<\/p>\n
In three months, MATI will return to Grand Center for a weekend of music, food and community. July 17-19 won\u2019t just bring the humidity and heat \u2014 the festival, formerly known as Music at the Intersection, features a lineup packed with artists who call St. Louis home.<\/p>\n
On this month\u2019s new music roundup, Larry Morris, director of programs and partnerships for the Kranzberg Arts Foundation, joined \u201cSt. Louis on the Air\u201d producer Miya Norfleet and host Elaine Cha to discuss the latest music from some of the musicians representing St. Louis.<\/p>\n
Morris said there isn’t necessarily a science to selecting musicians who perform at MATI. But there is a guiding principle.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt all ties back to the St. Louis songbook. We are very big on making sure we acknowledge our West African roots through the Caribbean, up through New Orleans, Mississippi to St. Louis,\u201d he said. \u201cSt. Louis has had so much of a fingerprint on music in America \u2014 Miles Davis with jazz, Albert King with the blues, Chuck Berry with rock ‘n’ roll. That\u2019s the crux of how these decisions are made around the festival.\u201d<\/p>\n
This month\u2019s roundup features Afro-jazz fusion, neo-soul and future soul. AJ McQueen is one of the hip-hop performers hitting the MATI stage. His song \u201cLove Don\u2019t Cost a Thing\u201d put Cha in mind of a special memory.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have a personal anniversary tomorrow of the first time I met my husband, and hearing some of these lyrics, especially \u2018Let\u2019s big talk for hours\u2019… all of this came about at just the right time,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Morris said he\u2019s excited to have Blvck Spvde in the lineup.<\/p>\n
\u201cBlvck Spvde is now deity level of music in St. Louis\u2026 [he has] done so much in our music scene and mentored so many of our young artists,\u201d he said. \u201cJust to see him still [creating music], it is amazing.”<\/p>\n
There are also St. Louis bands returning to the stage at this year\u2019s MATI after a period away from playing shows, including Morris\u2019 band Illphonics.<\/p>\n
\u201c[Illphonics are] my brothers. We never completely disconnected. \u2026 In the last year or so, we had the conversation about, \u2018What does it look like to do this?\u2019\u201d he said. \u201cFor about 17 years we were together all the time performing, and so there’s an excitement to get back together.\u201d<\/p>\n
Here is a list of our favorite new releases:<\/p>\n
Brian Owens<\/u><\/a>, Michael McDonald, Dylan McDonald and Thomas Owens – \u201cForever Young\u201d<\/u><\/a> Aida Ade<\/u><\/a>, Maven Lee<\/u><\/a> – \u201cAlways Be the Fool\u201d<\/u><\/a> AJ McQueen<\/u><\/a> – \u201cLOVE DON\u2019T COST A THING\u201d<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n Tef Poe<\/u><\/a>, B-Magic<\/u><\/a>, Rockwell Knuckles<\/u><\/a> – \u201cGOD4SAKEN\u201d<\/u><\/a> Blvck Spvde<\/u><\/a>, Stefan Ringer – \u201cYOURZZZ\u201d<\/u><\/a> Pernikoff Brothers<\/u><\/a> – \u201cHang On\u201d<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n Enoch Raavi and the Indigenous Groove<\/u><\/a> – \u201cNDGO\u201d<\/u><\/a> Illphonics<\/u><\/a>, Lamar Harris<\/u><\/a> – \u201cKobe\u201d<\/u><\/a> To hear the full conversation, including notes on the breadth of MATI artists\u2019 roots and connections, listen to \u201cSt. Louis on the Air\u201d on <\/b>Apple Podcasts<\/b><\/a>, <\/b>Spotify<\/b><\/a>, <\/b>YouTube<\/b><\/a> or click the play button below.<\/b><\/p>\n Check out these new releases from St. Louis musicians on the MATI lineup<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Related Event<\/b><\/p>\n What: MATI 2026<\/u><\/a> \u201cSt. Louis on the Air<\/i><\/a>\u201d brings you the stories of St. Louis and the people who live, work and create in our region. The show is produced by <\/i>Miya Norfleet<\/i><\/a>, <\/i>Emily Woodbury<\/i><\/a>, <\/i>Danny Wicentowski<\/i><\/a>, <\/i>Elaine Cha<\/i><\/a> and <\/i>Alex Heuer<\/i><\/a>. <\/i>Layla Halilbasic<\/i><\/a> is our production assistant. The audio engineer is <\/i>Aaron Doerr<\/i><\/a>.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Album – \u201cDuets With Dad\u201d<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n
Album – \u201cSilly Dreams\u201d<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n
Album – \u201cBarcelona 2\u201d<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n
Album – \u201cBuild a Temple\u201d<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n
Album – \u201cCinemajik\u201d<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n
Album – \u201cMoonglow\u201d<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n
When: July 17-19
Where: Various locations in the Grand Center Arts District<\/p>\n