Sound Session '08 in full swing

Dan Barbarisi has a good look in today's ProJo at the growing appeal of Sound Session, the genre-defying music and culture festival. The high point of the fest comes with tonight's parade. If you've never been, check it out -- it's a blast.

The fifth year of the music festival culminates tonight, with a parade from Waterplace Park to Westminster Street, where participants deck themselves out in festive Caribbean costumes and masks. Last year, the Saturday night parade and Westminster Street block party drew 35,000 people, solidifying the event’s status as a signature Providence event, next to WaterFire in its draw.

And who it draws is part of its appeal. WaterFire lures a predominately white, suburban crowd. Lynne McCormack, director of the city’s office of art, culture and tourism, said that Sound Session’s eclectic mix of music draws from all Providence neighborhoods, and from the suburbs as well. For the past five years, it has been a safe, unique moment in the summer when all of Providence and much of Rhode Island meets downtown.

“We’ve moved it from being a music festival to being something that actually means something to the community.”

“You see African-American kids, Asian kids, white kids, all running around trying to make something happen,” she said.

THAT’S PARTICULARLY gratifying to its creators, because Sound Session was drawn up with exactly that in mind.

(Disclosure: I'm a board member of the Black Rep.)