Summer Spirit Festival
Event on 2012-08-04 15:00:00
Summer Spirit Festival- more infoCLOSE
3pm DoorsCDE Presents Summer Spirit Festivalw/ Erykah Badu, Common, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, Chuck Brown, Estelle, ERIC ROBERSONSummer Spirit Festival


- 5SAT 8/43pm DoorsErykah Badu- more infoCLOSE
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3pm DoorsErykah Badu Erykah Badu, best known for her eccentric style and cerebral music, is a Grammy- award winning American soul singer and songwriter. Regarded as the Queen of Neo Soul, Badu’s sound -- a concoction of soul, hip-hop and jazz -- cannot be contained to a single genre. Self-described as a “mother first”, Badu is a touring artist, dj, teacher, community activist, holistic healer, vegan, recycler, and con...scious spirit. Baduizm, Badu's highly acclaimed debut album, was released in early 1997 went triple platinum and, along with "On & On," won Grammy Awards at the 1998 ceremony. This spring, Badu released her fifth studio album, and second installment of a two-part New Amerykah series. New Amerykah, Part 1: Fourth World War, a concept album that was digitally produced and political in tone, debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart and Rolling Stone named it one of the year’s best albums. New Amerykah, Part II: Return of the Ahnk, which features lush live instrumentation and taps into Badu’s emotional side by thematically focusing on romance and relationships, made its debut at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 chart. For more information, please visit www.erykahbadu.com
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- 5SAT 8/4Common- more infoCLOSE
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3pm DoorsCommon With his multi-Grammy Award winning music career, continued work in film and television, and multiple written works, Common has emerged as one of Hollywood's most sought after leading men.
His numerous previous accomplishments in film and music include starring on the silver screen in films such as SMOKIN ACES, AMERICAN GANGSTER, WANTED, TERMINATOR SALVATION, DATE NIGHT and JUST WRIGHT. In 2004,... he partnered with Chicago native and rap music mega-star Kanye West to produce the album BE, which went on to garner four Grammy Award nominations. In 2007 COMMON released his critically acclaimed seventh album Finding Forever where it debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 Album Chart and it went on to earn a Grammy award. His eighth album, Universal Mind Control, was released in 2008 and was nominated for a Grammy in the category of Best Rap Album.
COMMON will next be seen starring alongside Ashton Kutcher, Robert De Niro, Halle Berry, Jessica Biel and Hilary Swank in New Line’s NEW YEAR’S EVE. Directed by Garry Marshall, this romantic comedy will premiere on December 9th, 2011. Also due out in 2011 is the much anticipated AMC series, “Hell on Wheels.” COMMON plays the role of “Elam,” a freed slave who comes west in post-Civil War America seeking work on the Transcontinental Railroad. COMMON has also recently finished filming the Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture fantasy film THE ODD LIFE OF TIMOTHY GREEN alongside Jennifer Garner, Joel Edgerton and Ron Livingston. Next up COMMON is set to start filming alongside Danny Glover and Michael Rainey Jr. in L.U.V. as “Uncle Vincent,” a troubled ex-con who finds companionship with his shy 13-year-old nephew.
Prior to acting, COMMON rose to prominence as one of hip hop’s most poetic and respected lyricists having recorded over eight albums and garnering multiple Grammy Awards. COMMON’S highly anticipated ninth album, The Believer, The Dreamer, will be released by Warner Bros. Records in November, 2011. The first single from the album, “Ghetto Dreams” featuring Nas, was recently released. The single artwork features a rare photo of Common and Nas from a video shoot in the mid 90’s.
COMMON also offers an even younger generation a better understanding of self respect and love, by utilizing the cultural relevance of hip hop in the children’s books he has written. His first book, entitled The MIRROR and ME, teaches lessons of life, the human spirit, and human nature. His follow-up book I Like You But I Love Me was nominated for an NAACP Image Award, and in 2008 he released his third book, M.E. (Mixed Emotions). COMMON will soon add to this list of accomplished written works with his revealing memoir, One Day It’ll All Make Sense. Every aspect of his life’s journey is unveiled in this deeply personal account of who COMMON is and the people, faith and events that have shaped and molded him into the award-winning, critically acclaimed conscious artist of today. This memoir will be on shelves beginning September 13, 2011 from Atria Books.
