Downtown Eclectics at Harlem Fest

When artists get fed up and take matters into their own hands, that's when the revolution happens. Fed up with the musically incoherent bills and lack of community in the NYC music scene, MuthaWit bandleader Boston Fielder created URB ALT festival, bringing the best downtown musicians together in Harlem venues. In two short years URB ALT has become known for programming eclectic bills of national and underground artists on the creative edge.

According to Fielder, "We want URB ALT events to be a home for the conservative, the freak, the academics, the mutts, the rockers, the punks, the hip hoppers and all variants thereof...and they have been. URB ALT is about the music and the visuals and the friendships that we can all wade in together. NYC isn't Hawaii. There is no other reason to live in a dingy smelly rat infested city like NYC if not to explore the NEW."

This summer's four-night festival has featured headline performances from Kyp Malone of TV on the Radio and rap/R&B songbird Res. Brooklyn's own acoustic guitar knockout, Kaki King, will headline URB ALT 3 this Saturday July 7 at Shrine World Music. All ages, $10.

Saturday URB ALT rolls into the Shrine on Adam Clayton Boulevard in homage to the chairman of the board, Frank Sinatra. All artists will include a Frank song/story in their sets. The night opens at 7 PM with the avant jazz of Monika H, followed by OMG's electronica-tinged funk rock, my power rock trio Devi, Faith's reggae-rock mojo, MuthaWit's alien big band jazz, and Kaki King backed by the MuthaWit string section. Video projections by Tim Fielder. Take the 2/3 train straight to 135 Street, walk one block to the club. Or ride the M2 bus from the East Village--it stops in front of the Shrine's door.

Fielder notes, "Frank Sinatra was a multi-disciplinary giant throughout his career. I've always admired how he was able to build bridges between races, generations, class and religions. Uptown has a pretty much outmoded reputation for being 'dangerous' that we are slowly eroding. I encourage you to come uptown to see what we are building. There is no community if we don't participate.”

Turn off the TV, shut down the computer & go on an adventure. This is why we live in New York City.