Break Free Fest Spotlight: Minority Threat
“For years punk and hardcore have been deemed white genres of music,” write the organizers of Philly’s Break Free Fest, “pushing aside and ignoring people of color who have been shaping it for years.” The festival, which takes place on Saturday, May 27th at The Rotunda in West Philadelphia, seeks to bring those marginalized artists together and to the front. All week long leading up to the event, we’re highlighting some of the performers on the bill.
Minority Threat / Columbus, Ohio
minoritythreat.bandcamp.com
1. Who is in the band, how long have you been around for, and how would you describe what you’re doing to someone who might not be familiar?
Minority Threat is Jordan (vocals), Antonio (drums), Winston (bass) and Darrell (guitar). We’ve been doing the band for about two years. We all grew up in punk/hardcore in different cities all over Ohio, and none of us had bands around that spoke on issues from a person of color’s perspective. Once we all met, we decided to make the band we always wanted to see.
2. What are you most excited about when it comes to Break Free Fest?
Every other band that’s playing. The lineup is unreal.
3. Talk to me about your local scene, some bands you want to rep, and some cool shit that’s happening either in your community or with your band or whatever.
We’re spread out across Columbus and Cleveland, but Ohio in general has always been shitty as far as different subcultures supporting each other. There’s a ton of great artists in the punk/hardcore/metal/hip hop communities, but not a lot of crossover between them. Despite that, it seems like there’s a sick new band popping up every day. Check out Toxic Womb, Bloody Show and ApolloAkembe.
The same weekend as Break Free Fest, Columbus has Melanincholy Festival, an arts and music fest whose purpose is to celebrate and showcase artists of color. We were fortunate enough to play last year. Keep on the lookout for their upcoming events.
As far as us, we’re finishing up recording our next album and hopefully touring once it is released.
Break Free Fest takes plays Saturday, May 27th at The Rotunda, 4014 Walnut Street, from 2 to 11 p.m.; tickets and more information are available here.