Chreece, the annual hip-hop festival celebrating music, art and community, returns at the end of the summer with Rico Nasty and Jorjiana rounding out the list of artists
Founded by Oreo Jones in 2015, Chreece Fest is an independent, artist-led music festival celebrating the culture and legacy of hip hop in Indianapolis and Beyond. This year, the festival makes history by inviting Rico Nasty, a boundary-pushing rapper and songwriter, and Jorjiana, a rising artist from Michigan City, Indiana, to headline — making them the first women to do so. The festival returns to the Fountain Square neighborhood on August 29.
“Chreece was born from the need to create space for artists, community, and culture to thrive on their own terms,” Oreo Jones, artist and founder of Chreece, said in a statement. “We carry forward the legacy of Black music in Indianapolis while building something new for the next generation. More than a festival, Chreece is proof that when a city invests in its people, culture grows.”
READ MORE: 10th Street Jazz Journey returns this year, celebrating Near Eastside history
For the last 11 years, Chreece has remained a celebration of hip-hop culture and talent throughout Indianapolis and across the country. On August 29, more than 70 local artists, DJs and producers will take the stage across eight venues in the Fountain Square neighborhood.
Participating venues include Hi-Fi Annex, Hi-Fi indoor, White Rabbit (21+), Square Cat Vinyl, Atomic Bowl, Wildfyre Tap, World Famous HotBoys and The Fountain Square Plaza. Each venue aims to offer festival goers a unique experience and window into Indy’s music scene, and more venues and public activation spaces will be announced closer to date, according to a press release.
“We need opportunities for people to gather with purpose, celebrate culture, and support our local businesses,” Sen. Andrea Hunley said in a statement. “Chreece creates those opportunities. With hip-hop on multiple stages and people dancing in the streets, it is not only the can’t-miss festival of the summer, it is a gift to the City of Indianapolis.”
As headlining artists, Rico Nasty and Jorjiana will perform alongside Oakland-born rapper and producer Ovrkast, inviting Hoosiers to experience a “dynamic mix of international and national talent, rising regional voices and standout Indianapolis artists,” according to a press release.
Chreece is dedicated to continuing its mission to uplift artists, invest in culture and show what Indianapolis looks like “when the city shows up for itself,” according to a press release. New to the festival this year is The People’s Village, a free public gathering space designed to increase access through live performances, vendors, seating, shaded areas and family-centered community programming.
“The heart of hip-hop has always been about speaking truth to power, and now more than ever we must support, celebrate, and invest in our artists,” Hunley added. “This magic would not be possible without Oreo Jones, whose vision gives Chreece its secret sauce. These carefully curated place-making experiences root us in legacy and connect us to community. Chreece is a movement helping put Indianapolis’ arts and culture scene on the map, and our city is better because of it.”
Tickets for Chreece are now on sale. For more information about ticketing and the festival lineup, visit chreeceaf.com.
Contact Arts & Culture Reporter Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on X @chloe_mcgowanxx.
Chloe McGowan is the Arts & Culture Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper. Originally from Columbus, OH, Chloe has a bachelor's in journalism from The Ohio State University. She is a former IndyStar Pulliam Fellow, and has previously worked for Indy Maven, The Lantern, and CityScene Media Group. In her free time, Chloe enjoys live theatre, reading, baking and keeping her plants alive.
