Hip Hop Congress

By Lindsey Landis & Zack Teibloom | Indiana Daily Student | Wednesday, October 04, 2006

Original Post Found Here

Brazilian beats, Afro-Cuban grooves and Jewish folk melodies comprise just a few sections of the eclectic musical lineup that will fill the Bloomington streets this weekend.

The downtown area will be packed with concerts at seven venues — from The Bluebird to the Buskirk-Chumley Theater. In addition to these concerts, students can take in ethnic food, parades, free DJ shows and even a man on stilts.

The 13th annual Lotus World Music & Arts Festival will kick off at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater with Väsen, a Swedish acoustic band. This year, almost 30 bands from every corner of the globe will perform at the four-day event. From 7 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, music for those with diverse tastes — and fans looking to discover new beats — will fill seven stages, Lotus Director Lee Williams said.

“We have 28 artists and, of course, great diversity as always,” he said. “There’s always something for everyone’s taste. The venues are the new thing this year — something this town has never seen before. The Monroe Bank Tent covers half a block, and we’re going to have some of the more rocking bands there.”

Friday and Saturday have a lot of overlapping artists, but there are a few artists and events unique to Friday. For those looking for free entertainment, IU Hip Hop Congress will host a number of world DJ’s from various bands and a turntable workshop with free admission at the Union Board’s tent.

Advance passes for Friday and Saturday’s concerts are $30 per day and $25 for students. Weekend passes are $50. If purchased on the day of the show, tickets are $35 per day and $27 for students.