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[Gallery] Art of Cool Fest 2019: Performers, DJs Rocked Crowds at Motorco, Masonic Lodge

Derrick Walker

Durham, NC – On a clear warm fall night in downtown Durham NC, music pierces the air from the annual nationally renowned and acclaimed Art of Cool Festival. Checking in at Motorco, a small size music hall, local band Zoocrü takes the stage. Bandleader, Alan Thompson checks with the sound engineer to make sure the notes coming off his keyboard sound just right. Bass player Chris Sharp strokes the cords on his bass guitar while Drummer Howard Artis pops his snare drum to keep the beat for the groovy, futuristic style music the band produces. While the band plays, the crowd mixed with old and young people alike, enjoy Zoocrü’s vibe.

Art of
Zoocrü

Zoocrü has a very unique sound to their music. The founding members of the band, Alan Thompson, Johnathan Curry, and Chris Sharp are all local to Durham NC. The trio of founding members all attended North Carolina Central University in Durham together. That is where the band got its start. Zoocrü has been together making music since 2012.

Being all classically trained jazz musicians really gives Zoocrü a unique sound to their music as they blend hip hop, jazz, and funk into their on-stage sets.  The group feels that their music is heavily influenced by such artists as Roy Ayers, Thelonious Monk, A Tribe Called Quest, J Dilla, Jimi Hendrix, Wu-tang Clan, Radiohead, Herbie Hancock, and Miles Davis. Zoocrü really set the tone for Motorco all weekend long for the Art of Cool festival.

Other acts such as DMC Rock Band rocked the crowd at Motorco on Friday night along with Omar Lye-Fook. Dj Talib Kweli, artists Jessica Care Moore, Emotional Oranges and Chiiild kept that vibe going on Saturday night. Motorco Music Hall in Durham was definitely a spot to check out during the Art Of Cool Festival.

Masonic Lodge
Art of
Masonic Lodge

The Prince Hall Masonic Lodge located downtown Durham was also a happening place to be during the day on Saturday (Sept. 28). A variety of DJs played hip hop and R&B music for the day parties, including DJ RNB, DJ Kool Sheed, DJ Marlon, and DJ Frances Jaye, on Friday (Sept. 27). Closing out Friday night, local North Carolina DJ out of Charlotte NC, DJ CK had the crowd going with some Jay-Z and Jezzy tracks for his set.

Back on Saturday (Sept. 28) at Masonic Lodge, after DJ CK was done spinning, the day party continued rocking with DJ Fatz mixing some classic Tupac and Biggie tracks. DJ Fatz really had the crowd going wild with those old school hits! The DJs at the Masonic Lodge, DJ Lil Bee, DJ HighRise, DJ Assassin, and DJ Skillz, had the people dancing early in the day and throughout the night at Art of Cool Festival 2019!

Motorco, Masonic Lodge highlights (Photo: Derrick Walker):

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