Exactly 15 years ago, PJ Morton was supposed to be headlining Fair St. Louis as a member of Maroon 5. The weather had other plans. Torrential rain and thunderstorms made the outdoor performance impossible.
Morton, who was also building a solo career in soul music at the time, had a different idea. He hopped on Twitter and told his followers in St. Louis to pull up at Lola, the now-defunct downtown nightspot known for live music.
“Now I’m known for my pop-up shows, but that was my very first one ever,” Morton said. “I thought, ‘My band is here, we want to play for the people — the people want to see it. So, let’s do it. If we got that, that’s all we need.’”
The room filled quickly. Condensation gathered on both sides of the windows — rain pressing from the outside and body heat rising from the inside.
“That night still blows my mind,” he said. “Something special definitely happened.”
When Morton takes the stage in two weeks as part of Music at the Intersection 2026, he said audiences can expect the same energy he brought to Lola back in 2011. “I haven’t lost that hunger,” he said. “I’m still down to pop up the same way we did like that 15 years ago.”
Morton is still a member of Maroon 5, but he has also earned five Grammys as a solo artist. He stopped through St. Louis last month for an intimate listening party for his latest album, “Saturday Night/Sunday Morning,” released June 19. The project features Ferguson native Keyon Harrold and blends the gospel foundation that shaped Morton with the R&B and soul sensibilities he has refined across his career.
“I’m always looking for something new,” Morton said. “I’ve done so many different things that I thought it was finally time for me to bring it all full circle.” He described the album as a space where both sides of his musical identity coexist. “I wanted to create the type of gospel album I would want to hear — and of course the soul album is something I do more often. Just creating the world where both of them live together.”
Morton’s affinity for St. Louis stems from the city’s relationship to music and its connection to New Orleans. “We feel like cousins in the way that we respect music — the way that we have shaped music.”
Harrold is a major part of that connection. Morton met him early in his career. “Erykah Badu was my very first tour out of college,” he said. “Keyon was already there. He was the horn player, and this was me coming in as a keyboard player, guitar player, background singer.” They were the youngest musicians on the tour and quickly formed a bond that has spanned more than 20 years.
“We became tight,” Morton said. “He was like a young legend already — that’s why I gave him the nickname ‘the legendary Keyon Harrold.’ I’ve been calling him that since back then.” He said Harrold’s musicianship and St. Louis roots helped deepen his respect for the city. “Keyon has been a friend of mine for many, many years,” Morton said. “St. Louis and New Orleans — we speak the same musical language.”
Morton will be a featured artist at MATI on Sunday, July 19 at The Fabulous Fox — bringing “Saturday Night/Sunday Morning” to a festival that continues to grow in scale and ambition. Presented by the Kranzberg Arts Foundation, in partnership with the Steward Family Foundation and The Regional Arts Commission (RAC) of St. Louis, MATI returns to the Grand Center Arts District July 17–19 with more than 100 national, regional and St. Louis-based artists across five main stages. They include The Sovereign, The Big Top, Jazz St. Louis, Sophie’s Artist Lounge and, new for 2026, The Fabulous Fox Theatre. The festival will also kick off early with a separately ticketed Jon Batiste performance on Thursday, July 16.
MATI headliners include Wyclef Jean, Killer Mike, Zapp featuring Tuxedo, Big Freedia, Destin Conrad, Moonchild and LA LOM. Grammy-winning percussionist Chris Dave will appear throughout the weekend as Artist-at-Large.
MATI’s free daytime conference returns with panels focused on music, art, entrepreneurship and innovation. St. Lunatics members Murphy Lee and Kyjuan will join Eric “Remrod” Mayes for a conversation on creativity and movement-building. Mannie Fresh and Juvenile will record a live episode of their Still 400 podcast and participate in an audience Q&A. Additional sessions will cover pitching ideas, creative entrepreneurship, St. Louis’ film industry, fashion and more.
Partner events will activate Grand Center with Latinx Arts Network’s Barrio celebration at The Key, Mannie Fresh’s DJ set presented by Delux, The Soul of St. Louis legends concert at The Grandel, and Brothers Lazaroff’s album release brunch at Jazz St. Louis.
MATI’s free community block party will stretch down Washington Avenue on Friday and Saturday evenings, featuring DJ Spinderella, Natasha Diggs, roller skating, fashion activations, circus performances, visual art installations, local vendors and culinary pop-ups.
Morton’s Sunday performance will be one of the festival’s most anticipated moments — a return to a city that has been part of his musical story since before his first Grammy. “I always want to be growing and moving forward,” he said. “Trying to make sure that I do beautiful things and stay intentional about creating and connecting.”
Music at the Intersection runs July 17–19. Weekend passes and single-day tickets are available at MATIstl.org and MetroTix.com.
Living It content is produced with funding by the ARPA for the Arts grants program in partnership with the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis and the Community Development Administration.
