Hip-hop and R&B artist BJ The Chicago Kid will headline the Move Mix Festival, the Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State’s 2024 fall season-opening event.
The free community festival for all ages will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, in Eisenhower Auditorium.
In celebration of the auditorium’s 50th anniversary, the second-annual event will feature a variety of artist performances and workshops, food vendors and interactive workshops inside and outside the building. Dance ensembles, circus and performance artists, singers and choral ensembles, and rock and big bands will fill the main spaces for a full-venue arts experience to remember.
Centre County-based singer-songwriting duo Hops and Vines will cap off the artist engagements with a brief music set. BJ The Chicago Kid will conclude the daylong event by showcasing his smooth, soulful, R&B and hip-hop-inspired vocals.
The event is free, but registration is required. Complete this form to register.
“Our committee was thrilled with the number of applications received to be part of the Move Mix Festival this year,” said Heather Mannion, Move Mix Festival committee member. “We selected 20 incredible local artists to participate, and our Student Advisory Council selected our headliner, BJ The Chicago Kid. We are so excited for our community to join us and make memories at Eisenhower Auditorium for what promises to be fun-filled day celebrating the performing arts.”
BJ The Chicago Kid
Born Brian James Sledge, BJ The Chicago Kid has collaborated with heavy hitters of Top Dawg Entertainment rap artists Schoolboy Q, Kendrick Lamar and Jay Rock; and other prominent hip-hop artists such as Chance the Rapper, Anderson .Paak, Tierra Whack and Freddie Gibbs.
On “Gravy,” BJ The Chicago Kid partnered with Yeti Beats (producer for Doja Cat and Matisyahu). His 2023 mixtape was recorded with a live band at Memphis’ Royal Studios, the home of the legendary 1970s mellow-groove soul sound.
Hops and Vines
State College rock duo Hops and Vines (Jonathan McVerry and Christie Clancy) takes an acoustic guitar, a bold voice and an appreciation of good spirits to the stage level. The central Pennsylvania artists, now in their first decade of performing together, encourage crowd participation for classic songs by Dolly Parton, The Cars, Radiohead, Bruce Springsteen, Fleetwood Mac and more.
Times and locations are subject to change. Watch cpa.psu.edu for updates in the case of inclement weather or an update in the artist schedule.
ARTIST SCHEDULE
Conference room
3:10-3:30 p.m., Black Cat Belly Dance workshop with Shannon Bishop
4:40-5 p.m., Workshop with Aneaus Smith Dance
Loading dock
2-2:20 p.m., Shades of Blue (a cappella)
2:40-3 p.m., Raw Aesthetic Movements (dance)
3:20-3:40 p.m., Nittany Ballet (dance)
4-4:20 p.m., Making State (rock band)
6-6:30 p.m., Hops and Vines (pop and rock band)
7-8 p.m., BJ The Chicago Kid (hip-hop and soul singer)
Lobby
2:30-2:50 p.m., Virginia Kay (singer)
3:15-3:35 p.m., The Extra-Ordinary Capvara (circus)
3:55-4:15 p.m., Tommy Willis (beatboxing)
4:40-5 p.m., None of the Above (a cappella)
Patio
2:20-2:40 p.m., Liv and the Juveniles (rock band)
3-3:20 p.m., Penn State Graduate Percussion Quartet (band music)
3:40-4:10 p.m., Chelsea Tye, Keira Gail and Livi Hepler (singers)
4:20-4:40 p.m., Kathak Dance Collective (dance)
5-5:20 p.m., La Música de Echa (singer)
5:30-5:50 p.m., Ambitions Performance Company (dance)
The Place (Conference Room)
5:30-6:45 p.m., Cowanism (performance art)
Roaming
2:30-2:50 p.m., Shannon Bishop (belly dance)
4-4:20 p.m., Aneaus Smith Dance
FOOD TRUCKS
Rebelz Mobile Cuisine
Inside Out Cookie
Coffee, Hemp & Tea
TABLING ORGANIZATIONS
The ACRES Project
Center for the Performing Arts Student Advisory Council
Centre Safe
Jana Marie Foundation
Penn State College of Arts & Architecture
Performing Arts Council
PSU Votes
PARKING INFO
Parking is $5.50 per vehicle when reserved in advance or $10 starting at midnight on the day of the performance. Reservations can be made through 10 a.m. the day of the performance or until reservations have sold out. Parking is searchable by the event. License plate information entered at purchase must match the vehicle driven to campus on the reservation date. If a different vehicle must be driven, users must contact ParkMobile Member Support through the ParkMobile website or Park Mobile app (Settings — Chat Support) to request a vehicle change for that reservation. Visit cpa.psu.edu/parking for more information and to reserve a spot.
