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The Unhinging of the LA Soul Music Festival

The Unhinging of the LA Soul Music Festival
The Unhinging of the LA Soul Music Festival

Kindred The Family Soul and Michael Eric Dyson

 

Entertainment,Ricky Richardson

 

Kindred The Family Soul and Michael Eric Dyson

Kindred The Family Soul

Los Angeles-The 2nd Annual LA Soul Music Festival was a coming together of music enthusiasts who simply appreciate and enjoy live music in a relaxing atmosphere, with likeminded people, in its many forms.
The LA Soul Music Festival was a celebration of all things “SOUL” whether it was vocals, instrumentation, soloist or a full band, it didn’t matter, as long as the artists had the ability, and talent to inspire and connect with the audience.
The LA Soul Festival featured Grammy Awarded and Grammy nominated national and internationally known artists, that people were familiar with as well as some that the crowd and I haven’t heard of … YET! Several of the artists on the line-up can also say that they have additional awards on display in their house (ASCAP, BET, Billboard,  NAACP Image Award and Soul Train),People travelled from near and far to partake in the festival, San Diego, Sacramento as well as Phoenix, Arizona was represented.

The 2nd Annual Los Angeles Soul Music Festival was supposed to be a 3-day live music event, Friday, July 14-Sunday, July 16, 2017, featuring established Platinum selling artists and rising stars, all on one stage. Just like a ball of thread, things started to unravel.
From what I gathered, the opening night was celebrated without any problems with outstanding performances by Major, Yuna, Sevyn Streeter, Ro James, August Alsina and K Michelle.
By day two, Saturday, the spool of thread started to unwind, unravel, if you will. The gates opened 30 minutes late, which wouldn’t have been a problem otherwise. The proverbial red flags started to appear. We waited and waited for the opening act, BJ The Chicago Kid to perform an indication that something was not right. DJ Mal-ski kept the crowd entertained with a bumping soundtrack of old and new school R&B tunes, spiced up with a dash of Latin rhythms.

The Unhinging of the LA Soul Music Festival

Avant

Backstage, Jane Eugene (British R&B band-Loose Ends), Robert Gee, vocalist and songwriter, and Michael Eric Dyson were kickin’ it, chillin’ with the Press Corps in the Press Lounge Area.

The show officially got underway with Kindred The Family Soul. This dynamic duo thrilled the crowd with a spirit filled set with the tunes “Shine Your Light,” “Alright,” “All My People,” and “Far Away.” Check out their latest CD Legacy of Love. It is re-assuring to know that “The Family is Still Here.”
Avant, multi-platinum awarded R&B singer, songwriter, put on an excellent show that featured many of his hits “Separated,” “My First Love,” “Nothing in this World,” and “Special” from his latest CD VIII.
Slick Rick/Doug E. Fresh followed by Anthony Hamilton was on fire during their respective, crowd pleasing sets. Another obvious red flag appeared when Tyrese didn’t perform another obvious sign that something was right. Social media lit up afterwards with people saying that they paid to see six artists, but only allowed to see four groups perform.
Day three, Sunday, July 16th, started off like any other day. I arrived to the festival site, waited in the Will call line like everyone else. I presented my Press Badge to proceed backstage to the Press Lounge area. Thirty minutes later, representatives from the festivals Public Relations Department delivered the news that the show was cancelled. I left without waiting for an explanation. The crowd and I were looking forward to enjoy the wonderful sounds as provided by Teedra Moses, Carl Thomas, After 7, Toni! Toni! Toni! Musiq Soul Child and Blackstreet.

The Unhinging of the LA Soul Music Festival

Jane Eugene

As you are aware by now, Social Media blew up with people wondering why the final day was cancelled. Some people speculated as to why the final day was cancelled, while others requested a partial or full refund.

There was a brief news announcement on Channel 5 News that is posted on the Facebook page of LA Soul Music Festival, but no explanation as to why the festival was cancelled. The promoter of the festival finally issue an official apology on their Facebook page.The promoters and his team are diligently working to offer the public refunds. Some people were promised a refund beginning on Thursday, July 20 with the rest of the public receiving a refund within a week. Stay tuned! to read about how the final threads of this issue is played out.

If you missed attending the festival, I’m sure that you can find videos with interviews and performances on several entertainment websites as well as Youtube.

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