BY LARA BECKER and JANICE MORSE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Legendary James Brown provided the top note to the Coors Light Festival Sunday.
(Ryan Miller photo)
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The third and final day of Ujima Cinci-bration showed no signs of a party winding down.
Downtown streets on Sunday afternoon remained thick with people, barbecue-pit smoke and undulating rhythms. Festivalgoers took advantage of last-minute shopping, giving in to the calls of vendors selling piles of T-shirts, brass animals and framed posters of the Chicago Bulls and the Lord's Prayer.
"Excellent scene," said 55-year-old Vimala Devi of Westwood. "My family came here to mingle with the people. And it is a beautiful day. It was blessed."
Near-perfect weather attracted thousands, though promoters conceded they were disappointed with the turnout for Sunday evening's Coors Light Festival.
About 11,000 concertgoers attended the Cinergy Field event, said Joe Santangelo, the event's promoter. That was nearly 30,000 below capacity.
He acknowledged that Sundays are a hard sell, since 70 percent of concertgoers are from out of town.
"We thought the "old school' show would have drawn more people," he said. "Where else could you see James Brown, Gladys Knight, Cameo, Roger and the Zapp Band for 30 bucks?"
Still, he considered the event a success, drawing 70,000 -- about 5,000 more overall than last year.
But what Sunday's crowd lacked in size, it made up for in energy. Its roar at the mere sight of the legendary Mr. Brown more than filled the empty seats.
But Mr. Brown and his cadre of young female dancers were a blur of motion, with Mr. Brown gyrating and spinning with the vigor of a man half his age.
"I love James Brown," said Melanie Kershaw, 33, of Price Hill, "and I've always wanted to see him."
Lettie Davis of Over-the-Rhine moves to the music at Fountain Square at the last day of the festival
(Steve Shaffer photo)
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Vendors who had reported small crowds on Friday said they had great crowds on Saturday and Sunday.
"The first night, you don't even make enough to cover your booth," said T-shirt vendor Abdul Assadiq, 48. "Saturday and Sunday, beautiful. If you're in the T-shirt business strictly, it's righteous." Other vendors had less luck.
"I didn't make enough money," said Abdou Sow, 30, of New York City. His booth, No. 310, saw few customers, though several people lifted and looked at his gold-plated vases. He's not sure he'll be back.
Other out-of-town visitors were well satisfied, though.
"The show was excellent," said 30-year-old Joe Strick, clutching bags of fair goodies. He drove with a friend from Detroit, Mich. "We all get together, have a good time, buy stuff. It just feels good."
High-pitched warbles of the Jackson Five and steel-drum beats of Jamaican bands emanated from the streets.
There was no gunfire, no cars cruising, unlike last year, said Cincinnati police officer Mike Durrah.
"Peaceful," he said of the atmosphere. "It's like a black Taste of Cincinnati."
From the Coors festival stage Sunday night, singer Gladys Knight delivered a message that dovetailed nicely with city leaders' anti-violence campaign.
"We ain't "goin' there' tonight -- brothers hurting brothers, sisters hurting sisters," she said.
Ms. Knight encouraged everyone to put an arm around their neighbor's shoulders. Most did.
"If we could just indoctrinate the world with this one idea . . . commitment to each other," Ms. Knight said. "It's the little, bitty things that we do on a consistent basis that can change the world."