In addition to his music, film, and literary pursuits, COMMON has been the face, voice and inspiration behind some of the largest consumer brands in the country. COMMON was the voice of Gatorade’s G Series Sports Drink commercial that was launched during Super Bowl 2010. In 2009, he was announced as the face of the new Diesel men’s fragrance Only the Brave and he partnered with Microsoft as the inspiration and one of the designers to launch their Softwear clothing t-shirt line.
COMMON is a regularly requested guest speaker known to motivate and empower collegiate minds while speaking at prestigious universities across the country. In 2000, he launched the Common Ground Foundation, whose mission is dedicated to the empowerment and development of disadvantaged youth in urban communities by mentoring in three areas: character development, creative expression and healthy living.
Whether inspiring audiences through music, movies, television, books or his foundation, COMMON continues to break new ground, and remains to be one of hip-hop’s most innovative, positive voices.
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- 5SAT 8/4Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings- more infoCLOSE
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3pm DoorsSharon Jones and the Dap-Kings Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings have come a long way since their humble beginnings nearly a decade ago. On April 6th, 2010, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings marked history with the release of their fourth album, I Learned The Hard Way. After selling a mere 100,000 copies of their previous album, 100 Days, 100 Nights, since its release in 2007, the band went on to move 23,000 copies of I Learned The Har...d Way in the first week putting the album at #15 on the Billboard 200. And, after a few weeks on the shelves of record stores around the world, the album continues to climb the Billboard charts hitting at #2 for Independent albums and #6 for R&B/Hip-Hop albums. However, sales didn’t stop there. I Learned The Hard Way went on to move 100,000 copies in the first four months after its release date. Steeped in the gilded and gritty sounds of gospel, soul, and funk, this nine-piece act continues to electrify fans, disc jockeys, critics, record collectors, and bloggers the world over with their heart-felt sound. Their devotion to soul music is clearly demonstrated on the band’s four critically acclaimed albums Dap Dippin (2002), Naturally (2005), 100 Days, 100 Nights (2007), and their newest release I Learned the Hard Way, all captured and released by the independent Daptone Records, in Brooklyn, NY. Their albums recall an analog era led by iconic studios like those at Motown and Stax Records and have thrust the fifty-five year old Augusta, GA native and crew into the multimedia limelight.
Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings have appeared on The Colbert Report, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, The Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Lopez Tonight, The Mo’nique Show, CBS News, NPR, CNN, VH1, BBC Television, MTV, and many more, as well as a slew of print publications, including feature stories in New York Magazine, The New York Times Sunday Magazine and Arts Section, Mojo, USA Today, The New York Post, Veja, The Village Voice, The Washington Post, Newsweek, The Associated Press, and Entertainment Weekly.
As distinguished as their recordings may be, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings have become truly renowned thanks to their incredible live show and relentless touring. Although it’s no easy task to keep such a vast ensemble on the road, the band continues to pack hundreds of clubs worldwide, including two consecutive sold out shows last year at New York’s legendary Apollo Theatre, a historical evening at Celebrate Brooklyn! at the Prospect Park Band Shell that brought a reported crowd of nearly 20,000 people and show-stopping sets at SXSW, Coachella, Lollapalooza, Roskilde, Bonnaroo, Austin City Limits, North Sea Jazz Festival, and WOMAD. Most recently, the band has been invited by fellow soul enthusiast, Prince, to open for him at his shows in New York City, Paris, and Ghent. At each show, Ms. Jones and the Dap-Kings have been asked to join Prince on stage for collaborations during his set.
