The Bronx has no shortage of musical performers looking for opportunities to showcase their talents on stage. On Saturday, Aug. 27, the inaugural “Da’ Block Music & Art Festival” will take place at The Bronx Brewery, located at 856 East 136th Street in the Port Morris section of the borough.

 

Described in a press release as “the first major music festival in The Bronx,” organizers hope it will “empower local music in the borough, create a safe space for culture, and provide a platform for the local community to build a lasting creative legacy.”

 

The festival is being organized by a trio of Bronx-based talent. Bryan Durieux from Highbridge is a self-taught singer-songwriter. Ayanna Williams, also known as Ayanna The Singer, hails from Co-op City and founded The Uptown Melody, a platform showcasing the talent of The Bronx and Harlem, through live music events, and Fernando Michael, who grew up around Westchester Square, and now calls Throggs Neck home, works with artist development at The Fox and King, a multi-faceted talent and media agency.

 

“We’re empowering the Bronx with our music and our culture,” Durieux wrote in the press release. “This festival will be the first of its kind in the borough, and we’re looking to leave this creative legacy for the next generation.”

 

Considered by many as the birthplace of hip-hop, musically, The Bronx needs no introduction, and for its Spanish-speaking music fans, the phrase “el condado de la salsa” (the borough of salsa) is known as another moniker for the Boogie Down. But the borough’s musical scene is not limited to those two now globally recognized genres. “Obviously, tried and true, we are the birthplace of hip-hop; there’s no doubt about that,” Michael told Norwood News. “But there’s also so many different facets within the borough, musically: jazz, R&B, soul, rock, you know, alternative. It’s a mixed bag, but only if you look for it.”

 

Festival organizers hope to make some of those other genres easier to find and enjoy during the nine-hour musical event. Currently, they have eight musical acts scheduled, with a planned jam session to conclude the festival. There will also be three DJs. “With this line-up, we really are portraying how varied we are, as a people, as a culture,” Michael said. “We have soul [music], we have an idiom of DJs, we’re doing rock, we’re doing alternative, we’re doing a jam session. We’re really spanning the musical culture of The Bronx with this line-up.”

 

Another aspect to the festival will be the presence of vendors who hope to grow their customer base. A final number has not yet been established, but they are hoping to have somewhere between eight and 10. Williams spoke to their role as participants in the festival. “We’re going to include vendors that sell apparel, artwork, also self-care items such as homemade natural soaps, [and] candles,” she said. “We also have some unique vendors. It’s just very beautiful to see these small businesses come together at these events. We’re very excited to have a variety of vendors.”

 

For some performers, it’s not the first time they will be performing at the Port Morris venue. “Because we’ve done music events there before as well, we’re just very familiar with the space, especially the backyard area where they have [a] stage set up,” Williams said. “It’s just a very beautiful, welcoming space, always good vibes, so it just felt like a very natural fit.”

 

Among the festival organizers, Durieux and Michael have known each other for 12 years. Meanwhile, Williams and Michael had been following each other on social media when Williams met Durieux, both singer-songwriters, in-person in 2018. However, they are also interested in musical genres outside their own. “I knew that Fox & King was really hitting the punk rock scene, which I thought was really dope because when I think of The Bronx, I don’t particularly think of that genre first,” Williams said.

@dablockbx is gettin’ hot! 🔥

One of our feat artists for this Saturday’s #dablockfest @emeliavero has allowed her music to capture her roots, culture and emotions. Catch #emeliavero on #dablock this Saturday @thebronxbrewery 💥 💯

Tickets still available! #LinkInBio pic.twitter.com/foyMuYMqUx

— The Fox & King, Inc. (@TFAKproductions) August 24, 2022

While each of the organizers has a thriving career individually, they have come together for this festival to take The Bronx music scene to another level. “I read [a quote] recently, ‘If you can do it by yourself, it’s not that big,’” Williams said. “To me, we’re better together. So, to bring a team together, I really commend Durieux hitting up me and Fernando to be a part of this. It’s just really special, because there are so many talents and gifts that each one of us have, that just makes this experience much smoother. We’re the best of friends now.” Michael echoed the sentiment, saying, “I love what I do, and I love who I work with.”

 

For more information or to purchase tickets, click here.