What makes a great party great? At BmoreArt we have strong opinions about events and we take hosting very seriously. A party is about hospitality, making entire groups of people feel welcome and appreciated. It’s also about surprise: not just who you run into or meet, but the combination of a unique place, thoughtfully planned details, and activities that engage the senses and make guests feel genuinely special.
Event planning and execution is a ton of labor and after hosting so many of our own, our team was delighted to receive an invitation to join our media partner 89.7 WTMD on Saturday, June 10, at the B&O Railroad Museum in South Baltimore for a massive celebration of Baltimore’s music scene.
The WTMD & WYPR 20th Anniversary Bash featured electronic composer & performer Dan Deacon as the headliner, rockers Pressing Strings, the water ballet and dance troupe Fluid Movement, rapper Eze Jackson, and quite a few more at the event. The two radio stations, 89.7 WTMD and 88.1 WYPR, presented an evening of speakers and live music on stage and aboard moving trains, showcasing the best of what both stations bring to our community.
The event included a large, main stage at the B&O’s covered outdoor pavilion, but the additional surprise was that there were 30-minute train rides happening all evening featuring live music by R&B/soul singer Brooks Long, chamber pop duo Outcalls, rap/Americana duo Caleb & Saleem, and Americana singer/songwriter Letitia VanSant–each performing for intimate audiences in their own train car.
The lineup of speakers included NPR “Founding Mother” Susan Stamberg, former host of All Things Considered, as well as NPR rising star Ayesha Rascoe, host of Weekend Edition Sunday and Up First on Saturdays. To offer a local counterpoint, Baltimore’s Stoop Storytelling presented On-Air Diaries.
This was not a stuffy event and the dress code (“Baltimore fun!”) must have spoken to the Fluid Movement group because they were all dressed like circus clowns. There were media professionals in suits, and Bob in his bowtie, but most people were casual and ready to participate in Dan Deacon-style calisthenics.
We stayed till the very end of the concert and, as we walked out under the great dome of the B&O Museum, it was apparent that we live in a city with incredible talent, dedicated creative people, and with two fantastic public radio stations that are invaluable in building community in Baltimore.
Side note: we continue to be thrilled when we hear our BmoreArt sponsorship message on the air at WTMD and we hope you’ll click on their banner ad on our home page. It has information about their next summer outdoor concert (which is free) and other events and opportunities to participate in Baltimore’s music and media scene.
Please enjoy the following photos by E. Brady Robinson and check the BmoreArt IG for video coverage of the concerts and party.