But, besides the adoration they receive from fans across the globe, they’ve also grabbed the ears of a diverse range of producers, musicians, and Hollywood execs, leading to a number of exciting collaborative projects with many different artists. Ms. Jones celebrated her silver screen debut in the Denzel Washington film, The Great Debaters, in which she was called upon to act, sing, and record the majority of the film’s soundtrack; the band’s version of Shuggie Otis’s “Inspiration Information” was a favorite on the celebrated Dark Was The Night benefit album; and their cover of “This Land Is Your Land” was prominently featured in the Golden Globe and Oscar winning Up in the Air. In addition, Ms. Jones has hit the studio and stage with the likes of David Byrne (including his recent release, Here Lies Love), They Might Be Giants, Rufus Wainwright, Lou Reed, and most recently appeared on Saturday Night Live to perform her duet “Baby (You’ve Got What It Takes)” with Michael Bublé. Not to be outdone, the Dap-Kings’ musical chops have also been in high demand. Legendary soul icon Al Green tapped their services for his Grammy winning Blue Note release, Lay It Down;Public Enemy producer Hank Shocklee used them for the soundtrack to the feature film American Gangster; and Mark Ronson utilized them for much of Amy Winehouse’s Grammy winning Back to Black. (One of those Grammy Awards went to Daptone’s Gabriel Roth for his engineering work.)
I Learned The Hard Way was produced by Bosco Mann and recorded in its entirety on an old Ampex eight-track tape machine at Daptone Records’ “House of Soul Studios.” The record drips with warmth and spontaneity rarely found since the golden days of Muscle Shoals and Stax Records. Ms. Jones’s voice, never stronger, evokes at once the raw power of Tina Turner, the moaning soulfulness of Mavis Staples, the rhythmic swagger of James Brown, and the melodic command of Aretha Franklin. From the lush Philly-soul fanfare that ushers in the top of the album with “The Game Gets Old,” to the stripped down Sam Cooke style that closes it with “Mama Don’t Like My Man,” the band dances seamlessly through the most simple, crafted arrangements with subtlety and discipline. This is the “Daptone Sound” at its finest and is a welcome breath of fresh air. But, most of all, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings are a celebration of, and a testament to, the soulful and beautiful possibilities of music.
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- 5SAT 8/4Chuck Brown- more infoCLOSE
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3pm DoorsChuck Brown “The Godfather of Go Go,” Chuck Brown is the undisputed sole founder and creator Go-Go music, a hypnotically danceable genre deeply rooted in funk and soul that he developed in the early 70’s , and the only form of expressive culture to originate in the District of Columbia. Foreshadowing rap and many of the major popular R&B styles of the past three decades, Chuck's signature style earned him a place in American musical royalty. This esteem was maintained by the reputation of his legendary live shows, heavy on audience participation and built around “the beat” to create an unparalleled non-stop party atmosphere.
While searching for a sound to call his own in the 1960s, Chuck was deeply inspired by artists like James Brown. He latched onto the Latin percussion groove from the band he played with at the time, Los Latinos. Combining this with his roots, his love of blues, jazz, gospel, soul, and African rhythms, Chuck began to develop his own unique sound. Starting out playing top forty, Brown would break-it-down between songs with percussion and audience call and response, and keep the music going, and the dance floor packed.
His first hit was “We the People” on the debut album of the same name in 1972. Next came the album Salt of the Earth, with the hit “Blow Your Whistle” (sampled by Grammy winner Eve in 2007 in her hit “Tambourine”), and one of the most sampled break beats of ALL time from “Ashley’s Roach Clip” (including Eric B and Rakim, LL Cool J and countless others). In 1978, the Soul Searchers became Chuck Brown and the Soul Searchers, and Chuck’s original composition “Bustin’ Loose” took the #1 spot in Billboard, on Source/MCA Records. The song was used in Grammy winner Nelly’s 2002 smash “Hot in Herre,” and continues to be one of the most relevant and often sampled funk songs ever written (“Bustin’ Loose” is currently featured in a national television campaign for Chips Ahoy).
