Sound Affects Recap - Waking Windows Hip-Hop Showcase

A new monthly Hip-Hop Community Event - Sound Affects - held it's premiere event on May 7th as part of Waking Windows Music Festival in Winooski. Their 2-Hour Hip-Hop Showcase went extremely well & got people excited for their monthly events, to be held at Arts Riot, starting on June 30th.

If you weren't in attendance, you missed out on a truly amazing experience. The energy in the intimate venue (Oak45) was infections & all of the artists displayed a high-level of professionalism & talent.

The Showcase started out with the host, Mertz, passionately performing a song that speaks to why the time for us to all come together is now. The Live Mixtape portion followed & grasped the audience's attention while 8-artists performed songs in rapid succession, blended together by DJ Kanga. Peace to PreciseMC, Self Portrait, Boomslang, LoKi, Manus feat. Dakota, Budnick, Enemy Self, & Bar None The Best for being a part of it!

Next, 4-artists with new projects in the works showcased their new material in longer Featured Sets. Eyedos provided an enthusiastic set - Forest Gray brought his production on stage - Humble displayed his innate energy - & Mister Burns lived up to his reputation as one of the hardest working artists in our state!

The Showcase came to a close with an energetic Freestyle Cypher, where the group Cworner Stwore provided live music (MPC, Stand-up Bass, Clarinet) while a myriad of lyricists freestyled their hearts out! Every Sound Affects event will end with a Freestyle Cypher while we stand united, fighting against the misconception that Hip-Hop artists are not 'real' musicians.

Check out their Video & Photo Recaps from the event, courtesy of their sponsor DVP Cinematography Services! Peace also to their sponsors Unknown Arts & The Sticky Brand!

If you love Hip-Hop, connect with them on social media (@SoundAffectsVT) in order to stay updated on their monthly events!

See you all at Arts Riot on June 30th!

Aug 30th: A-Dog Day Celebration

This weekend is going to be huge. Skate Jams on Church Street, two stages of music at Arts Riot, and very nearly too many acts to actually list.

A-Dog Day is a serious milestone for Vermont Hip Hop -- not this dinky little blog, but the actual scene itself: you and me and everyone we know. (Most of whom are on the bill at Arts Riot.)

This is a celebration of an inspiring human being who left this Earth more than a little bit too soon, and also an opportunity to take stock of the culture he helped grow here. If you're not familiar with A-Dog and his legacy, start here: an excellent Seven Days memorial gathered from his friends, co-conspirators and protégés.

Also: big ups to the homie Miro Weinberger for making this possible.

March 1st: VT Union Presents ... CASSIDY

One of the best rappers in the history of the mixtape scene, Cassidy will be coming through Venue courtesy of ASAPVT Entertainment and the good ol' VT Union, still going strong. Venue deserves props for doing 18+ shows -- I firmly believe that's crucial for building the culture long-term outchea in the 802. Kids need to get inspired.

Tickets for this are $25, with a $50 VIP meet and greet package available for the ballers & fanboys amongst us. Doors open at 10, and you can expect performances from Patron Pone, the VT Union, and of course, DJ Dakota getting the party started.

N.O.R.E., VT Union, Colby Stiltz, Patron Pone and SIN

Damn, what a lineup. This is a reunion party with N.O.R.E. headlining the festivities. The VT Union will be in full force, Colby Stiltz is flying up from Florida, and Burlington heavyweight SIN will be wrecking a set, too. I have no idea who Patron Pone is but he's clearly got great taste in tequila. The whole party will be going down at a new music venue, the awkwardly named "Venue" in South Burlington.

According to 7 Days, this will actually be one of N.O.R.E.'s last shows ever. The show is 21+ and tickets are $20.