For Immediate Release
Press Inquiries please contact:
Fiona Bloom of Bloom Effect @ 646-764-0004 National and International Press
Talitha Johnson of Johnson PR @ 313-415-6178 Local Press
Myron Ruffin Unlimited Wealth PR @ 419-575-4685 National and Regional Press
Detroit, MI – Fusicology.com the web’s largest and fastest growing portal to progressive music and culture and The St. Regis Hotel of Detroit present The Urban Organic Festival in Downtown Detroit. The Urban Organic Festival is an outgrowth of the Urban Organic Experience, an annual music and art celebration that began in October 2001. Since its inception, it has grown to become a multi-venue weekend festival celebrating positive, emerging, and progressive soul and hip-hop artists from around the world. The festival highlights other art forms such as: culinary, fashion and film. In previous years, The Urban Organic Festival has drawn hundreds of attendees including, artists, and industry types from around the United States, Canada and as far away as London, England.
The Mayor of Detroit Kwame M. Kilpatrick says, ""The Urban Organic Festival is a movement. Detroit’s music scene has been the launching pad for some of today’s most well-known artists and this festival is a showcase for established home-grown talent as well as the next generation of local and national artists."
To name a few – Dwele, Kem, Kindred, Raheem Devaughn, Anthony David, Amp Fiddler, Leela James, Goapele, and Eric Roberson were all introduced to the Detroit market via Urban Organic. In the Detroit News, last September, Motown recording artist Kem applauded, "Urban Organic for creating an essential sort of springboard for talent on the rise." He went on to express, "When you are invited into the experience, it’s like you’re going through a necessary initiation into the Detroit Live Music marketplace."
Drake Phifer, founder of Urban Organic says, "We knew in the beginning that we wanted to create a quality product. The intent was to create a track record for selecting great artists on the rise that would feed back into the brand, and compel people to want to come out even if they weren’t familiar with the artist. I think that we have achieved just that."
"This year’s festival’s theme is Connecting the Dots, and we basically wanted to show where the love of the music originates. We are on a continuum, and it is important to look back and see who led the way. For that reason, we have chosen Roy Ayers to be our headlining artist as well as a bevy of other critical and emerging performers from Detroit and around the nation. It’s going to be a hallmark weekend for the city of Detroit and for the entire indie soul community.
Thursday, November 15
Urban Organic Heavy Rhyme Experience
at The Buzz Bar 9pm
546 Larned, Downtown Detroit
Hosted by LocalLuv.com and Fusicology.com
With John Arnold, DJ Jose Barrito, and DJ Sicari
5Ela, Fluent, Savallace, Mudd, Leaf Erikson, Wae, Khary Turner, Thyme, T3, Black Milk, DJ Sicari & DJ Jose Barrito
Friday, November 16
Soultracks.com Music Awards @ The Cobo Convention Center – Riverfront Ballroom – 8pm
One Washington Blvd
An Awards show honoring the best and the brightest in the Indie-soul movement including Maysa Leak, Kloud Nine, Maya Azucena, Eric Roberson, Frank McComb and others hosted by Soultracks.com the webs’s largest site for Indie Soul artists. Presented by Detroit’s Mosaicthump.com and Jodinescorner.com of Atlanta. Unique individual performances throughout the evening. Tickets available at Groovetickets.com
Saturday, November 17
Museum of Contemporary Art of Detroit (MOCAD) – 11AM – 12:30PM
4454 Woodward Ave
Free for artists with published CD/ Non-Artists – $10.00
How to make money as an Independent?
Hosted by Jodine Dorce, of Jodinescorner.com
Tonya Byrd Wilson, Sirius Radio; Kevin Harewood, Edclectic Entertainment, Fiona Bloom, The Bloom Effect, Korie Enyard, Gypsy People Music
Participants learn about publishing, song writing, marketing, promotions, retail activation, and more.
Urban Organic Film Sessions @ MOCAD (11:30AM- 5:00 PM)
There’s No Such Thing as Neo Soul – (Running Time: 61 Minutes) –11:30AM
Movie filmed at various performance venues throughout 2003, "No Such Thing As Neo-soul" provides viewers with a deeper appreciation of factors that have led the City of Brotherly Love to a significant position in the world music scene, thanks to its contributions to what is commonly referred to as Neo-soul.
Discussion Following Film with Filmmaker Stephanie Renee
High Tech Soul – (Running Time: 64 Minutes) – 1:05PM
The first documentary to tackle the deep roots of techno music, alongside the cultural history of its birthplace, Detroit. From the race riots of 1967 to the underground party scene of the late 1980s, Detroit’s economic downturn didn’t stop the invention of a new kind of music that brought international attention to its producers and their hometown.
Discussion Following Film
Before The Music Dies – (Running Time: 95 Minutes) – 2:40PM Narrated by Academy Award® Winner Forest Whitaker, BEFORE THE MUSIC DIES is an unsettling and inspiring look at today’s popular music industry featuring interviews and performances by Erykah Badu, Eric Clapton, Dave Matthews, Branford Marsalis, Questlove and a wide variety of others.
Discussion Following Film
The Urban Organic Experience: Everybody Loves The Sunshine!
Featuring Roy Ayers
7:00PM – 12:00AM
Hosted by Amp Fiddler
Featuring Roy Ayers, Anthony David, Monica Blaire, Suai, Alison Crockett, Jon Bibbs, John Arnold, Cel, Melissa Young, Kloud 9, and others
Doors Open 7pm; Performances 8PM – 12AM
$20.00 tickets are available until November 1st
Tickets are $20-$5
Tickets Available at
Johanson Charles Gallery – Fusicology.com After-party
With DJ Kai Alce Atlanta/Detroit and
Wajeed – New York/Detroit
On the Ones and Twos
12:00AM – Until…
$10.00
Sunday, November 18
Brunch Hosted by Urban Organic, Fusicology.com, and Gypsy People Music
Brunch Grooves by Kori and Urban Organic
Lola’s in Harmonie Park
1427 Randolph Street
10:00AM-3:00PM