After substantial touring across the US, but no money to show for his success, Chuck found himself looking for inspiration. He found it in his next hit, the Billboard charting “We Need Some Money,” which propelled him around the world again. Brown then revisited his love of jazz and created the “Go Go Swing Medley,” introducing people around the world to classics by Duke Ellington, Johnny Mercer, and James Moody, spun in Chuck’s inimitable way. Released independently and later on Polygram Records, Chuck Brown and the Soul Searchers once again reached an international audience through a 1985 at Holland’s North Seas Jazz Festival. In between sets by Curtis Mayfield and James Brown, Chuck schooled everyone on the genre he created. That same year, Chris Blackwell introduced the movie “Good to Go,” a much hyped but poor reflection of the scene. Nonetheless other artists, such as Salt N Pepa, Kurtis Blow, and Grace Jones, began incorporating his sound in their music. Brown continued to record, perform in the US, with stints in Europe and Japan in the nineties.
After a string of live recordings, he met at the time an undiscovered, shy talent by the name of Eva Cassidy in the early nineties. His lifelong dream of singing with a lady, springing from his love of duets by the likes of Louis Armstrong with Ella Fitzgerald and Billy Eckstine with Sarah Vaughan, came to fruition with the critically acclaimed and worldwide release of “The Other Side” by Chuck Brown and Eva Cassidy (which contained the original recording of the worldwide Eva Cassidy hit “Over the Rainbow”). He dedicated a jazz standards album to Ms. Cassidy after her tragic loss to cancer.
In 2001, he released the Billboard charting “Your Game... Live at the 9:30 Club” which was voted as one of the top 10 albums of 2001 by Billboard’s R&B Editor, Rapper Chuck D and others. A live DVD came next, called “quite possibly the greatest live concert video/DVD I have ever seen” by Murder Dog Magazine. The same year a double remastered “Best Of” album was released. In 2006 the National Endowment for the Arts awarded Chuck a “Lifetime Heritage Fellowship,” the Federal Government’s highest honor for folk and traditional arts, and Chuck also performed at the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. The following year his “We’re About the Business” CD debuted as the #1 independent album and #2 R&B album in Billboard. The National Visionary Leadership Project recognized Chuck’s contributions in shaping American history in 2007, joining previous honorees such as Ray Charles, Quincy Jones, BB King, and Earth Kitt.
Most recently Chuck has recorded with artists as diverse as Thievery Corporation, Brian Culbertson and Jeff Majors. A street in Washington DC was recently renamed “Chuck Brown Way.” His most ambitious recording, a three disc set “WE GOT THIS” was released on September 21, 2010. It contains a live concert DVD shot in HD, a live concert audio CD and a CD of bonus new studio material including collaborations with Ledisi, Marcus Miller and Jill Scott. At 74 years of age, Chuck Brown remains not only culturally and musically relevant, but a tireless and constant tour de force in American music.
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- 5SAT 8/4Estelle- more infoCLOSE
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3pm DoorsEstelle She may be a born-and-raised West London girl, but we’d venture that Estelle Swaray is right at home in the energy of New York, her newly adopted city. The Homeschool/Atlantic recording artist has announced early details of her massively anticipated new album. “ALL OF ME” – which follows the Grammy Award-winning singer’s 2008 US debut, “SHINE”. The new album is heralded by two critically acclaimed singles, “Fall In Love (Feat. Nas),” and “Break My Heart (Feat. Rick Ross),” which are both available now at the British hip-hop/soul sensation’s own official website, www.estellemusic.com.
“SHINE” – which marked the premiere release from Grammy Award-winner John Legend’s Homeschool Records label, in partnership with Atlantic Records – was without question one of 2008’s most compelling releases. Executive Produced by Legend and Atlantic Records Chairman/CEO Craig Kallman, the album proved Estelle’s global breakthrough, fuelled in part by the phenomenal hit single, “American Boy (Feat. Kanye West).”
In addition to hitting #1 in the UK, “American Boy” topped the European Airplay Chart, along with airplay charts in the UK, France, Italy, Belgium, Denmark, and Ireland. In the US, “American Boy” has been certified 2x-platinum by the RIAA for digital sales exceeding 2 million. And in 2009, the track earned Estelle her first-ever Grammy Award, among many other prestigious honors.
