FESTIVAL

URB ALT Festival 2009
The URB ALT Festival is a multi-cultural 4 day live music/film/visual arts event held in New York City venues including Public Assembly, Harlem School of the Arts and BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music). Going into its 4th year and amplifying the familiar structure of producer Boston Fielder’s monthly URB ALT showcase, the URB ALT Festival features video projections by internationally acclaimed visual artists, feature film screenings, an art exhibition and performances by cutting edge musical artists . All of the creators represent URB ALT's continued promotion of social, political, economic and spiritual empowerment for the communities that it serves.

6/20/09
Public Assembly - Live Music, Live Art and Video Projections
70 North 6th Street Brooklyn, NY.
3pm-9pm

California King - New York
Shanti Om - Atlanta
Amanda Ray - New York
Waberi Jordan - Los Angeles
Brandee Younger - New York
Stoni Taylor - Atlanta
MuthaWit Orchestra - New York/Atlanta
Tim Fielder (video projections) - New York
Unnameable Badass Italian Female Singer - Rome


6/24/09
Harlem School of the Arts - Exhibit, Visual/Music Workshop and Live Music
645 St. Nicholas Avenue Harlem, NY
6pm (Visual Arts and Music Workshop) - 7pm-11pm (Art Exhibit/LiveMusic)

1)Kaneng Lolang - New York by way of Nigeria/London
2)MuthaWit Orchestra - New York/Atlanta
3)Marthalicia - New York
4)Tim Fielder (Animation, Experimental Comics) - New York
5)YAMS (Graphic Design) - New York
6)Jaclyn Roberts (Photography) - New York
7)Ed Marshall (Photography) - New York
8)Everett "Zatt" Glenn (Experimental Comics) - New York
9)Jaclyn Roberts (Photography) - New York


6/26/09
BAMcafe - Live Music and Video Projection
30 Lafayette Avenue Brooklyn, NY
8pm-11pm

1)Paris Suit Yourself - Berlin/Paris
2)AuntKeKe - New York
3)Salakida Kali - Los Angeles
4)MuthaWit Orchestra and special guests - New York/Atlanta


6/27/09
BAMcafe - Live Music and Video Projection
8pm-11pm

1)Oh My Goodness -Portland
2)Otto Fischer - London by way of Nigeria
3)Mama Moon - Washington, DC
4)MuthaWit Orchestra and special guests - New York/Atlanta

The music industry is dead. Long live the music industry.

The growing international recognition of and interest in non-genre specific music via internet communities (urbalt.ning, youtube, twitter, myspace, facebook, afropunk, okayplayer, etc.) , file-sharing protocols, online news agencies(popmatters, pitchforkmedia, billboard, etc.), e-retail outlets (Itunes, cdbaby, amazon, etc.) and blogs (npr.org/music, stereogum, boldaslove, etc.) has spawned a tremendous new fanbase for eclectic independent artists. The demographic figures say that, yes, illegal downloading has cut into the profit margins of major labels but they have also encouraged the music audience to explore and take chances on artists they would have ignored in prior years. The tradeoff is of great benefit to the up-and-coming artists who will determine mainstream tastes and buying habits towards the end of this decade and beyond. The ideal of more choice for the consumer generates interest in live music performances which is where troubadors traditionally expand their fanbase. From venue to venue this evolving level of audience inquisitiveness and receptiveness is reflected in in the URB ALT Festival's increasing critical and commercial popularity.