Area rapper Ace Cosgrove is among the featured performers at this week’s Sounds Of The City festival. (Photo by Cina Nguyen)
D.C. Music Download began as an online presence aimed at highlighting the local music scene. For the past four years, the team at DCMD has also been producing live events, showcasing many of the artists that standout among those it covers through its website.
This week, DCMD launches its most ambitious effort yet. Sounds Of The City is a four-day festival that brings together all of the components necessary to support a thriving music scene.
“We’re trying to give as broad a scope as possible for what’s happening right now in the D.C music community,” says Stephanie Williams, D.C. Music Download’s founder and editor-in-chief. “We wanted to expand beyond music and include people who were not just those in a band.”
Sounds Of The City augments live music performances with networking opportunities for those who are, or wish to be, involved with local music. The festival kicks off with a sold out panel discussion featuring, among others, former DCist Editor-in-Chief Matt Cohen and Julianne Brienza, founder and CEO of Capital Fringe. They’ll discuss the current state of D.C. music, including challenges facing artists and presenters in the area. During a panel taking place on Sunday at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the discussion will center on the digital tools artists have available for self-promotion.
Another important meet and greet event takes place on Saturday afternoon, when Songbyrd Music House & Record Cafe hosts a first-of-its-kind local record label expo. Representatives from over a dozen labels will gather to not only interact with artists, but also to sell product. There will also be an open mic for people who feel inclined to perform.
“The record label fair fits into the broader goals of Sounds Of The City,” Williams says of the expo. “We had wanted to do it in the past and the festival is a great opportunity to do it.”
DCMD isn’t going to stray too far from its roots, though. Two live music showcases serve as the festival’s centerpieces. Rising local hip-hop artist Ace Cosgrove will perform with a full band and DJ Ayes Cold spins throughout the night on Friday at Tropicalia. Ciscero rounds out the bill.
Saturday’s showcase at Black Cat doubles as DCMD’s five-year anniversary celebration. The lineup includes Den-Mate, Nag Champa, Fellow Creatures, and Stronger Sex.
“With us, when we try to curate, we try to go as broad as possible in terms of the sound and genres,” Williams says. “We only have two showcases so we can’t encapsulate everyone, but these are the artists and bands that we feel are pushing musical boundaries.”
Sounds Of The City takes place March 2 through March 5 at various venues. Visit the festival website for the full schedule and ticket information.
