- Music
- 05 Sep 16
Leader of the Free World, Commander-in-Chief of the United States, Nobel Peace Prize recipient; now Barack Obama can add "Festival Organiser" to his list of titles.
Just weeks after dropping his summer playlist, Barack Obama announced in a press release last week that he would be holding "South by South Lawn: A Festival of Ideas, Art, and Action" in the White House gardens on Monday, October 3. Inspired by the South by Southwest festival which takes place in Austin Texas, the president - who traces his genealogy back to County Offaly - is hoping his festival will celebrate the "spirit of innovation".
No acts have been confirmed thus far but Obama has previously invited artists such as Beyonce and Jay-Z to the White House, as well as citing "How Much A Dollar Cost?" by Kendrick Lamar as being his favourite song of 2015. There will also be a section for film and an interactive part that will involve panel discussions about creating and maintaining positive change.
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Tickets for the event will be based on a nomination process to attract those who have helped change their communities for the better.