The free, pre-match concert series on Lou Fusz Plaza to feature headliners NandoSTL, Thomas Day, EMELINE Alejo, and rising STL-based talent participating in the recently launched “Homegrown” program
Homegrown artists to also perform at “Kickoff at the Big Top,” in partnership with Music at the Intersection, in September
The CITY Block Party free concert series is a pre-match tradition that brings together the community and celebrates the intersection of music and soccer. CITY SC has unveiled the block party’s upcoming entertainment lineup featuring national, regional and local musicians, including the club’s “Homegrown” artists. A collaboration between CITY SC and St. Louis native and rapper Smino, the Homegrown program shines a spotlight on St. Louis’ music scene by amplifying five emerging local artists who highlight the diversity of talent in the region.
“Last season, we welcomed tens of thousands of fans of all ages to our CITY Block Parties, which are the best way to get the party started early on matchdays,” said St. Louis CITY SC’s Chief Experience Officer Matt Sebek. “Our entertainment lineup is stacked with incredible artists who cross multiple genres and sounds, including NandoSTL and our rising Homegrown musicians who represent the best of St. Louis. Whether you have a ticket to the game or not, gather your friends and family and come down to the plaza for live music, fun activities, local food and drinks, and good vibes before match kickoff.”
CITY BLOCK PARTY UPCOMING ENTERTAINMENT SCHEDULE:
Saturday, May 11 vs. Chicago
DJ Mahf, Lani Rose*, and Thomas Day
Saturday, May 15 vs. LAFC
DJ Chris Brown with Dsmoovee
Saturday, May 25 vs. Seattle
Lexodus, Hazmat*, and Juliet Ivy
Saturday, June 8 vs. Portland
Mitch Marku, Leah Kate, EMELINE
Wednesday, June 19 vs. Colorado
DJ Chris Brown with Dsmoovee
Saturday, June 22 vs. Atlanta
Lexodus, James Lion, Aida Ade
Wednesday, July 3 vs. San Jose
Stazi
Saturday, July 13 vs. Vancouver
DJ Mahf, Matt Jordan*, and Jaime Wyatt
Sunday, September 1 vs. LA Galaxy
Big Esco
Saturday, September 14 vs. Minnesota
Mitch Marku, Tonina*, and Alejo
Saturday, September 28 vs. Sporting KC
DJ Chris Brown with Dsmoovee, Rachel Deschaine, Dhoruba with guests Darkwood, StringzEMB and Tef Poe
Saturday, October 5 vs. Houston
Nico Marie, Brock Seals*, and NandoSTL
*Denotes Homegrown artist
“St. Louis is such an important part of our personal and professional journeys,” said Hazmat. “It’s an honor to get to perform for our hometown and be a small part of all that is happening with CITY SC this year.”
The pre-match CITY Block Parties take place on Lou Fusz Plaza (located on the eastern side of CITYPARK) and include local food and beverage vendors, fan giveaways, and games and activities for all ages. The block parties are free and open to the public – no tickets are required.
More information about CITY Block Parties will be shared on St. Louis CITY SC’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@stlcitysc), and the STL CITY SC app ahead of matches.
HOMEGROWN ARTISTS TO PERFORM AT “KICKOFF AT THE BIG TOP” PRESENTED BY MUSIC AT THE INTERSECTION AND ST. LOUIS CITY SC
Earlier this year, Music at the Intersection announced its fourth-annual festival lineup, featuring 50+ artists – including Black Pumas, Chaka Khan, Big Boi and Trombone Shorty – across four stages. The music festival takes place September 14 & 15 just blocks west of CITYPARK in the Grand Center Arts District neighborhood.
New for 2024, Music at the Intersection has added a special Friday night “Kickoff at The Big Top” concert in partnership with St. Louis CITY SC. The event on September 13 under the Big Top in Grand Center will feature dance music duo DRAMA, in addition to CITY SC’s five Homegrown artists: Brock Seals, Hazmat, Lani Rose, Matt Jordan and Tonina.
Chicago-based DRAMA consists of producer Na'el Shehade and vocalist Via Rosa. A blend of R&B and dance, their music spans multiple genres, including pop, hip-hop, jazz and electronic. Their debut album “Dance Without Me” was released in 2020. DRAMA has toured with Odesza and performed at festivals across the country, including Lollapalooza, Coachella, Life Is Beautiful, Summer Camp and Electric Forest. DRAMA refer to themselves as “happy-sad music” and Rolling Stone has called them as "seductively danceable."
“Friday night is going to be a party,” said Chris Hansen, Executive Director of Kranzberg Arts Foundation. “While we love paying homage to our music legends, a big part of Music at the Intersection is discovery and giving platform to a new wave of artists. That’s what our Kickoff in partnership with CITY SC is about: exploration across every musical genre, from Brock Seals’ rap to Hazmat’s rock to Matt Jordan’s country. We’ll end the night with DRAMA and a multicultural-inspired 90-minute dance party, outside, under the Big Top. What an appetizer to an incredible music weekend.”
Music at the Intersection and CITY SC present: “Kickoff at the Big Top” takes place on Friday, September 13 at The Big Top (3401 Washington). Gates open at 5 p.m., with Homegrown performances starting at 6 p.m. Special happy hour food and drink specials will be available from 5-6 p.m.
Current Music at the Intersection ticket holders will be given the opportunity to purchase “Kickoff at the Big Top” tickets, starting today (April 24), at a discounted price. Festival ticket holders will be contacted via email.
GA “Kickoff at the Big Top” tickets are $30 and will be available starting on Friday, April 26, at 10 a.m. Tickets can be purchased at www.musicattheintersection.org/tickets or directly at www.MetroTix.com and by phone at 314-534-1111.
MORE ON HOMEGROWN
The five selected artists participating in CITY SC’s Homegrown program are taking part in a discovery session with Smino, where he will provide valuable insights and expertise on how they can continue to build their careers and grow their art; perform at a 2024 CITY Block Party; perform at the CITY SC-sponsored Music at the Intersection festival kickoff at The Big Top on Friday, Sept. 13; and be featured in CITY SC-led spotlights. The artists are:
- Brock Seals: A muralist, songwriter, and rapper, Brock Seals’s honest lyrics and willingness to challenge the status quo have garnered a loyal following in his hometown and beyond.
- Hazmat: An all-female band whose pop-punk sound is a potent mix of raw emotion, infectious energy, and deeply personal lyrics, Hazmat draws inspiration from artists such as Paramore, Blondie, The Runaways, and Bikini Kill.
- Lani Rose: Otherwise known as Myles Anderson, Lani Rose is a self-produced songwriter and storyteller whose goal is to share his story with the world through music. He hopes his vulnerability, raw lyrics, and sounds inspire his audience.
- Matt Jordan: A country artist making waves with his high-energy live shows and a heartland-rock-meets-country sound, Matt Jordan has garnered attention from Rolling Stone Country, CMT, Taste of Country and more, and released his second album “Low Lights” in February 2024.
- Tonina: An accomplished vocalist, bassist and songwriter whose musical upbringing resulted in an innate sense of rhythm, captivating melodies, extraordinary vocal prowess and profound song interpretation, Tonina’s sound spans English and Spanish languages and is deeply influenced by her Black and Sicilian heritage.
