By Naomi Logan Richard

AUSTIN, TX (March 23, 2013) — The Austin Urban Music Festival (AUMF) will celebrate its eight-year anniversary with legendary R&B powerhouse performers, Grammy ® award winning, Anthony Hamilton on Saturday, March 30, with Brandy kicking off the festival Friday, March 29.  The Festival, which takes place during Texas Relays weekend, runs from 11a.m-10:30p.m., Friday and Saturday, March 30-31 at Town Lake Auditorium Shores. Former The Voice contestant, Tje Austin and Natasha Lee, local favorites, will be some of the featured acts from the region.

The Festival has consistently provided a venue for local performers as well as presented top national R&B acts that provide family-friendly entertainment.  Past performers have included Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, Boyz II Men, Cameo, Jeffrey Osborne, Trey Songz, Chaka Khan, Miguel, Melanie Fiona and Ray J, to name a few.

More than 15,000 music revelers annually converge on Auditorium Shores to enjoy one of Austin’s few music festivals focused on R&B, neo-soul and hip hop music.  Festival organizer, Homer Hill, of the SoulTree Collective, Inc., said, “Our goal is to provide great entertainment that will bring together the entire family, so we’ve always chosen groups that will have a broad appeal, like this year’s Anthony Hamilton and Brandy. We’re fortunate to have two amazingly talented individuals performing at the festival.”

Headliner, Anthony Hamilton’s arresting voice—a favorite staple on the scene since 2003—recently provided the perfect accompaniment to Jill Scott’s earthy vocals on the captivating duet “So in Love.” Their dynamic pairing also set a record: 18 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Urban Adult Contemporary chart, tying with Maxwell for the most consecutive weeks atop the tally. The single, in turn, helped propel Scott’s album, The Light of the Sun, to a No. 1 debut on the Billboard 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.

The Festival also features R&B pop songstress and four-time Grammy ® award winner, Regina Belle, Cupid, Kevin Sandbloom, Noel Gourdin, John Michael, The Book of Soul and more.

General admission tickets to the UMF are $25 Friday and $30 (advance purchase) on Saturday.  Tickets for children ages seven-12 are $5; and children six and under are free when accompanied by a ticketed adult.  Gates open at 3p.m. Friday and 11a.m. Saturday. During the same weekend, The University of Texas will host the 86th Annual Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays at Mike A. Myers Stadium on the UT campus.

For more information on the AUMF, sponsoring organizations, benefiting non-profit partners, and ticket information, visit the website at www.austinurbanmusicfest.com  or contact AUMF at 512- 512.844.6342.