- This event has passed.
Freedom Fest 2023
June 24, 2023 @ 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Free
Freedom Fest is back! Join us for an outdoor concert and summer celebration featuring artists of the Capital Region who have been inspired by the 50 year history of hip hop music and culture! Performances kick off at 2:00 pm and featuring Victory Soul Orchestra with special guests UND3RSTANDING. The event will be MCed by H Bosh Jr.
In the case of rain, the location will change will to inside the Sanctuary main space and will be announced at 11am on June 24.
Freedom Fest 2023: This free, all-ages event will feature:
- Live music by Victory Soul Orchestra & UND3RSTANDING
- BPM Lessons beat making station by Jae Joseph
- Face painting
- Food & refreshments
- Art activities
- Garden activities
- Community resource fair
- and more!
Co-sponsoring this event are many fabulous organizations doing great work across our community including Troy Area Labor Council, Poor People’s Campaign, Troy Central Little League, SNUG, CEO, Oakwood Community Center, TRIP, Shades of Cocoa, Educational Opportunity Centers Program, and Unity House.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Victory Soul Orchestra
Victory Soul Orchestra is a hometown horn funk favorite. The dirty sounds of New Orleans brass drive their sound with some influences including Galactic as well as the Dap Kings. You can also find them fronted by Albany’s own JB!! aka Dirty Moses and singer Dali Soto. Their efforts combined help create a funk/rap show that brings the house down. In January 2019 they released their first album, ‘Astrobeat’ – now available on vinyl and all streaming platforms!
UND3RSTANDING
Und3rstanding is a three-man Hip-Hop group from Upstate New York featuring Sev Statik, SES Vth, and Knowle’ge. Individually, these artists stand as giants in the realm of underground hip-hop, but collectively, they form a powerful group with a mission to entertain, enlighten and embody what it means to be an emcee. The name Und3rstanding alludes to supreme mathematics and the principles of knowledge, wisdom, and understanding – a set of teachings that each of the members have learned from and hold dearly.
Founded in 2015, the members of Und3rstanding had quickly become fans of each other and after performing at several events in the Albany area. It was Sev Statik who tossed out the idea that they should combine talents and “form like Voltron” into a super lyrical squadron. Knowle’ge and SES Vth agreed, and from there they began recruiting the soulful boom-bappington master producer himself, Deborah’s Son, to produce their project. That collaboration led to the trio’s debut self-titled album, Und3rstanding, released in March 2018.
