Urban, contemporary sounds to abound at weekend festivals

One is rapidly growing and the other is just getting off the ground, but two weekend music festivals have the same goal: to increase the presence of urban and contemporary music in central Ohio.

The Breakaway Music Festival scored a coup with artist Chance the Rapper last year after two years off the festival circuit.

This is the first year for Riverfest614 — a seasoning packet of gospel, soul, hiphop and jazz.

Both are guaranteed to be danceable, jubilant and a little bit funky. 1-800-745-3000, www. breakawayfestival.com 3 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday $70 a day, or $125 for a two-day pass Riverfest614 Genoa Park, 303 W. Broad St. www.eventbrite.com 4 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday $40 to $60 Saturday, $20 to $50 Sunday

arenas and top-tier music entertainment company PromoWest Productions is no small feat, but the Breakaway Music Festival has proved itself up to the challenge.

After an underwhelming start at Mapfre Stadium in 2013, the two-day event that focuses on hip-hop and electronic dance music went on hiatus until last year, when the well-timed booking of rising star Chance the Rapper brought it back to life at the Ohio Expo Center.

This year, a return to Mapfre — acts will perform on stages outside the venue — will bring Breakaway full circle.

Zach Ruben, managing partner of Breakaway creator Prime Social Group, believes that the group’s ability to find up-and-coming headliners and its sensitivity to ticket prices sets it apart.

“I think we know what we’re doing,” he said. “Not to knock any of the other festivals, (but) we’ve kind of home-grown our festivals.”

Ruben said that booking a rapper who exploded nationally just before Breakaway “was an anomaly,” but he thinks this year’s headliner, Travis Scott, will have the same effect.

“We had this similar feeling with Travis,” he said. “The music he’s been putting out and his energy onstage we feel is a value. He’s got what it takes. He just didn’t break as quickly.”

Co-headliner Diplo has produced music for Madonna and Usher and is part of electronic music group Major Laser.

The festival undercard is filled with electronic acts such as Cashmere Cat and Galantis and rappers Lil Yachty and Kodak Black.

While acts might not always be at their most popular when hitting Breakaway, Ruben prides himself that their star often rises within a year or two of performing there.