Asbury Park hip-hop phenom Ryver Bey to play female-centric Fourth Wave fest
Catch the wave with Ryver Bey.
The Fourth Wave Festival, that is. The event at Asbury Lanes, which begins at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 3, is a female-centric experience that “aims to raise the voices of women musicians to help their community, and themselves in the process,” according to the Fourth Wave website.
In addition to Ryver, Des and the Swagmatics, Teen Idle, the Gab Cinque Band, Pepperwine, Anointed Friends, and festival founder Carlotta Schmidt are playing at Asbury Lanes. WABC New York news anchor Michelle Charlesworth is the host.
“It's everything we stand for — we're for it, ' said Emma Smith, Ryver's mom. “There's a lot of great acts on the bill.”
Proceeds raised by the Fourth Wave will benefit the Hazlet-based 180 Turning Lives Around, which helps victims of domestic abuse.
▸ Jersey Shore Most Influential 2024 — Entertainment: Ryver Bey is 'hip-hop's future'
“It helps them navigate the world after the abuse,” said Smith, an Asbury Park native, of 180. “The volunteers will help them to court, they do housing navigation for displaced victims, and they help them find all the resources they need to help them get through their situation.
"They are an excellent, excellent resource. Especially the community we're in, sometimes people don't like to seek refuge or help. They have several ways they can give out help so it's not so obvious. I think it's a noble cause.”
The 10-year-old Ryver of Asbury Park is one of Jersey's fastest-rising stars whose forms of artistic expression include hip-hop, video, film and fiction. She's working on her debut book.
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“(Ryver's) the next train who's going to take the next load of people to hip-hop's future,” said hip-hop legend Rakim from the stage of the city's Stone Pony last summer. “Peace and love to the little queen.”
The Fourth Wave fest will also celebrate Women’s History Month through a partnership with Little Steven Van Zandt’s Teach Rock group that includes screenings of videos featuring iconic women musicians in between bands.
“We want to elevate women — particularly women musicians — entertain our audience, and educate people about the incredible and important work 180 does in the community,” said Schmidt of Middletown via email. “It’s going to be a truly awesome day!”
Go: Fourth Wave Festival, 3 p.m. Sunday, March 3, Asbury Lanes, 209 4th Ave., Asbury Park. $35 in advance/$40 at the door; asburylanes.com.
Lee Fields: Faithful Man
The story of Plainfield soul man Lee Fields is so inspiring that it should be made into a movie.
It has.
“Lee Fields: Faithful Man,” which has been on the festival circuit for the last two years, was released Feb. 27 on multiple streaming platforms, including Apple, Amazon, Google Play, Vimeo, Microsoft and YouTube.
Fields, a North Carolina native, first gained notice with the track “Let's Talk It Over” in 1973. He steadily released music for the next 25 years until his 2009 “My World” broadened his horizons. He's been a big hit in Europe, and his latest album, “Sentimental Fool” on Daptone Records, has launched his career into a way bigger orbit here in the U.S.
The use of his song “Forever” from the album was featured in a 2022 Super Bowl commercial for The Farmer's Dog. It was a sentimental tear-jerker that made for many misty eyes across the country.
Jessamyn Ansary and Joyce Mishaan are the directors of “Lee Fields: Faithful Man.”
“At first I was reluctant to commit to such a massive undertaking, but Jessamyn persuaded me to spend a day filming with Lee,” said Mishaan, an Asbury Park resident, in a statement. “One day was all it took. I experienced what we later came to call, 'The power of Lee’ — that dynamic draw that nearly everyone gets when first in his company. It’s the feeling of being in the presence of a legend.”
Visit leefieldsfilm.com for more information.
More: Lee Fields on soul music, Plainfield and the Super Bowl commercial that made him a star
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Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at @chrisfhjordan; cjordan@app.com
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Asbury Park hip-hop phenom Ryver Bey attends Fourth Wave Fest 2024
