REVIVED-The Summer Spirit Festival

**ANTICIPATION**

Last Saturday CD Enterprises granted exclusive Summer Spirit Festival access to Gypsy Soul. The line up was very thoughtful and touched a wide range of styles in the soul music spectrum. The line up included The Foreign Exchange featuring Darien Brockington and Yahzarah, Chrisette Michelle, Chuck Brown, Raphael Saadiq, & Erykah Badu. Comedy also was woven into the night with Tigger and Mike Epps hosting.

Believe me when I say nothing is more exciting than the zeal of the music fan. As I walked up to the ticket booth to receive my passes I saw the excitement that not even the sweltering heat could stifle. Sweat, smiles and a sea of umbrellas began to fill Merriweather. The once grassy open space was now a rainbow of lawn chairs and blankets occupied by persons filled with the spirit of anticipation…it was infectious!

Sometimes, because I create musical events, the tendency to become jaded to the thrill of seeing amazing artists can creep up on me, but the moment I saw the genuine exhilaration of those getting ready to experience the Summer Spirit Festival the lackluster faded and a powerful sense of elation took over me. In that instant I was no longer the event professional or sharp observer but the average fan ready to enjoy the experience.

**RAWK THE MIC**

Back stage I was able to catch up with all of The Foreign Exchange, one of my favorite musical talents and a group dear to me because they allowed Gypsy Soul to preview them in Baltimore first. They opened the show and brought with them the spirit of relief that the show had begun. Many were unfamiliar with the group but quickly caught on to the vibe. I mean you couldn’t help but catch on-the band was rawkin, Phonte was funny as always, and Yahzarah and Darien brought the extra oomph to seal the deal for new comers to The FE sound.

Music taste maker and DJ Big Tigger facilitated the transition to Chrisette Michelle, the vocal powerhouse. She performed tracks from her latest album and serenaded the audience with her versatile range. Her performance kept the audience captivated as they belted the songs right along with her. "Epiphany" was certainly a crowd pleaser.

The comedy of Mike Epps helped people forget how hot it was for a moment as they laughed wildly at his jokes. I’m not kidding people were slapping their legs, falling out in their chairs, wailing around while laughing hard, mouths open, heads back, eyes closed…even a tear or two…he is one funny dude. He got the crowd loose for the contagious beat of go-go as Chuck Brown hit the stage.

Chuck Brown is one BAAAAD man! The audience was a mix of Maryland, DC, Virginia, New York and more but when he came on you would have thought everyone was from Chocolate City because the crowd was on their feet and knew all the words to the songs and if you didn’t know you quickly learned. The spirit of dance was definitely invoked and had taken over the bodies of many!

One of today’s modern musical geniuses, Raphael Saadiq, took the stage. His music is so relevant to most of us today because he has been providing musical memories through the decades since our childhoods. He has added his masterpieces to African American cinema including Boys In The Hood and Higher Learning. He has progressed seamlessly through time and his live show was a reflection of just that. He performed hits like "Just Me & You", "Ask of You", "Lay Your Head on My Pillow" to his current album releases. What added to the musical experience was the appearance of the band. Everyone was dressed in black and white suits. It was uniform, crisp, and was a production worthy of his music.

Photo by Robert Lipski

Ive seen Erykah Badu 2 time before this show and I wasn’t sure how I would feel about her performance, not meaning I thought it would be bad, she has always been great, but again would I be jaded. When she took the stage all doubt was erased, I was totally captivated! Her back drop was this futuristic video of the Earth and its transitions which complimented the flow of her performance well. She began by preparing our minds for a fascinating journey by starting with “The Healer”. The crowd was immediately under her spell as they chanted the lyrics with her. Though the whole show was a treat, one of the best moments was when she performed “Apple Seed” over a “Planet Rock”ish beat, she knew she was jammin cause she started dancing and had the “o yeah, get it” face while she grooved! She shifted her show with a Michael Jackson tribute doing a rendition of “Off The Wall” which led to a personal favorite “I Want You”. From there she took us to “Back In The Day (Puff)” and included a slick “Sugar Free” sample where she picked up a tambourine and wore it out. From “Next Lifetime” she snuck in “Ye-Yo” and the atmosphere was heavy. Her voice was so heartfelt and haunting I felt tears welling up in me, that song brings out emotions. To end the night, which seemed to end to quickly, she left us with “Bag Lady” and infused it with a reggae twist and in true dedication to the fans came into the crowd and allowed us to swallow her up with reaching hands and shouts of “I love you Erykah”. There was to be no encore but it was late and I think the fans were satisfied with the entire day.

**CANDID**

For me the night wasn’t quite over. After the show Erykah hosted a group of fans for a question and answer session that she has been doing after her shows for years. The atmosphere held a bit of nervousness and anticipation. When she came in we were requested to keep cameras and video off because her youngest child Mars would be joining us. The interaction was great, she was open and honest as people spontaneously asked questions about music, touring, her children, and the upcoming album amongst other subjects. Being in the midst of such a beautiful gathering was an amazing way to end the night. Knowing that Ms. Badu allows her fans to get so close to her after every show has certainly solidified her as one of my favorite artists, not just for her talent but also her character.

Thank you to CD Enterprises for allowing Gypsy Soul access. Our audience supports good music and those who bring good music to the people!

CD Enterprises is a full service business and personal managment firm, as well as a full service production and event promotion firm. CD Enterprises' projects have included shows featuring a wide variety of music and comedy including Alicia Keys, Bernie Mack, Chuck Brown, Jamie Foxx, Joe Clair, John Ledgend, Kanye West, Mary Mary, Rick James, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, The Roots, and Chaka Khan.