MANSFIELD — Aurelio Diaz insists his “Brown Sound” music project is inclusive, despite its moniker that may suggest otherwise.
“Black or white bores me. I don’t like the thought that you’re ‘black’ or ‘white,’” he said as he gave the words “black” and “white” air quotes. “It’s like the middle doesn’t matter.
“Brown is more inclusive and I just like it because it’s not limiting.”
Brown Sound emerged into Mansfield’s original music scene last fall when six ethnically diverse musicians from the area agreed the scene needed some spice. The gig, which resembled a micro-festival house party at a friend’s house, attracted more than Diaz expected.
“There were only six of us and we just wanted something to highlight people of color who play original stuff, but actually a lot of people came. I didn’t expect it,” Diaz said.
In fact, the first show happened at his friend David’s house. The first Brown Sound show was chronicled by Nick Gardner, owner of Semaphore Magazine.
The show was a hit, so Diaz decided the show must go on. He moved the second show into Mansfield’s Fourth Street Bar, near the train tracks and vacant factories in downtown’s east side.
“Some people see the bar and where it is and think, ‘oh, that’s so ghetto and dark,’ but it’s actually really nice there. They have music there every week,” Diaz said.
The Fourth Street Bar, 296 E. Fourth St., will host another Brown Sound on Saturday, Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. An entrance fee of $5 will provide some compensation to the artists, Diaz said. The lineup features familiar musicians and some hail from Columbus with a total of 11.
-Teenwolf (James Lee Van Horn) 7 to 7:30
-Kid Chameleon 7:30 to 8 p.m.
-Nick Careless 8 to 8:30 p.m.
-Hmaadi Rose 8:30 to 9 p.m.
-Deedee 9 to 9:30 p.m.
-Chico’s Brother 9:30 10 p.m.
-Jae Esquire 9:30-10 p.m.
-Sogbety Diomande 10 to 10:30 p.m.
-The Trio 10:30 to 11 p.m.
-Canadian Waves 11 to 11:30 p.m.
-Don B 11:30 p.m. to end.
Diaz said artists will likely paint as the music plays and Greter Photography will document the evening with pictures.
“It’s sort of evolved into a music festival celebrating ethnicity and diversity and different backgrounds,” Diaz said, noting some of the musicians have collaborated on different music projects since meeting each other at previous Brown Sounds.
“Which is just so cool, that’s what you want,” he said.
Diaz offered a warning: some of the musician’s songs may contain explicit lyrics. Attendants should be at least 18 or over, he said. For more information, visit the Facebook page for the event.
