2012 Press Release
For Immediate Release
Contact Information
Media
Amaechina Doreen
323.596.0955
leimertparkfestival [at] mail [dot] com
THE FREE LEIMERT PARK FESTIVAL KICKS OFF LABOR DAY WEEKEND IN HISTORIC LEIMERT PARK VILLAGE IN LOS ANGELES SEPT 1-3 WITH THE MOST DIVERSE LINE-UP AND THEIR FIRST YOUNG ADULT STAGE IN THE POPWAGON, LA’S NEWEST MOBILE PERFORMANCE STAGE
IN SUPPORT OF LITERACY THE FESTIVAL WILL GIVEAWAY 10,000 CHILDREN’S BOOK AND WILL FEATURE JAZZ, BLUES, REGGAE, AFRO-BEAT, R&B, NEO SOUL, WORLD MUSIC, HIP HOP, AFRICAN DRUMMING, DANCE, COMEDY, SPOKEN WORD, A NATURAL HAIR SHOW and AFRICAN FASHION SHOW
LOS ANGELES, August 20, 2012 -- LA’s sweltering heat is sure to soar beyond record highs due to the hottest new entertainers scheduled to perform at The Free Leimert Park Village African Art and Music Festival in Los Angeles, Labor Day Weekend, Sept. 1, 2, 3, 2012, at 4318 Degnan Blvd. in Historic Leimert Park Village. With two stages this year, their main stage will feature exciting breakout artists like Nasambu and The Mystic Nomads, Saba Saba, a Ugandan hip hop artist, and a neo-soul band called Ngozi Flux as well as festival favorites including The Azar Lawrence Band featuring Alphonse Mouzon, The Pan African People’s Arkestra featuring Dwight Trible, Kamasi Washington and The Next Step Band, Wadada, Medusa, and N-Circle (formerly The Full Circle Band) featuring T.C. Moses and smooth jazz saxophonist Andre Delano.
Their new spoken word and comedy showcase, begins each day at Noon, and will feature performances by poets Alice The Poet, Nikki Blak, Cayenne, Food4Thot, Gia Scott Heron, Donny Jackson, Deana Reed, Sho', & A.K. Toney, and BY comediennes Daryl & Dwayne Mooney-The Mooney Twins, Awet Teame & Daphne Wright.
On Saturday at 4pm, one LA’s most influential DJ’s, Nnamdi Moweta, will be at the festival to broadcast the live performance of Saba Saba on his long-running Radio Afrodicia show that can be heard world-wide on Pacifica radio station KPFK, 90.7 FM.
The Festival’s second ulta-hip Popwagon stage will showcase new millennium generation artists Alpha MC, Black Soultan, Bless Escro, Habit, ill chilldren, Gia Scott Heron, Jamie L, Karla Moxley, L!sted, Osmith, VerBS & Wo'se Kofe. This segment is produced by Kyle VerBS, a Co-Founders of The Leimert Park Art Walk that monthly draws droves of youth to Leimert Park Village from all around the city.
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| Photo by Hiltron Bailey |
Another festival first, seven year old Harmony Bailey, a fast-rising entertainment journalist, has been selected as the Festival’s Official Red Carpet Correspondent and will interview the Legacy Award honorees and other festival guests. Harmony has interviewed over 200 celebrities and political figures, including Laila Ali, Nick Cannon, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Eric Benet, Barry Gordy, Stevie Wonder, Teena Marie, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Magic and Cookie Johnson, Della Reese, Soulja Boy, Monica, Congresswomen Diane Watson and Maxine Waters and Chris Tucker.
Parents can bring their 2-12 years olds to The Children’s Village, where they will be giving away 10,000 children’s books donated by Piccolo Books and Rooted in the Arts, an emerging arts organization, headed by Phyllis Bradley-Parker, will offer “make and take” craft sessions, and guided art workshops. Teens, ages 13-18 will have their own Teens Territory, hosted by Sharon Blackburn, Executive Director of The South Central Prevention Coalition. Sharon along with her peer counselors, and The Department of Parks and Recreation, will provide creative art projects, a skit, and a healthy food demonstration and sampling by Network for a Healthy CA-Los Angeles.
The Festival’s four signature programs are a “West African Fashion Show” (Sat., Sept. 1st, 2pm); “Sankofa Sunday” a remembrance of those that have transitioned since the last Festival, (Sun., Sept. 2nd, 2pm); “Leaving A Legacy” Awards Ceremony, (Sat., Sept. 2nd, 4pm), and the “Raw 2 the Roots” Natural Hair Styling Showcase, that will feature 18 of LA’s top natural hair stylists and over 90 natural hair models, (Mon., Sept. 3rd, 2pm).
Another unique feature of the Festival is the many free giveaways they provide. In addition to the 10,000 free children’s books, the Festival will also be give away tickets to see The Alvin Ailey Dance Troupe at The Music Center, tickets to the 10th Annual BB Jazz Festival in Huntington Beach, free cookbooks, full-sized natural hair care products from Alafia and Miss Jessie’s, free food and sample sized drinks. “We carefully select sponsors who are deeply committed to helping the community and not just having their name and logos on our banners”, said Sika, a Co-Founder and Co-Producer of the event.
Finally, the Festivals’ Cultural Marketplace will be bursting at the seams with exquisite fine art including paintings, art quilts, wood carvings and authentic African artifacts. Other items for sale in the Cultural Marketplace will include women’s hats, dresses, purses, shoes, jewelry, T-shirts, body butters, soaps, essential oils, dolls, baskets and more.
For information and the latest news about the FREE LEIMERT PARK VILLAGE AFRICAN ART & MUSIC FESTIVAL, visit www.leimertparkfestival.blogspot.com. Join the Festival community: on Twitter @LeimertParkFest and become a fan of 2012 LEIMERT PARK Festival on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LeimertParkFestival.
Festival sponsors include Union Bank, the office of City Council Present, Herb J. Wesson, Jr., 10th District Councilmember, the office of Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, Second District, Pucker Up Lemonade, Mc Donald’s, Superior Grocers, CareMore, Professional Products Unlimited, Inc., Curls Unleashed, Piccolo Books, Community Build, Inc., The Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, Pacifica Radio Station KPFK, and KQLIK Radio.
The 2012 Free Leimert Park Village African Art and Music Festival is executive produced by The Leimert Park Group.
ABOUT THE LEIMERT PARK GROUP:
The Leimert Park Group (LPG) is an emerging non-profit organization that promotes commerce, culture and community in Leimert Park Village and surrounding areas. The company’s flagship event, The Free Leimert Park Village African Art & Music Festival, is the preeminent event in Historic Leimert Park Village; drawing residents from across all council districts in Los Angeles and beyond. In just four short years, the LPG has also become one of the leading privately produced events offering health/wellness, economics/business, arts/culture, literacy/education and leadership programs, activities, and services to the broadly diverse Los Angeles audience. Additional information about the LPG is available at www.leimertparkfestival.blogspot.com.
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