The 5th Annual Music at the Intersection (MATI) will be the festival’s largest footprint to date when it kicks off next weekend. More than 100 artists across 19 stages over three days will convene in the heart of Grand Center.
Part of the 2025 expansion includes a new segment inspired by the late St. Louis Poet Laureate Shirley Bradley Price LeFlore.
“She was really known for being one of those groundbreaking performing artists that used poetry with dance and with musicians, that was kinda her signature,” said her daughter Lyah LeFlore, who also founded the Shirley Bradley LeFlore Foundation.
The inaugural “Poetry in Motion: St. Louis Poets Take the Mic LIVE” will be among many things an homage to Shirley LeFlore’s contributions to the St. Louis creative community.
“I wanted to demonstrate how poetry is at the intersection of art, music, and dance,” LeFlore said. “So many knew how she could bring not only poets and writers together, but bring musicians together. Through her work, she demonstrated the courage of finding your voice, speaking your truth and being unapologetic.”
The inaugural poetry sets for “Poetry in Motion: St. Louis Poets Take the Mic LIVE”’ will span all three days of MATI. It will take over the High Low Listening Room starting Friday September 12th with a poetry panel titled “S.B.L.F. Presents Write On: The Power of the Pen.” The kickoff event will offer years of professional insight to new and seasoned writers.
“We are bringing this dynamic panel together to explore the creative process from developing ideas, crafting narrative, and to branding to publishing,” LeFlore said. “Being a great writer is also being in the company of others who write to share experience and get insight.”
She encourages guests to bring any poems, chapters, or short stories that they may be working on for a chance to recite works, get feedback from other artists in attendance and workshop with the panel of working professionals on the spot.
“There’s so many writers who just may need the ear of other writers and professionals,” Lyah said. “And this panel is just that opportunity.”
MATI’s poetry component is a live action take on the documentary of the same name that featured local poets, dancers, and musicians who embodied the spirit of Shirley LeFlore as they performed their art. The film was produced by Lyah LeFlore, a writer and film and television producer. She co-produced the doc with acclaimed St. Louis filmmaker Dana Christian.
Friday’s event will also include LeFlore and her older sister Hope Price Lindsey, who is featured in the film, as well as Aaron Quick, Executive Director of The St. Louis Poetry Center. Media and literary professors from SLU and Wash U will be on hand– including the award winning poet and culture critic Eileen Giselle, who is scheduled to perform some of her poetry.
The poetry stage will continue on Saturday with “Unapologetic Voices” at 1:15 p.m. kicking off with sounds from DJ Killionaire.
“Think in the vein of ‘Def Poetry Jam’ and ‘Versus and Flow,’” LeFlore said. “And we are doing it right here in the Lou.” The all-star poetry lineup for this set will include other performers such as Maurice Minor and St. Louis Youth Poet Laureate emerita Dya Abbas. The poetry continues later that afternoon with an inspiring set called “Word Warriors” at 4 p.m. Among the artists on the schedule are the current St. Louis Poet Laureate Pacia Anderson and her predecessor Jane Ellen Ibur.
Sunday will begin with “Drum Voices,” which will feature mic drop ins from locals like Felice McClendon. She is known to many as Executive Director of Delmar Main Street, but she also is a poet and writer. This set will also include members of the Eugene B. Redmond Writers Club paying tribute to its founder and namesake and members who have shared their gifts through the organization – including a few who have passed on. Charlois Lumpkin and Jaye Willies are among those coming to shower the founder with word flowers.
“This is a tribute to Dr. Eugene B. Redmond.” said LeFlore, “I felt it was very necessary to add this set because we are losing so many unsung word warriors. I try to do things in the tradition of my mother, and recognize my elders that are still here.”
The final set of the evening is called “Tongue and Fire” that will feature Dr. Redmond’s daughter, Dr. Treasure Shields Redmond, starting at 2:30 p.m. The set will also feature T Spirit, Poet Lighting, Aja La’Starr, and Elijah Juan Ali.
“I know there are more voices out there,” LeFlore said. “So, this will kick off what will ultimately become a monthly soiree salon at High Low with the Shirley Bradley LeFlore Foundation.”
LeFlore believes MATI’s ‘Poetry in Motion’ segment is an opportunity for folk to see what SBLF is doing – and “become a part of the movement, and keep it going.”
“My mother was big on making sure there was a center piece that poets and other artists felt like they had, a place to come and gather,” LeFlore said. “So, this is just the tip of the iceberg.”
Music at the Intersection (MATI) takes place from September 12-14 in Grand Center. For more information, including a full schedule, visit matistl.org.
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.
