Local beats take back the streets

A long-forgotten Bloomington tradition was rekindled Friday evening with the year’s third “Dancing in the Streets” public concert event.

Despite the ominous gray clouds that loomed overhead, Bloomington residents danced and listened as local bands took their talents to the streets.

“Dancing in the Streets” took place on Fourth Street between South College Avenue and South Walnut Street. A crowd consisting primarily of middle-aged Bloomington residents and children began to accumulate at about 7:30 p.m.

The tradition began in the late 1970s as an outlet for Bloomington’s punk-rock bands of the era, including Plastic Cheese, the Walking Ruins and MX-80. The tradition died out in the mid-1980s.

Scott Kellogg, the event’s coordinator,said he has come out full-force this year trying to resurrect it.

“This is the first time in the history of the street dance that there’s been any funding,” Kellogg said. “So that’s just been great that Bloomington, on the government level, is interested enough in the arts to put three of these shows on.”

Though the crowd remained thin throughout the event, the evening kicked off strongly with Sanskrit-driven rock band Creatrix. Electric jazz band Splinter Group followed suit, with the roots reggae band Coyaba bringing the night to a close.

“It’s good when people show up,” said Linda Manus, lead singer of the group Creatrix. “I had no idea how many people were going to show up. You can never tell.”

There are plans for three “Dancing in the Street” events next year to take place in front of Max’s Place on Seventh Street. Bands interested in performing at future events should contact Kellogg at music@scottkellogg.com.

“I think it’s really good that there’s free music out here,” Harmony School senior Whitney Blake said. ”That’s pure B-Town. It just gets everyone back in that groove.”