About the East Village Music Festival, taking place on June 22 at La Plaza Cultural

Grady Tesch has called the East Village home for more than a decade, drawn in by its creative pulse and offbeat charm. 

Last year, he had the idea for an event that could celebrate all that the East Village has to offer. That thought turned into action — with the help of friend and jazz/soul drummer Kobi Abcede.

The result is the East Village Music Festival, a community celebration set for Sunday, June 22, from noon to 7 p.m. at La Plaza Cultural, the community garden on the SW corner of Avenue C and Ninth Street. Music aside, the event will also feature local food vendors.

Here, Tesch discusses more about the event and what residents can expect. (Q&A edited for length and clarity.)

What inspired you to create the East Village Music Festival? 

I've lived in the East Village for 13 years now and have a deep love for this wonderful neighborhood. The idea popped into my head late last year. I thought, Wouldn't it be so much fun to create an event that celebrates the creative, fun and weird energy of the East Village? 

My good friend, Kobi Abcede, who is also one of the most sought-after jazz and soul drummers in New York, agreed to co-organize with me, and we got to work making this vision a reality.

How did you choose La Plaza Cultural as the location for the event? 

La Plaza Cultural is a space that we feel embodies the vibrancy of East Village, from its beautiful amphitheater to the cute turtles enjoying the sun in the pond. Many of the people I started asking said I had to have the event at La Plaza Cultural.

What can attendees expect throughout the day? 

We'll have live music starting from noon to 7 p.m. Each artist will bring a unique sound, ranging from folk to funk, soul, indie pop, and the genreless. There'll be music for everyone! 

Julian Klepper, the former owner of Wild Birds, will be emceeing, DJing and hosting throughout the day. There will be food vendors and numerous opportunities to socialize with friends. We are hosting this event to celebrate the community, and everyone is welcome to attend and enjoy the festivities.

How did you curate the lineup of performers, and what makes Pinc Louds a standout for this event? 

Kobi and I have so many favorite bands in New York that it was hard to choose, but we ended up reaching out to the artists who we felt embody the diverse energy of the East Village. And, intentionally, three of the bands we chose are East Village-based. 

We also didn't want to limit the festival to a single type of music, so we made sure to include artists from various genres. Pinc Louds was our first call to get on the bill, and to us, they are the quintessential East Village artist. Their journey of bringing joy to the people of EV during the pandemic, when they performed concerts in Tompkins Square Park, is one that I lived through and witnessed firsthand, showcasing their own commitment to bringing the joy of music to people, no matter what. 

We're really honored to have them headline the festival. 

Is this a one-time celebration, or do you want to make it an annual tradition? 

We are 100% hoping to make this an annual tradition!

What’s one moment you're most looking forward to on the day of the festival? 

I can't wait to see La Plaza Cultural light up with the faces of all the amazing people of the East Village. That's the moment I'm most excited for and the reason we're doing this.

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The lineup:

1 p.m. — Youth in a Roman Field

1:55 p.m. — Syl DuBenion

3 p.m. — The Quashie Collective

4:05 — p.m. — Olivia K & The Parkers

5:10 p.m. — Momentum

6:15 p.m. — Pinc Louds

A suggested donation of $20 helps support the artists and cover production costs.

You can find updates via Instagram.