New festival would honor Sun Ra’s life, music and legacy—how you can help

A new, once-in-a-lifetime cultural event could be coming to the Magic City in May.

This summer, Create Birmingham’s Jefferson County Film Strategist Lee Shook is organizing a new festival to honor the life, music and legacy of legendary jazz composer, bandleader, musician and mythical persona Sun Ra.

Read on to learn more about the Sun Ra Day Festival and how you can help make it a reality.

New festival would honor Sun Ra’s legacy in Birmingham

As the mural on the side of Firehouse Community Arts Center states, “If you are from Birmingham and you don’t know who [Sun Ra] is, you should be ashamed.”

Born on May 22, 1914, Herman Poole Blount soon swapped his birth name for a moniker better fitting his cosmic personality: Le Sony’r Ra, commonly known as Sun Ra.

Claiming to be an alien from Saturn on a mission of peace, Sun Ra challenged the conventions of modern jazz with his band—The Arkestra—by implementing new sounds with synthesizers and spacey horns. Sun Ra and his Arkestra grew famous for their whimsical performances, which fused space-age and ancient Egyptian imagery into an unforgettable experience.

Despite Sun Ra’s contributions to music and culture, the Birmingham-raised musician has never been fully recognized in a city-wide festival in the Magic City—until now.

“Sun Ra was such a pioneering force with his use of synthesizers and electric keyboards; he’s continued to influence musicians into the modern era. Sun Ra is celebrated all over the country—New York, Philadelphia and LA—but we really needed to celebrate him in his hometown.

With his 111th birthday coming up, we’re hoping to honor his contributions with a Sun Ra Festival and by making his birthday—May 22nd—Sun Ra Day in Birmingham.”

Lee Shook, Organizer, Sun Ra Festival

Organized by Lee Shook and sponsored by Energy Alabama and Earth Libraries, the Sun Ra Festival will take place over four days and feature movies, art shows, food, roundtable discussions and educational events at local venues like Sidewalk Cinema, Seasick Records and East Village Arts.

In addition, the festival will feature two performances by Sun Ra’s Arkestra at two of the Magic City’s most revered venues: The Nick and the Carver Theater.

“The Arkestra hasn’t played in Birmingham since 2016, so this would be a once-in-a-lifetime chance for Birmingham to listen to this legendary thirteen-piece band. The band leader, Marshall Allen, will be turning 101 on May 26th, so we’re hoping to honor him as well.”

Lee Shook, Organizer, Sun Ra Festival

The four-day festival will feature several events hosted at local venues:

• Wednesday, May 21 
  • Sidewalk Cinema and Southern Music Research Center present: Space is the Place + Sun Ra Short Film (7PM)
  • After Party at The House of Found Objects featuring Sweet Wreath (10PM)
• Thursday, May 22
  • Seasick Records Albums + Poster Signing (Noon)
  • Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame presents: Sun Ra Day Celebration, featuring Sun Ra’s Arkestra live at the Carver Theater + Cassandra Griffen Photo Exhibit
  • After Party at Saturn featuring Vishnu, Davis and Haleigh and Kirkos (10:30PM)
• Friday, May 23
  • Educational Program
  • The Nick presents: An Evening with the Arkestra
• Saturday, May 24
  • East Village Arts presents: Craig Legg’s “Ark in Town: Paintings of Sun Ra Arkestra Past and Present” exhibit, Sun Ra Art Collective, Moon Stew Potluck Lunch and DJ sets by The Audiovore and the Shure Shot

Help make the Sun Ra Festival a reality

To bring the Sun Ra Festival to life, Lee has launched a GoFundMe campaign titled Celebrate Sun Ra’s Legacy in Birmingham to raise the funds necessary to bring the legendary, thirteen-piece Arkestra to the Magic City.

In addition to the GoFundMe, Lee Shook is hosting two fundraisers this week:

On Wednesday, Lee will host a fundraiser at Golden Age Wine Garden downtown with a Sun Ra-inspired DJ set including songs by the Arkestra, covers and songs by artists inspired by Sun Ra.

• When: Wednesday, April 23rd | 6-9PM
• Where: Golden Age Wine Garden, 2021 2nd Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35203

This Sunday, musicians Davis Little and Haleigh Black will perform a fusion of World/Jazz/Appalachian music in the Side Room of Rojo; proceeds will be donated to Sun Ra Day.

• When: Sunday, April 27 | 6-9PM
• Where: Rojo, 2921 Highland Ave, Birmingham, AL 35205

Excited about the Sun Ra Festival? Tag us @bhamnow to let us know!