The 16th annual Eagle Rock Music Festival returned to its streets, and was once again very happily welcomed by all. The nationally noted festival, presented by Councilman Jose Huizar and produced by Center for the Arts Eagle Rock, came back on Saturday, October 4th, 2014.
On this sunny Southern California day, the event catered its guests with free parking at the Eagle Rock Plaza, and a free shuttle ride to the festival that stretched along multiple blocks of Colorado Boulevard. Presenting an extensive variety of multicultural music, the festival gave power and recognition to independent and local musicians.
To allow all the creativity to soar, six musical stages were erected and spread out evenly for guests to freely take a quick stroll and enter another dimension of music. From the Blues/Jazz/Rock & Roll Stage at Columbo’s, to the Family Stage at Eagle Rock City Hall, and the Center Stage which hosted the main acts.
It was at the Center Stage stage where Al Borde started our day and got our feet dancing with tunes from the young and beautiful DJ SoSuperSam. Having the sun beaming on her deck didn’t stop her from providing new underground sounds blended with R&B, electronic, hip hop, and indie favorites. We took a walk shortly after and claimed a spot for most of the event at the Subtropical Stage located at Rantz Auto Center. Supporting the community and local talent, the Eagle Rock High School Latin Jazz Band opened and warmed up the stage for the acts to follow.
Los Angeles based Viento Callejero got the party started and infected the crowd with their raw cumbia-rock vibes. With great tunes and smiles on their faces, the quartet jammed until the sun set. After the initial dance session, the crowd cooled off with the night breeze. But the heat returned once Palenke Soultribe hit the stage. A trio from this band mounted their decks for a vibrant DJ set. Accompanied by congas and drums, they brought their Afro-Columbian electro cumbias that instantly forced the crowd into a dancing frenzy, and were compelled to leave their decks and jump right along with them. A circle amongst the audience opened up and gethered around breakdancers doing handstands and spinning.
After a short recess, the stage was soon covered with multi-instruments and the multi-members of Buyepongo. They fed the crowd a dose of their “Buye Beat” and fused afro beats with cumbia, salsa, and merenge. The Subsuelo DJs didn’t allow a dull moment to sneak in between sets; they kept the dance party going and the feet moving consistently during each intermission and even closed the stage with a full set of their own.
After several hours of partying Latin-Tropical style, we moved on to the Center Stage to finalize the night. Moving through the diverse crowd, we encountered random artists that created their own stage on the street to rant politics with acoustic instruments behind them. Arriving at the Center Stage, Grammy Award winners Quetzal were jamming out to some Chicano Rock. They were shortly accompanied by the beautiful rapper Maya Jupiter and festival headliner Aloe Blacc. The versatility of instruments matched the versatility of artists on stage. These three power houses evoked some positive social awareness and sent the audience fully satisfied.
It was an easy and pleasant flow of people and music. The hassle-free event accomplished its purpose: to support community, celebrate culture, and of course great music.
Eagle Rock Music Festival Photos
