Free Concert: The Milky Way at Mary Bethune Park

Afrofuturist/Steamfunk band with a sound of its own and explosive live performances. Members include Sum, Sir Ian Dangerous, Sno Leopard (a two woman performance duo), DJ Jawa, Mat Mega & Taurus Hamilton. We are truly hip-hop, but we nod and pay homage to many sounds…funk, electronic, soul, world rhythms, ska, afrobeat, tribal music, classic rock, punk, surf rock, and whatever else we feel like doing at the moment. We are students of new music AND the great musical legacy that precedes us. It all comes together in a milky way. We have shared stages with greats like The Pharcyde, Arrested Development, Dwele, Ursula Rucker, Twilite Tone, and a great number of respected local artists in Los Angeles, including Jimetta Rose, and 14KT. We have spearheaded our own events and residencies around the Greater Los Angeles area, most recently launching the STEAMFUNK party series. The Milky Way has been featured in major Toyota print ads and has had music highlighted in a viral Hennessy campaign with Shaquille O'Neal. While we are always looking for opportunities, we are just as capable of creating our own and love producing and hosting our own events that feature other up-and-coming artists that we respect. The band, founded in 2007, is fronted and led by dynamic songsmith and accomplished rapper SUM, a 2014 Independent Music Awards Nominee with music appearing everywhere from Breaking Bad and Saints Row, to a number of network television shows.

Illustrious list of Milky Way alumni include P.U.D.G.E, Computer Jay, Cee Brown, Jesse "Xro" Pinkney, and Mario "X-Man" Prins.