'1st St. Block Party' to feature live mural painting
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Local company Here and Now is bringing music, art and more to Downtown with the 1st St. Block Party: Dream in Color, on Saturday, Aug. 23.
鈥淲e鈥檙e looking to bring something colorful and exciting in terms of entertainment, really focused on music and kind of highlighting local artists,鈥� Maurizio Romero, co-founder and creative and marketing director, said.
Adam Sorrell, co-founder and project manager, said the company has hosted events throughout the city before, but wanted to go bigger for Dream in Color.
鈥淲e definitely had a lot of success doing these smaller events, and it was pretty organic, too. I mean, we play the right music (and) we set the right vibe,鈥� Sorrell said. 鈥淎nd people just like it. And so it鈥檚 just kind of scaling that up.鈥�
Sorrell said they wanted to create a family-friendly event with a festival-style atmosphere.
The event will have two stages with a rotation of artists throughout the day, including Aaron Bliss, Sunny Boys and J. Worra.
鈥淲e have three national act headliners booked, and they鈥檙e house, electronic style, DJs and producers,鈥� Romero said. 鈥淎s far as the local talent, we鈥檝e actually put together a lineup of artists we鈥檝e been working with for years.鈥�
The event will take place along First Street NW, between Rosemont and Summer avenues, with vendors, music and more.
Sorrell said they wanted to bring new energy to the area.
鈥淲e just want to shine a light on that area, because these business owners have been cutting their teeth there for forever,鈥� Sorrell said. 鈥淎nd it鈥檚 honestly really cool, I mean, you can see the train tracks from there. It鈥檚 just like a very raw, cool part of the city.鈥�
The area was part of the inspiration for the title Dream in Color, according to Romero, who coined the name.
鈥淲hen it comes to putting those three words together, it鈥檚 all about being able to see the city for what it is,鈥� Romero said. 鈥淓specially in an industrial area ... it鈥檚 not like pretty on the outside, but you could really see the beauty in it.鈥�
Inside Hollow Spirits Distillery, there will be a silent disco and arcade.
Two artists, Josh Patterson and Andres 鈥淏enzo鈥� Chavez, will be leaving a mark on the area with a permanent mural that will be painted live during the event.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e going to get to see something that鈥檚 going to become a landmark in that area. So that鈥檚, I think that鈥檚 really cool,鈥� Sorrell said. 鈥淏ecause we鈥檙e really able to actually put a stamp on the area.
鈥淚 think that鈥檚 a really cool experience for the festival goers as well.鈥�
Romero said he drew on his upbringing to shape the festival鈥檚 goals.
鈥淚鈥檓 born and raised here, and it鈥檚 a beautiful place, but it鈥檚 a tough place,鈥� Romero said. 鈥淎nd I think being able to create opportunities like this for the city and really bring hope to different areas is where Dream in Color kind of comes in for me.鈥�
'1st St. Block Party' to feature live mural painting
