On Saturday, the Albright Knox Art Gallery hosted the 7^th annual Music is Art Festival, welcoming a substantial crowd of all ages eager to enjoy the festival’s activities and the beautiful weather.

More than 30 talented bands, numerous dance troupes and energetic DJs performed on three stages set up on the gallery’s grounds. A multitude of local artists and photographers displayed and sold their work and various vendors from the area provided an assortment of foods to snack on. The crowd was also treated to artists creating new works right before their eyes, a “projection tent” with accompanying live music, a kids village with family friendly activities and live performance art.

Founder of the Music is Art Festival and Music in Action program, Robby Takac, graciously took some time to discuss the event’s activities and background. Takac started his Music in Action program to create a welcoming and supportive environment for young people who are interested in pursuing music.

“Music in Action is like a business club for rock kids. I was a kid in a band and it is nice to get a leg up from someone with experience. It’s sort of a team building exercise in a lot of ways. It is like a math or debate club for kids who are not into math or debate.”

Observing the crowd enjoying the festival during this interview he shared his delight with its success. “I love to see all the people here, all the musicians, artists, dancers and volunteers that make it so great. It is exciting to see all the people that make this happen.”

Music is Art has grown immensely over the past seven years and Takac was visibly excited and delighted to express how pleased he is with its development. “In addition to the Music is Art Festival, drives are run throughout the year to collect instruments for individuals in the Music in Action program, an annual Battle of the Bands is set up for the students in it, and Music is Art works with the University at Buffalo’s Center for the Arts for the Music is Art Live at the Center. We have a really great relationship with colleges in the area. When I say all this I can barely believe all this has happened. We have a lot of great people working with us.”

Also acting as the President of the Music is Art Board of Directors, Takac was part of the panel that chose and scheduled the bands who performed throughout the day. He expressed that he was thrilled to have “a lot of great bands and talent at the festival” and was especially happy to have the polka metal band Those Idiots play at the festival as well as The Rabies, Floozie, Rooftops and Declan Miers & the Scorched Earthlings to name a few.

Nicki McCrohan came to the festival to see Agent Me perform and was very pleased with the entire festival. “The festival has definitely grown over the years and I think it is great. Agent Me put on a wonderful performance and there are a lot of interesting food selections to choose from.”

One of the many photographers selling photos at the festival, Marshall Scheuttle, expressed how fantastic the festival is. “This is my second year displaying my photos and it is a great venue to put up work and not have to worry about the setting. It’s very nice because it is an open public forum to put work up.”  

To find out more about Music is Art and all that they do in the Western New York area log onto www.musicisart.org