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Stacey “Hotwaxx” Hale COURTESY PHOTO[/caption]
By Steve Furay
Special to the Michigan Citizen
The 9th Annual Backpack Music Festival will be held at Belle Isle, Aug. 2, for a day of music, art, education and summertime family fun. The event is a fundraiser for the non-profit Serendipity, Collage and Potpourri (SCP), an organization that works with public and charter schools, churches and community organizations to help provide basic school supplies to children in need, and will feature a notable lineup of Detroit techno, funk and soul artists, including Juan Atkins and Amp Fiddler.
“Bring your backpacks school supplies, and your dancing shoes. It is a lot of hard work and dedication we do year round,” says Judy Shelton, SCP Founder, in a statement.
“But on this day,” she says, “it is so rewarding to see the entertainment industry and local youth organizations come together, giving their support to help raise funds and supplies for Michigan based youth in need. No child should be without the basics to succeed, and the community coming together on the Backpack Music Festival Day brings joy to everyone involved.”
The $20 entry fee will be a donation to the cause, and attendees are encouraged to bring backpacks, school supplies and books for a contribution that will be distributed to students for the upcoming school year. Children from grades K-12 are admitted free, and parents with children receive a discounted $10 entry free from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. The 2014 festival will include the new Kids Got Talent stage, a free sunrise breakfast at 8 a.m. donated by Grill Masters, and lunch snacks provided by Gleaners and Forgotten Harvest.
Also included will be science demonstrations with the Mad Science Guy, painting with Al Depree’s Art Therapy, hand percussion with Craig Huckaby, and a workout with the Detroit Cougars Police Athletic League Football Camp. Youth performers include Urban Stringz, Gina Moy, Kayden Bryce, and Detroit School of Rock and Pop. Co-sponsors include Quicken Loans, Whole Foods, and The Skillman Foundation.
Live performances will also include singers Britney Stoney and Michael Turner, and over 15 DJs including Stacey “Hotwaxx” Hale, Marcellus Pitman, Derrick Thompson, Al Esther and John “Jammin” Collins.
“We are happy to be a part of this wonderful tradition of helping kids,” says Juan Atkins. “Reading is a fundamental part of learning, so we’re asking people to give books too.”
For more information, visit www.BackpackMusicFestival.com
