Since we just found out about Saturday's big, free hip-hop festival in St. Paul's Lowertown area ourselves, we figured a lot of our readers would probably like to know about it, too. The lineup and idea behind the second annual For the Love celebration certainly merits more attention. It will feature 30-some Minnesota rappers, DJs, beatmakers and breakers spread over three stages, two outside by Union Depot and the Black Dog Café and another indoors at Bedlam Theatre Lowertown.

Among the performers scheduled are several local mainstays such as south Minneapolis vets Kanser -- who will be celebrating their 20th anniversary – Maria Isa, Mujah Messiah, Carnage, I.B.E. and Big Jess alongside recent breakout acts including Ashley DuBose, Greg Grease, Haphduzn, Manny Phesto, Phillip Morris, Tek and the Red Lake Reservation's Baby Shel, winner of this year's Vita.mn Are You Local? contest.

Organized by independent promoter Amber Cleveland's ACEntertainment, the event focused on bringing in new/young talent from St. Paul in its lineup last year. This year's booking approach nobly made a point of showcasing women, including comical rapper Miss Cherice, beatmaker Megan Hamilton, breaker Alissa Paris and California's MC Katana.

The outdoor performances (all ages) will take place from 2-10 p.m., and then the party moves indoors to (18 and older). DJs will also be spinning inside Bedlam throughout the day. All the acts on the so-called Shorty Stage outside the Black Dog will be family-friendly.

Click here for more info. Here's the schedule.


UNION DEPOT STAGE

Star Tribune, Star Tribune
Ashley DuBose, an alum of NBC's "The Voice," headlines the Union Depot Stage at Saturday's For the Love Celebration in St. Paul. / Richard Tsong-Taatarii, Star Tribune

  • 2:00-3:00: DJ B-Rock
  • 3:00-3:20: Nazeem
  • 3:25-3:45: Nsikak
  • 3:50-4:10: Old Friend
  • 4:15-4:35: Chris Lawrence
  • 4:40-5:00: Miss Cherice
  • 5:05-5:25: Baby Shel
  • 5:30-5:50: Philip Morris
  • 5:55-6:15: Megan Hamilton
  • 6:20-6:40: Big Jess/Big Wiz
  • 6:45-7:05: Katana
  • 7:10-7:30: Manny Phesto
  • 7:35-7:55: Tek
  • 8:00-8:20: I.B.E.
  • 8:25-8:45: Greg Grease

8:50-10:00: Ashley DuBose
BEDLAM THEATRE STAGE

  • 2:00-3:00: DJ Keezy
  • 3:00-4:00: DJ Lady Em
  • 4:00-5:00: DJ King Otto
  • 5:00-6:00: DJ Just Nine
  • 6:00-7:00: DJ Willie Shu
  • 7:00-8:00: Espada
  • 8:00-9:00: MC Harv
  • 9:00-10:30: DJ Simone
  • 10:30-10:50: Veins
  • 10:55-11:15: Muja Messiah
  • 11:20-11:40: Haphduzn
  • 11:45-12:05: Maria Isa
  • 12:10-1:10: Kanser
  • 1:10-2:00: Frank Castle

SHORTY STAGE AT BLACK DOG CAFE

  • 2:00-3:00: Rhymin's with Tish Jones
  • 3:00-4:00: Beatboxin' with Carnage
  • 4:00-5:00: Breakin' with Alissa Paris
  • 5:00-6:00: Taggin' with Rogue Citizen
  • 6:00-7:00: Big Epic Show
  • *DJ Nimo the Hooligan