Music at the Intersection has become a staple of the Midwest festival scene.
Now in its fifth year, the two-day mid-September festival in St. Louis offers something for everyone, drawing in listeners of all ages and backgrounds. I watched last year’s headliner, Herbie Hancock, in awe. Now, later this month, festivalgoers are looking to Chaka Khan to be this year’s standout performer.
“We always celebrate our living legends, elevate our rising stars and our St. Louis acts,” says Chris Hansen. Hansen is the executive director of the Kranzberg Arts Foundation, the festival’s executive producer.
The festival lineup is reliably top-notch. Last year, several local St. Louis artists and blues legend Taj Mahal performed before Hancock shredded on keytar. Also performing were hip-hop legend Grandmaster Flash, New Orleans-based Tank and the Bangas, and the grooving The Fearless Flyers.
“Music at the Intersection is a celebration of our past—our roots in jazz, blues, soul and gospel—and how that’s informed modern music in R&B and hip-hop and rock and a little bit of electronica,” Hansen says. “When you celebrate your roots, it really is all things and all music.”
Once again, this year’s festival is well worth the four-hour drive along I-70.
Saturday’s lineup is predominantly focused on hip-hop and R&B. Headliners include rap legend Big Boi, psychedelic funk band Black Pumas and R&B singer Lady Wray. But the final day is heavy on jazz. Along with soul superstar Chaka Khan, Sunday will feature jazz fusion pioneer Stanley Clarke, vocalist Samara Joy (who won last year’s Grammy Award for Best New Artist), versatile bassist and singer Esperanza Spalding and the always fun and funky Trombone Shorty.
Many of the festival’s acts have some sort of tie to St. Louis, including R&B singer Jordan Ward, rapper Chingy and the festival’s artist in residence, trumpeter Keyon Harrold.
“It’s exciting to put that type of tapestry together and really celebrate our sister city connections,” Hansen says. “When we talk about St. Louis’ history and American music history, you’re able to go much deeper into world cultures,” Hansen says. “The festival is truly diverse and sees all walks of life. That’s what makes us uniquely different.”
While festivalgoers are welcome to leave and reenter the event—whether to explore the surrounding arts district or cool down in an air-conditioned space—I’ll be staying put with such a stacked lineup.
GO: Music at the Intersection, September 14-15. Grand Center Arts District, Saint Louis. Tickets are on sale at musicattheintersection.org.
