This year’s Deep Ellum Block Party will take place on Nov. 23 from noon to 7 p.m. Organizers for the Deep Ellum Block Party hope this year’s event surpasses expectations with iconic music artists and new activities. Wu-Tang Clan member Raekwon and The Polyphonic Spree are set to co-headline the free-to-attend block party.
As the name suggests, the Deep Ellum Block Party takes place in the heart of the iconic, historically significant, cultural and musical epicenter of Dallas’ Deep Ellum area. The area has been a hotbed for up-and-coming talented musicians since it became a destination for blues musicians in the 1920s. Attendees can expect to see Deep Ellum’s history as the birthplace of Dallas’ music scene — from the bluesy licks of Blind Lemon Jefferson to the punk and indie sounds that define today’s landscape — to be front and center.
Boasting an eclectic mix of genres spanning from blues and punk to cumbia and beyond, the Block Party’s organizers hope to reflect Deep Ellum’s vast variety of musical talent that can be experienced across the district’s more than 25 venues every week and weekend.
To help celebrate the unique culture of Deep Ellum, Elm Street will be shut down to traffic and blocked off from Good Latimer to Malcolm X for what is sure to be an unforgettable bash. Attendees can watch artists create live murals, have a chance to win prizes in giveaways, gaze at antique cars, visit an area dubbed the “Family Zone,” explore a beer garden, shoot some hoops and, of course, listen to live music.
“There will be 40 bands, and I am the most excited for Raekwon,” said the event’s booker/promoter Gavin Mulloy. “The neighborhood scavenger hunt is an activity to not miss out on.”
There’s no surprise Mulloy is looking forward to Corey Woods, aka Raekwon The Chef, as he is one of the most sought-after voices in the entertainment industry thanks to his role as a founding member of the hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan. The Polyphonic Spree is an orchestral, choral band from Dallas that significantly impacted culture as they have toured the U.S. and inspired audiences for the past 24 years.
Last year, the neighborhood hosted Rev. Run, Doug E. Fresh, and hometown heroes such as The Grays, R.C. Williams and Friends, Cure for Paranoia and Cayuga All-Stars for an inaugural Deep Ellum Music Festival honoring the 150th anniversary of the Deep Ellum Cultural District. This year, according to the event organizers, the district is “digging even deeper to showcase all facets of the community’s arts and cultural offerings in one energy-packed day.”
Eateries will be serving up their “best bites” while others offer drink specials and deals at neighborhood hotspots.
This festival is also a friendly space for those with disabilities, Mulloy said. “There is handicapped parking, and the street is shut down to make it accessible for everyone.”
