SAGE FRANCIS returns to the stage in 2023 after a three year break from performing, making Denver, CO the home of the very first “STRANGE FAMOUS FEST,” an annual festival of Strange Famous Records artists and friends of the independent hip-hop scene.

This will be a five hour event consisting of performances by Colorado’s own Wheelchair Sports Camp, Metermaids, Sleep of Oldominion, Mopes, Jesse the Tree, BlackLiq, Cas One, Seez Mics, Jivin Scientists, Early Adopted, DJ Zole, and headlined with an hour-long set by the label owner himself. Beyond all the emceeing (including spoken word,) expect special guest appearances, positive interactions, and an overall good vibe amongst this DIY crew of wickedly strange talent.

Lineup:

Sage Francis (RI)

Wheelchair Sports Camp (CO)

Metermaids (BK)

Sleep of Oldominion (NM)

Mopes (DC)

Jesse the Tree (RI)

BlackLiq (VA)

Cas One (IN)

Seez Mics (MD)

Jivin Scientists (AZ)

Early Adopted (MA)

DJ Zole (CA)

and special guests!

Sage Francis

Sage Francis (CEO of Strange Famous Records) is widely considered one of our generation’s greatest lyricists. His gifted wordplay creates vividnarratives to instigate as well as inspire, but it often derives from anaccumulation of public disdain and personal turmoil. Dubbed the”forefather of indie-hop,” a sub-genre which gained great traction in the late 90s, Francis originally earned acclaim in the early 2000’s by winning the most highly coveted titles of the emcee battle circuit (Scribble Jamand The Super Bowl Battle.) This was coupled with the waves he was causing in the newly burgeoning spoken word scene.

Despite having no official distribution or label support, Francis’ unique brand of music spread like wildfire via the advent of file sharing networkswhich caught the attention of labels worldwide. With his first studio album, Personal Journals, Francis daringly set aside the more boastfulside of rap by catering to his poetic leanings and scathing socio-political commentary. By 2005 Sage Francis was the first hip-hop artist signed to Epitaph Records and soon became one of the highest selling artists of hisgenre. Rather than abandon his day-to-day grind at the helm of SFR, he channeled all of his newfound resources into it, allowing the label to expand in stafas well as roster. Several studio albums (including his EpicBeard Men group) and numerous “Sick of…” mixtapes later, Uncle Sage has settled into his “old man shaking his fist at a soundcloud” status while continuing to push buttons from his New England home with his wife and children.

2022 saw the 20 year anniversary of “Personal Journals” and 2023 will seeSage Francis’ return to the stage, albeit in a very limited capacity. Babysteps back into the old li(f)e. New projects are in the works.