Youth Express True Colors at The Hue Fest

April 30, 2012 /

VIDEO: The Hue Fest 2012

 

By Santos J. Reyes
Coachella Unincorporated

 

Coachella, Calif. — After months of anticipation, young people from throughout the Coachella Valley gathered to express their true colors at the second annual The Hue Music and Arts Festival on Saturday, April 28, at Dateland Park.

This youth-led festival showcased a variety of genres in music and diverse types of art. Dateland Park was transformed with many tents for venders, stages for performers, breathtaking murals, and creative art pieces to capture the culture of the Coachella Valley.  A car show featured vehicles from classic to modern day.

The free family friendly event was presented by Eastern Coachella Valley Building Healthy Communities and sponsored by Goldenvoice, City of Coachella, The California Endowment and local businesses. The event was organized and driven by students from Coachella Valley and Desert Mirage High Schools, as well as community partners including Raices Cultura, FIRME, Esperanza Youth and Family Center, Culturas and Bienestar, to name a few.

“We made the decisions for the music, the art and the stages we want them in,” said Eduardo Gonzalez, 17, a student active with RAICES. “We also want to promote healthy living and most importantly is the fact that we are able to stay in the park late at night and not be afraid of any mishaps that have happened before in the past.”

Approximately 35 music acts from the Coachella Valley and beyond performed music from indie to corridos to metal and electro house.

“Well this was my first time at The Hue, and I had a blast with my friends listening to the music and dancing with them,” said Cheyenne Yanez, 18, a senior at Coachella Valley High School. “It makes the valley positive by everyone going out to the park and listen to music with their friends and family.”

A Night at the Park, a local indie band trying to get more exposure, returned to perform for the second time at The Hue to connect with the community.

“I was trying to be more open with the crowd, I know next year is going to be even better,” said Madison Ebersole, 18, lead guitarist for the group. “I learned a lot in the past year, so we’re going to improve at least a bit. I think this is perfect. It is not as big as Coachella Fest, but I love it because it is free and it’s local.”

The purpose of this youth-led festival is to get the community together and enjoy the culture of music and art in the valley and to promote healthy living.

“I would attend The Hue next year, I really enjoyed myself this year,” said Alejandra Bautista, 18, a student at Coachella Valley High School. “Plus even though I was here for a couple of hours, I had a blast so more time next year would be amazing.”

 

VIDEO: The Hue Fest 2012

 

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