The Scene

MusicDetour.com’s commentary on music, performances, and the DC metro area music scene

After first getting started with Folk music and Jazz music, Festivals have long been the domain of Jam Bands. However, over the past few years there’s been an increasing tendency towards hip-hop festivals. Rock the Bells started back in 2004 as a one time – one place festival, but has expanded over the past five years to a touring festival that will land in 10 cities across the US and Canada this summer. It’s coming to the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, MD on Sunday, July 12th. The shows kick-off at Noon. It’s the second consecutive year that the show will hit Merriweather. This year’s festival is going to have about 30 acts on 2 stages. Tickets go on sale May 2nd at 10am. Full list of artists after the jump. (more…)

There is a traveling festival passing through the DC region this coming weekend as Rock the Bells visits the Merriweather Post Pavillion. Rock the Bells is a Hip-Hop festival that began in California in 2004 andbegan touring in 2006 to get to fans across the country. Wu Tang Clan used Rock the Bells in 2004 to play some reunion shows (and has done so several times since then). Last year the festival was notable because it brought Rage Against the Machine back together to play two shows. This year A Tribe Called Quest, Nas and Mos Def are the featured artists on tour with about 20 acts all together on two stages. The gates open at Merriweather Post Pavillion at 11am. Get there early and “rock the bells” all day.

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