Taggers, Skamatix
Paint The Village Ideat

As an international arts festival get underway two blocks away, local ​“Ideats” were marching to their own drum kit.

It was the launch Saturday afternoon of the ninth annual ​“Ideat Village” festival, formed as a local independent response to the official Arts & Ideas fest that takes place in downtown New Haven every summer.

The entirely free ​“Ideat” festival features all local artists, including the graffiti artists invited to paint Pitkin Plaza on Orange Street Saturday.

Six bands with a rotating cast of spectators nestled into the archway of the Giaimo Federal Building in Millennium Plaza to jam all Saturday afternoon.

The Harris Brothers Balkan Band took to the stage with a rollicking thump that springs from a Balkan Roma style of Gypsy music, but would not sound out-of-place at the Village Vanguard either.

Next, The Skamatix took the stage with a set of electric jazz and, no surprises here, ska that got numerous members of the audience dancing. (Click on the play arrow for a sample.)

Around the corner in Pitkin Plaza, spoken-word artists played ​“Grab The Mic”, taking turn reading and reciting their poetry. Graffiti artists had an ​“Aerosol Event” on the walls behind them, specially covered in vinyl for the event. The graffiti will run for the remained of the IDEAT Village festival.

The festival continues 9 p.m. on Tuesday with ​“American Ideat”, competitive karaoke at Olde School Saloon and Bistro, and returns to Pitkin Plaza on June 24, 25, and 26.