On The Rise Concert: A Juneteenth Celebration of Freedom Through Music

Roots Music Project, a non-profit music community advocate, is thrilled to present the On the Rise Concert Series, launching with a special Juneteenth Freedom Celebration on June 19th. This landmark series honors both Boulder's rich musical heritage and the historic significance of Juneteenth, commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans and celebrating Black culture, resilience, and artistic contributions.

The Juneteenth kick-off event on June 19th marks the beginning of our summer concert series, with subsequent performances on July 17th, August 21st . This free concert series is made possible by the generous support of the City of Boulder and other community sponsors.

Join us for this meaningful celebration of freedom, artistic expression, and community as we honor both Boulder's musical legacy and the significant cultural contributions of Black musicians throughout American history.

Hakeem Furious is a wordsmith hailing from Jacksonville, Florida. and developing his roots in the Rocky Mountains. He graduated from a southern arts high school as a theater major and developed a knack for words when he was involved with the spoken word community established at Florida A&M University. An HBCU that cultivated his understanding, appreciation, and preservation of black culture and resilience. Currently, he travels the country performing poetry, curating shows, writing curriculum, and grants as CEO of the #UltraTerrestrialTour.

Furious’ notable performances include final stage appearance at the 2015 National Poetry Slam, two-time appearances at the infamous Apollo Theater and ranking #6 in the world at the 2019 Individual World Poetry Slam. He is part of the lyricist collective CAP 6, who have shared stages with various artists including Earl Sweatshirt, Vince Staples, Talib Kweli, DJ Premier, Saba PiVOT, and many more. In 2018, CAP 6 released and toured their debut project “Jelly”, available on all platforms. In 2014, he released his debut project, “Leaky Nostrils, Monogamous Swans”, a blend of Hip Hop and Poetry. Following it with his 2017 release of his first book, “Dinner with The Ego and i” accompanied by a national book tour called, “The Ego Trip”.

Jack Hadley spent his childhood in the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco. Jack’s mother bought him an acoustic guitar at an early age to keep him busy. The family eventually moved to Denver, Colorado, where he learned to play music by ear, playing everything from Hendrix to Dylan, unaware that he was learning the foundation of American music – the Blues.

Notable performances include: live on the BBC in London with Otis Taylor | Blues From The Top | BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups | Brighton Blues Blast | Snowy Range Music Festival | The Rauma Blues Festival in Rauma, Finland. “The St. Louis Sessions” was released in October, 2014, on San Telmo Media. “Daybreak In Alabama - The Langston Hughes Project” was released in July 2020. This project features songs written by Jack, based on the poetry of Langston Hughes. Taj Mahal bassist Bill Rich holds down the bottom end, along with drummer Bill Larson and jazz guitarist Rich Gibbins.

Jack Hadley - The St. Louis Sessions Volume II”. The music was released in April, 2024, and once again features The St. Louis Blues All-Stars and drummer Chris Millar.

https://www.jackhadleymusic.net/

https://www.facebook.com/jackhadleyband

Alex Blocker breaks the boundaries of genre by combining elements of R&B, Hip-Hop, Alternative Rock, and Jazz with contemporary violin finesse to create an artistic style that is completely his own. Blocker has shared stages with performers such as Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Boombox, Masta Ace, Nappy Roots, Gramatik, and more.

http://alexblocker.com/

https://www.facebook.com/BlockerOnTop/

Roots Music Project Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit local music incubator based in Boulder, Colorado. We believe in the power of music to make the world a better place. All music starts locally. We empower artists, fans, and venues to connect and create a thriving and inspiring local music scene.

RootsMusicProject.org

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