EVENT: UC Irvine’s 2015 Black Urban Music Conference will feature a keynote address by African American writer, musician and producer Greg Tate; musical performances by Burnt Sugar, Ugochi, Ras G and others; and a screening of the documentary “The Long Road to the Hall of Fame.” After the film, there will be a panel discussion including hip-hop artist/producer Chuck D of Public Enemy. The conference is hosted by UC Irvine’s graduate program in integrated composition, improvisation & technology.

WHEN/WHERE: Feb. 27 and 28 in various campus locations, such as Winifred Smith Hall, the Contemporary Arts Center and the Humanities Instructional Building (campus map)

INFORMATION: Media planning to attend should contact Laura Rico at 949-824-9055 or lrico@uci.edu. All events are free to students. Daytime activities are free to the public, while evening concerts are $10. For a complete program, visit http://blackurbanmusic.virb.com/black-urban-music-conference-schedule-fe. For tickets, visit http://ev11.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/SEGetEventList?groupCode=ILL&linkID=uci&shopperContext=&caller=&appCode=

BACKGROUND: The Black Urban Music Conference will bring together some of the country’s most prolific, dynamic and socially active musicians, scholars, music producers and critics from hip-hop, pop, electronic dance, jazz and creative music to discuss issues ranging from an artist’s community responsibility to the impact of technology on traditional musical forms. This is the second conference hosted by UCI’s ICIT program, a new graduate program that will accept its first Ph.D. students this fall. Event organizers include grad student Marketus Presswood and flutist/composer/professor Nicole Mitchell.