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- 5SAT 8/4ERIC ROBERSON- more infoCLOSE
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3pm DoorsERIC ROBERSON Singer, songwriter, and producer Eric Roberson (affectionately known as “Erro” by friends and fans) continues to break boundaries in an industry predominantly influenced by major record labels, manufactured sounds, and mainstream radio. His countless achievements as an independent artist has established him as a leader in which he has been able to reach levels of great success once never imaginable by an unsigned artist. Eric has truly created a path of success of his own to follow.
An outstanding storyteller, Eric’s music is relatable, allowing him to form personal connections with each of his listeners. His music is influenced by elements of music styles varying from Soul, Rhythm & Blues, House, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Rock and more, inhibiting him from being confined or limited to any one genre of music. His music is personal, poetic, positive and progressive. It is classic music presented in an untraditional fashion. All of these factors, paired with a humble, inspiring, and inviting spirit, has earned Eric the love and respect of each of his fans one by one, cultivating a fan base that has shown an unbelievable level of support throughout the years.
Eric Roberson began his career as a performing artist by singing in church and acting in his high school productions. In 1990, he won a scholarship to Howard University in Washington, DC where he graduated with a degree in Music Theatre. While a attending Howard, Eric was signed to Warner Brothers and released his first single “The Moon” in 1994 which charted on Billboards Top 100 R&B/Hip Hop Chart. Eric later entered into a songwriting deal with EMI Publishing where he would write for and work with a number of notable artists including DJ Jazzy Jeff, Osulande, Jill Scott, Musiq Soulchild, Carl Thomas, Vivian Green, 112, Will Smith and countless others. Although being a songwriter for other artists was (and continues) to be one of Eric’s passions, he still had aspirations to share his personal message with the world, a message that only he could deliver. After experiencing the ups and downs of being signed to a major label, and with the help of two supportive and loving parents, Eric began performing and selling his own music. In 2001, he established his record label B.L.U.E. Erro Soul where he released his first independent project The Esoteric Movement. Subsequently, Eric has gone on to release 7 other independent projects on his label: The Vault 1.0, The Vault Vol. 1.5, TheAppetizer, Erro Live: Vol. DC, Left, and Music Fan First, and his latest project Mr. Nice Guy? (2011). What once began as a hobby has now become an affluent business which has gone on to sell over 80,000 CD’s independently, thousands of digital downloads, and allowed Eric to tour all over, nationally and internationally, and in front of crowds of up to thousands.
“Erro” has earned the great respect and admiration of his peers and fans. Recognized for his undeniable talents, he became the first independent artist to be nominated for a BET Award in 2007 and was the recipient of the Underground Artist of the Year BETJ Virtual Award with Rahsaan Patterson in 2008. Released in late summer 2009, his album Music Fan First debuted in the top 10 on the ITunes R&B/Soul Charts. The album went on to entering into the top 100 Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for the song “Borrow You”, the Top 100 R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart for the album itself. In both 2010 and 2011, Eric Roberson received Grammy Award nominations in the category of Best Urban/Alternative Performance for the songs “A Tale of Two” and “Still” respectively, an amazing accomplishment for an independent artist.
Eric has gained a reputation for delivering dynamic live performances, which continues to spread all over the world. His ability entertain by bringing life to his songs on stage and creating songs on the spot using words provided by the crowd (freestyle) has been known to convert strangers to family, and turn those who have lost faith in the authenticity of music into believers again.
Eric Roberson continues to blaze through the industry under his own terms and in his own unique fashion always keeping one step ahead. His name continues to become as well known as some of his major mainstream counterparts as he bridges the gap between the majors and independent music. His originality, electric live performances, impressive freestyles, genuine humility, and his ability to connect with people through his music, has earned him the respect, appreciation, strong following and the support of fans all over the world.
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- 5SAT 8/4
at Merriweather Post Pavilion
10475 Little Patuxent Parkway
Columbia, United States