Washington, D.C
Pharrell Williams’ SOMETHING IN THE WATER Festival Returns Juneteenth Weekend In Washington, DC
Music legend and mogul Pharrell Williams introduced this week that his SOMETHING IN THE WATER FESTIVAL will return on Juneteenth Weekend 2022 for an epic show of artistry, tradition, and variety within the nation’s capital.
Produced by Reside Nation and Redrock Leisure, SITW will happen June 17 to 19 in Washington, DC to have a good time artwork, tradition, and music. Initially in Virginia, SITW was moved to the capital this yr to ‘put tradition and music on a extra international stage.’ Pharrell additionally determined to maneuver the competition from its authentic location after his cousin was shot and killed by regulation enforcement in March 2021 in VA.
There will likely be performances from everybody’s favourite artists together with Usher, Chloe x Halle, Lil Child, Pusha T, Tyler, The Creator, Lil Uzi Vert, Teyana Taylor, Tobe Nwigwe, Dave Matthews Band, Pharrell & Phriends, Jon Baptiste, Fortunate Daye, Calvin Harris, and so many extra.
With DC being the house of Go-Go music, this yr’s competition can even function Go-Go musicians Yard Band, Uncommon Essence, and Sound of the Metropolis, all performing stay. The multiday competition will likely be unfold throughout three levels on Independence Avenue and adjoining streets.
SITW is bringing extra than simply music performances this yr by implementing further programming that confronts systematic points within the minority neighborhood. Pharrell’s non-profit group Black Ambition, a program devoted to bridging the hole of success for Black and Latinx individuals launching tech firms, will likely be internet hosting a 25k pitch competitors for native DC entrepreneurs and startup founders. The group can even host a number of panel discussions and hearth chats geared in direction of educating attendees on Net 3.0 startup funding, mentorship alternatives for Black and Latinx startup founders, and a market to showcase the merchandise of the primary yr of Black Ambition founders.
XQ Institute, a company devoted to rethinking excessive colleges nationwide, can even be becoming a member of this yr’s SITW competition by curating interactive, community-centered occasions highlighting the group’s new partnership with DC Public Colleges. They can even showcase and have a good time the 2022 graduating class of highschool college students throughout the nation. On Sunday, attendees will collect at West Potomac Park close to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial for the return of Pop-Up Church. The service is free to the general public and the lineup will likely be introduced quickly.
By way of music and cultural appreciation, Pharrell’s SITW competition is reconnecting and unifying the DMV space by bringing collectively communities from throughout the area. By showcasing the love of music, Pharrell hopes to unfold a common message of affection that resonates with all individuals.
“SOMETHING IN THE WATER is a Black resolution (LOVE) for a systemic difficulty, and this yr we’re taking our celebration to a better platform – the nation’s Capital throughout Juneteenth Weekend,” Pharrell stated. “We need to present the world that there’s SOMETHING IN THE WATER throughout the entire DMV and I need to proceed to convey consciousness to the greatness inside these communities and invite giant firms to point out up for the individuals.”
The town of Washington DC can be absolutely backing SITW and is worked up for the competition to landing within the capital. Believing within the celebration of music and Black tradition, Mayor Muriel Bowser stated town is proud to work alongside Pharrell to convey this competition to life.
“If you happen to’re celebrating music, in the event you’re celebrating Black excellence, in the event you’re drawing consideration to the individuals who have devoted their lives to pulling down limitations and uplifting our communities — then there isn’t a higher place to try this than in Washington, DC,” Bowser stated. “We’re proud to be working with Pharrell to convey SOMETHING IN THE WATER to DC for Juneteenth weekend. DC is open and we’re able to have a good time.”
DC residents and officers are excited for the festivities descending on town on Juneteenth Weekend. After years of working to have Juneteenth acknowledged as an official federal vacation, SITW is the end result of Pharrell and different thought leaders’ efforts to have this 400-year-old vacation celebrated the appropriate means.
“Washington, DC absolutely embraces Pharrell’s imaginative and prescient of selling music, tradition, variety, and the significance of empowering youth in our neighborhood,” stated Ralph Morton, senior vice chairman and managing director, Sports activities & Leisure Division at Occasions DC. “SOMETHING IN THE WATER will change into a strong custom in DC, attracting guests from across the nation to our nation’s capital as we have a good time Juneteenth weekend.”
Three-day passes for SITW will go on sale to most people starting Saturday, April 30th at 10 am EST at SOMETHINGINTHEWATER.COM.