By Esther Sanchez
Saturday, November 14th, local non-profit organization, Culturas, and the City of Coachella are proud to present the 4th annual Synergy Fest! A free, all-ages music and arts festival that has taken the community by storm. The brain-child of Culturas co-founder and director, Ms. Yaya Ortiz, says the purpose of Synergy is to unite and mobilize the community for and around the arts in all of its forms while providing a platform to showcase local talent. Now in its 4th year, the folks at Culturas have watched and nurtured their little festival, watching it grow every year while simultaneously gathering the encouragement, participation and support of citizens, business and community leaders alike. Currently featuring a lineup of nearly 50 musical performers on 3 stages, a car show, skateboarding exhibitions, live and interactive visual art demonstrations and food trucks for starters, there is little doubt that Synergy Fest 2015 is destined to be an event you just might kick yourself for missing.
As an individual who is involved in the local art scene I have been impressed by the folks in Culturas for the vision and sheer tenacity they have shown that seems to say, “Who says we can’t throw a festival for everyone?” Synergy Fest, executive producer, Jonathan Becerra: “This event has always been community based. I think part of what accounts for how much it has grown in the past couple of years has to do with outside interest has been drawn to the desert and specifically the east valley. It’s less about us being opportunists jumping on a band-wagon and more about the fact that the band-wagon is on a track that we were already heading down.”
Becerra continues: “It seems as though the So-Cal desert empire…..the communities of the Coachella Valley and High-Desert are in a period of Renaissance. Harlem had its renaissance as did San Francisco. This is our time and the world is taking notice. People in the east valley are starting to realize that the communities are ripe to benefit from this movement. I don’t think it would have been possible for us to throw a festival including 50 bands on 3 stages in past years. The momentum that has been built by an array of factors has brought us to this moment. One of the biggest and probably most important of those factors would be the groundwork that has been done by the artists themselves.”
The artists Becerra is referring to is a truly eclectic bunch of young people who are bringing an untold plethora of talent and creativity to a table that is so diverse that I can say with utmost confidence that there truly is something for everyone happening this Saturday at Synergy Fest. Hip-hop, rock, EDM, funk, jazz, soul, acoustic and almost every conceivable genre in between will be proudly represented at Synergy Fest with an equal sense openness and respect given to all. With that in mind, make plans to gather your people to make your pilgrimage this Saturday to Dateland Park in Coachella. You have nothing to lose but good times.
For more info on Synergy Fest like their facebook page facebook.com/synergyartsfest
