By Kate Bartlett
This Saturday, September 9, marks the 21st annual Music is Art Festival (MIA) in downtown Buffalo. Founded by Buffalo resident Robby Takac of the multi-platinum band Goo Goo Dolls, the festival aims to showcase art in numerous forms. MIA attracts thousands of people to WNY and has even gained international attention. This year, the festival will be held on Saturday September 9,11am-1am at Buffalo RiverWorks. As always, the festival is free to attend and will feature many, family-friendly attractions including a Kids’ Village, Instrument Zoo and a variety of food and beverage vendors.
In addition to playing with the band Goo Goo Dolls, Robby also runs a recording studio called GCR Audio and has a small record label called Good Charamel records. Robby started Music is Art, a 501c3 not-for-profit in Buffalo in 2003, that does a variety of arts/music programming throughout the year, including the annual MIA Festival. “The Goo Goo Dolls are the motor that drove this forum in the beginning and helped raise awareness and support for MIA. Without them, none of this would be possible,” says Robby.
The festival has evolved and grown substantially since its inception 21 years ago, by Goo Goo Dolls founding member and Buffalo resident Robby Takac (pictured). Over the years, the festival has been in a few different locations including The Albright Knox Art Gallery and Delaware Park. “We started in 2003 with 2 stages as an “unofficial add on” to the Allentown Art Festival. We originally began the festival to help prop up underground artists and musicians within the community and have grown into much more. The first festival had 2 stages and about a dozen artists. This year, in it’s 21st year, we will have 25 stages on both sides of the river, featuring over 250 local bands and musicians, over 150 DJs, dancers and performance trusts.
Almost all of the bands are local talent. “We’re proud to say that 99% of the musicians and artists are from our Western New York Community. We love showcasing the abundant local talent”,
says Robby. “Some highlights include Hamburg native Chris Trapper from the Push Stars, Kenmore native Bill Manspeaker and Green Jello, Eric Van Houten, Perilous, Chuckie Campbell, Mary Ramsey, JGB Shibuki Japanese Drum Group, Omega Red, Mike Farrow, PA Line, and The 4 The Music International DJ Showcase. I’ll even perform a couple of sets myself. There’s just so much going on, way too much to mention it all.”
Visitors can expect live music of every kind including rock, hip hop, electronic, jazz, country, singer-songwriter, jam bands, and traditional vocalists. “The music journeys into artforms and environments that span from the most traditional to the most Avant Garde. It’s so much more than art and music; it’s about the creative community as a whole. The festival is a sensory overload. It’s a real chance to experience something you’ve probably never encountered before. It’s one-of-a-kind.”
Last year, the festival featured a skate park for the first time, and will be bringing it back with improvements. “My good friend skater/drummer Josh Heatley has enlisted local skaters and skating clubs to build a one-day skate park in one of the Riverworks rinks with quarter pipes, rails and such for all to enjoy. There will also be a stage featuring skate punk and rock bands throughout the day, I’ll be performing some old Goo Goo dolls songs with the Urban Achievers on that stage.”
This year, the festival will be expanding its footprint into the streets of the River Fest Park neighborhood and partnering with local businesses including Hartmann distillery, Resurgence Brewery, Mammoth Studios, The Swannie House, and Papi Grandes, as well as Riverworks , to offer VIP experiences and special VIP offerings throughout the event. “The Next Level VIP offers the aforementioned perks as well as boat shuttle rides, Ferris wheel rides and other perks throughout the day including performances and discounts on MIA goods.” VIP tickets proceeds help keep this festival free to the public. VIP passes can be purchased the day of the festival at the event.
Also this year, MIA will feature a community art cube, hip-hop cypher, floating installation by David Butler, as well as an expanded Refringement experience in the Silos. The MIA Kids Area will run throughout the day as well as Spunout Fire productions, circus acts, theater performed in an intimate space at Riverworks, Nickel City Wrestling, The 716 Sideshow and more. “I could go on and on,” Robby says.
Robby’s favorite thing is watching the faces of young children experiencing the excitement and creativity. “It’s awesome to watch them experience the real creative energy of the arts in real life and in real time, not over their iPads or televisions. The power of the arts through their eyes and ears and directly into their brains can be life changing. I love it.”
“The most impactful part of the event is the Buffalo connection and the power of the creative community coming together. It’s really about showcasing our local talent and fostering that creative energy. Music is Art is proud to enrich our community with access to music. It is our hope that we encourage people to find their musical voice, think about how music touches their lives, and most importantly think about the fact that…music is art.”
For full event schedule visit https://www.musicisart.org/ and follow them on social media for event updates.