This Sunday August 23rd, Exposition Avenue will be abuzz with good vibes coming from the “Are We Locked In?” Sun and Moon Market. The event, which will double as both a show and a market place, is hosted by Dallas-based artist Bran Movay. 

The driving inspiration behind the Sun & Moon Market was based on other Black-led market spaces he experienced while in Los Angeles such as Black on the Block and Black Market Flea. Bran was intentional while organizing this event by centering the idea of the artist economy. He set out to bring various types of artists and industry professionals together into one space in order to create larger opportunities that can benefit them.

“We’re gonna have local artists that I love and want to hear, like Nojo Wallace [@nojowallace] who just dropped his tape – y’all should go check it out. Also, Spaceboi Fresh [@spaceboifresh] who has been curating shows, and working with 97.9 The Beat. So there’s going to be a variety of artists as well as poets and community speakers that we get to hear from all ends of the spectrum.” says Bran Movay.

In addition to live performances, guests will also enjoy local DJ sets, art displays, guided meditation, and food and drinks. The cherry on top? The first 25 guests to pull up will receive a free watermelon slushie. 

The venue, Art & Social is owned by designer Dawn Renee Taylor [@_dawnrenee], who is a staple in the Exposition Park community. Dawn Renee is beloved for her affinity to curate and collaborate on experiences for artists and the greater community. “I’m really glad and fortunate to partner with someone like Dawn Renee, who has been holding space for artists locally in the scene for years. And she’s been a resident here in Exposition Park, which is heavily inhabited by artists.”

We also sat down with Bran Movay for a 1:1 where he shared about his music, and his journey as an artist. 

Bran began making music in middle school. At that time, we would produce beats on iPad applications, and wrangle his friends together to make songs out of them. It wasn’t until he graduated and went off to college at USC in Los Angeles that the era of Bran Movay began. In 2017, he put out his first mixtape Flower Talk. He later expanded that project with Flower Talk II in 2020 as he was graduating from college. Many of the musicians he met while studying in LA played on the two part series. To this day, his friend Kenneth Brown [@kenneth_brown_music] still records all the horns on Bran’s tracks. 

The COVID-19 pandemic brought him back home, although he didn’t plan on it. By the time the U.S. was opening back up, he had fallen in love with Dallas all over again. Having become acclimated to Dallas’ music scene and artistic community, he decided to stay and build here. 

The first show he produced was a release party for his single “Grapevine” in 2023 at Ruins in Deep Ellum. Bran Movay has continued to expand his professional career by producing more shows, producing for other artists, and now DJing. 

“There’s a lot of super talented artists that haven’t put out their first song, but I’ll hear them at the Freeman or at Three Links…so I have I have multiple records at this point with with superstars that I feel are in the Dallas Underground that haven’t put out music in the proper way. These days I’m also DJing and stepping into taking full control of the vibrations. I’ve been curating shows, but I feel like DJing for me is the next step. It’s skipping right to the chase of ‘How do I want people to feel in this space right now?’ This season, I’m trying to put all the pieces together with an event like this.” he explained.

What truly makes Bran Movay unique is the spirit and intentionality behind all that he creates. He lists his creative inspirations to include legends like Quincy Jones, Pharrell, and Childish Gambino. He believes music to be the ultimate form of communication, and began taking music a step further by incorporating community building and collective consciousness into these spaces. In this spirit, he is inspired by elders like Mama Marimba Ani and who wrote profound knowledge on spiritual connection, ancestral communion, and reclaiming our identities as Black and melanated people.

Tap in with Bran Movay, on Instagram [@branmovay] and stream his music on Youtube, Apple Music, Spotify, or Sound Cloud. Make some time to stop in to Art & Social this Sunday for the “Are We Locked In” Sun & Moon Market. 

Sunday, August 23rd, 2026. 

4:00pm-10:00pm

824 Exposition Ave. Suite 9, Dallas, TX 75226

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