Brooklyn's annual Northside Festival was officially announced in a press conference at Borough Hall presided over by Marty Markowitz and Wu-Tang Clan member GZA. Yes, GZA and Marty, passing the mic. Never one to miss an opportunity to make his borough cringe, Marty put his rapping skills on display, dropping the first lyric to GZA's "Liquid Swords": "Through cyclones or typhoons, I represent Brooklyn from midnight to high noon...I don't waste ink, I think, I drop 'fuggedaboutits' faster than you blink." Bear witness:
GZA will be one of the main musical acts during the festival, performing Liquid Swords with Grammy-winning Latin funk group Grupo Fantasma. The festival, which will take place June 14th through the 21st in Williamsburg and Greenpoint, will include music from over 350 bands at over 30 different venues. Other notable artists will be Of Montreal, Ceremony, Tinariwen, Starfucker and Screaming Females.Markowitz went on to "joke," "(In Williamsburg) I've seen people with all different colors of hair... except mine." GZA also clarified an important bit of trivia "You know most people associate Wu-Tang with Staten Island, or Shaolin, but actually I'm a native of Brooklyn."
The festival will also showcase the finest in the Brooklyn art scene, and feature over 45 film screenings including the premiere of Take This Waltz, with Michelle Williams, Seth Rogen, and Sarah Silverman.