new immigrants feel welcome - and celebrated - enjoying the bounty of St. Louis art, music and culture.
Annually, at least 25 percent of Music at the Intersection’s sellable ticket capacity is set aside to ensure that thousands of tickets go into the hands of frontline workers and people in marginalized communities. The tickets are reserved, despite ticket sales, as part of Music at the Intersection’s promise to its partners and community.
Music at the Intersection also builds upon its successes and will bring back fan favorite experiences. The festival will continue to put special emphasis on art and culture. Central to the festival’s footprint, “Mural Market” at The Walls off Washington will be home to local artisan vendors, as well as live, immersive street art activations. Food trucks will also be available for attendees.
Since its inception in 2021, the festival has grown in size and ambition year-over-year, garnering rave reviews from attendees, as well as attention from the Recording Academy and national press outlets - including PEOPLE, Essence, Billboard, The Source, VIBE, Live for Live Music, SPIN and Forbes.
Music at the Intersection is presented by Kranzberg Arts Foundation in partnership with Steward Family Foundation and The Regional Arts Commission (RAC) of St. Louis.
About Music at the Intersection:
Music at the Intersection is a civic-led effort presented by Kranzberg Arts Foundation in partnership with Steward Family Foundation and The Regional Arts Commission (RAC) of St. Louis. First held in 2021, the festival tells the story of St. Louis’ musical, cultural and artistic heritage. It celebrates the city’s imprint on the American songbook, as well as the relationship St. Louis has with its Mississippi River roots. The festival aims to celebrate musical heritage, from the West African coasts to the Caribbean islands, up through the Mississippi Delta. Music at the Intersection honors the giants who shaped genre and sound - across blues, jazz, soul, R&B, hip-hop and rock n' roll - as it also calls up and gives platform to a new wave of artists.
