Music at the Intersection returns to Grand Center this weekend
This major music festival in St. Louis has an incredible lineup
St. Louis has long had a pretty great live music scene, but the addition of the Music at the Intersection festival in 2021 really upped the ante for our community. The fourth annual Music at the Intersection will take over Grand Center Arts District this weekend on Saturday, Sept. 14, and Sunday, Sept. 15, and this is one festival you do not want to miss.
The stacked lineup features national acts such as Black Pumas, Chaka Khan, Lettuce, Trombone Shorty, Big Boi of Outkast, Samara Joy, Joe Russo’s Selcouth Quartet, Dylan Triplett and many more.
“St. Louis has a musical and cultural legacy that is unrivaled globally,” said Chris Hansen, executive director of Kranzberg Arts Foundation, which organizes the festival. “We need to own it, and we need to be proud of it. Music at the Intersection is a moment where we get to celebrate being in St. Louis. It’s an urban event that helps the city create jobs and economic growth, while showing people how wonderful and diverse St. Louis is.”
From hip-hop and soul to electronic music and everything in between, there’s truly something for everyone. “This year’s festival lineup reflects that, with St. Louis giants, living legends and rising stars. We’re delivering hip-hop classics with Big Boi and Chingy, and new school hip-hop-meets-electronic with Jordan Ward and Mvstercamp’s DARKWOOD,” Hansen explained. “If you’re into funk and soul, we’ve got the super hot Black Pumas, Lettuce, Bebe The Neo-Soul and Lady Wray. Plus, we’re diving deep into the intersectionality of blues, jazz, funk and soul, embodied by Trombone Shorty, Robert Randolf and living legend Stanley Clark. Add in the iconic Chaka Khan, a new gospel day party, and our own Keyon Harrold at the helm. It’s going to be an incredible weekend.”
Check out the MATI website for the full lineup and schedule.
There are some pre-party festivities slated for the days leading up to the festival too. On Thursday, Sept. 12, there will be a new experience from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. called MATI Places. “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,” Hansen said. “Mixed into the fun are opportunities for artists and creative professionals to learn and network. 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.”
On Friday, Sept. 13, there will be a festival kick-off event at The Big Top held in partnership with St. Louis City SC featuring dance group Drama and St. Louis-based artists from City SC’s Homegrown program.
Music at the Intersection also partnered 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, according to Hansen. “We want to continue to make this festival comfortable and inviting to people from different backgrounds and multicultural communities who are choosing St. Louis for their families and future,” he said. “This year, we’ve been proud to hold hands with great organizations that promote multiculturalism, build civic pride and help advance the health and wealth of our region.”
So, if you’re in town this weekend, make it your mission to go to this incredible, world-class festival with block party vibes in the heart of the city. “MATI is so quickly becoming nationally and internationally recognized,” Hansen explained. “And we should all be proud. It’s been a huge community lift to get us here. Now, it’s time to turn out and enjoy it together.”
