Digable Planets at Rainbow Summer

Free Event

Co-Presented with Culture x Design as part of the Summer of Soul: Outdoor Marketplace & Concert Series

Digable Planets burst onto the music scene in 1993 with their Grammy-winning single, “Rebirth Of Slick (Cool Like Dat).” Made up of Ishmael Butler (“Butterfly”), Craig Irving (“Doodlebug”) and Mary Ann Vieira (“Ladybug Mecca”), the trio carved out a unique style of jazz-informed Hip Hop. Shortly after, Digable Planets followed up with their debut album, Reachin’ (A New Refutation of Time And Space), an ambitious offering that Pitchfork praised as “a world within a world, complete with its own language and monuments.” The group celebrated the 30th Anniversary of Reachin’ in 2023.

Melding Jazz samples, and complex rhymes that touched on everything from the nuances of city life (Where I’m From) to abortion rights (La Femme Fetal), Reachin’ was a rich and vibrant artistic statement as well as a huge commercial success (RIAA certified gold).

In 2015, the group embarked upon a string of wildly successful live shows and has been very active as a tight touring unit ever since. In 2017, they released Digable Planets Live, a live album that showcases many gems from the group’s catalog as well as the trio’s skill at rocking the crowd with a live band. A pioneering act that continues to cast a wide-ranging, genre-bending influence, Digable Planets have left an indelible mark on music. More than 30 years after their debut, their music still shines, and the iconic group continues to bring their celebrated stage show to excited crowds around the world.  

This show is part of a partnership between MPAC and Culture x Design and is also part of the Summer of Soul: Outdoor Marketplace & Concert Series. 

Featuring special guest KidCutUp. 

Schedule of “Rainbow Summer of Soul:”
4:30 PM – Summer of Soul’s Marketplace featuring a vibrant array of vendors, including local artists, restauranteurs, crafters, and makers
5:30 – 7:30 PM – Bubble Playtime with Michelle Hackett on South Grounds
7:00 PM – KidCutUp performance in Peck Pavilion
8:00 PM – Digable Planets Performance in Peck Pavilion 

All Day FUN
“Lost” by Amanda Parer
Rainbow Piano – BE the art!
Giant Lawn Games 

Food & Beverages
Sazama’s River Edge Patio serving Saz’s Festival Favorites and Beverages
Food trucks starting at 4:30 PM 

No carry-ins permitted. Alcoholic beverages must be purchased from our licensed vendors.