Features
Bands, World-Class Chefs Headline Broccoli City ‘Food & Grooves’ Fest in Washington, D.C., Oct. 26
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Broccoli City, Live Nation Urban and the James Beard Foundation are teaming up for the first Food & Grooves event, at Union Market in Washington, D.C., Oct. 26.
The boutique food, music and culture experience created by the minds behind DC’s Broccoli City festival, will feature local restaurant showcases, interactive cooking demonstrations, wine, beer and spirits tastings, intimate panel discussions, book signings, a live recording of the Questlove Supreme podcast featuring a discussion between QuestLove and James Beard award-winning author chef Kwame Onwuachi (Kith & Kin).
Headlining bands include Teedra Moses, Tank and the Bangas, Black Alley Band, DJ Domo, D J Jhasonic and a special presentation of R&B Only by Jabari and Dauche. Tickets are $49 plus applicable fees and go on sale Aug. 23, at 10 a.m. ET.
Broccoli City Festival co-founder Brandon McEachem commented, “Broccoli City Weekend has been a staple in the community for the last seven years; bringing together thousands of millennials, chart-topping performers, corporate sponsors and non-profit partners looking to have a great time while making a difference in their community. In order to continue growing with our fans we’ve partnered with Live Nation Urban to develop a series of live, boutique experiences that are culturally relevant and cut through the noise of the entertainment industry.
With Food & Grooves in particular, our goal is to highlight the talents of diverse, underrepresented chefs, mixologists and purveyors of the culinary industry who are not only fueling future generations through food but those who are also utilizing their craft to move the culture forward.”
Acclaimed national chefs and panelists participating in “Food Talks,” curated by the James Beard Foundation, include JJ Johnson (James Beard award winner, the Henry, Fieldtrip); Therese Nelson (chef, writer, creator of Black Culinary History); David Thomas (Ida B’s Table); Darryl Perkins (Chip N and Broccoli City Foundation); Qiana Mickie (Just Food); Greg Collier (chef), Miguel Trinidad (Maharlika and Jeepney restaurants); Jameeale Arzeno (James Beard Foundation Culinary Director, founder of ChicPeas); Kwame Onwuachi (James Beard award winner, author, Kith & Kin); Colleen Vincent (co-founder of Black Food Folks); and many more.
Live Nation Urban’s Brandon Pankey, VP of business development and operations, told Pollstar this year’s Broccoli City, April 26-27 featuring Childish Gambino, Lil Wayne, Ella Mai, Teyana Taylor and many others, was a hit.
“It was incredible,” Pankey said. “We had about 27,000-28,000 people there, this was our first year at FedEx Field, in the parking lot of the Redskins stadium. It was an amazing time, it’s Washington DC’s largest urban festival, and to see over 25,000 millennials there having a great time, particularly African-American millennials, it was something to behold.”
The Live Nation Urban division remains busy in 2019, recently announcing new multi-platform events like the Femme It Forward Series featuring artists like Cardi B, City Girls, Ari Lennos, “Smart, Funny & Black” comedy series with Amanda Seales and expanding existing events like The Roots Picnic in Philadelphia and Kirk Franklin’s Exodus gospel festival.