Three-day festival to celebrate black history museum opening

WASHINGTON – A festival featuring workshops, storytelling and performances including concerts with bands such as Public Enemy and The Roots will celebrate the opening of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture this month.

The Smithsonian announced Wednesday that the three-day festival, “Freedom Sounds: A Community Celebration,” on the Washington Monument grounds kicks off Friday, Sept. 23.

There will be music and dance performances, spoken word, oral-history activities and two evening concerts. The festival will highlight music traditions such as jazz, R&B, gospel, folk, classical, New Orleans brass band, Afro-Latin jazz and hip-hop.

The lineup for Saturday evening’s concert includes Living Colour, Public Enemy and The Roots. On Sunday evening, the lineup includes singer-songwriter Meshell Ndegeocello and Washington, D.C.-based go-go band Experience Unlimited.

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

Create a free account

The Associated Press

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.

Related Articles