The MOB Music Festival returns to downtown Mobile July 14-16 for its sixth year, and for listeners the concept could hardly be more appealing: Three days of free music in Cathedral Square, showcasing home-grown talent.

As always it’s the brainchild of Kalenski Adams, better known as DJ Dirty Dan. And he’s clear on the concept.

“MOB Music Fest is about celebrating performing arts, all genres of music,” he said. “The goal is to really spotlight local and regional artists who are pursuing their career in music. The reason this platform was even created, was really to give people an opportunity to show who they are as they build their career.”

“I hear from artists all the time, MOB Music Fest got me more gigs, MOB Music Fest got me more exposure, MOB Music Fest was my first platform that really gave me a big stage,” Adams said.

The kickoff of this year’s festival overlaps with Mobile’s monthly downtown art walk, which runs from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, July 14. The opening night of the festival runs from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and will put a special focus on the 50th anniversary of hip-hop as an art form. (Aug. 12, 1973, when DJ Kool Herc showed up at a back-to-school jam in the Bronx with two turntables for breakbeat mixing, is one of several significant dates in the establishment of the genre.)

Most anniversary celebrations have focused on artists, Adams said, but MOB Music Fest is “all about the DJs.” The Friday night lineup includes some live entertainment, but it’s dominated by DJs. They’ll be presenting a musical “time capsule,” Adams said

On Saturday, festival hours are 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. DJ Dan will host a lineup that includes hip-hop, country, pop, dance, R&B, rock and funk acts. It’s also a lineup that showcases the work of Opportunity 4 Entertainers & Performing Arts, a related nonprofit that conducts educational sessions and talent shows at area schools. From 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., some of the student standouts from those shows will take the stage.

On Sunday, music runs from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. with host Chante Chante. “R&B, we got gospel, we got funk, we got a little rock, we got some Southern soul and blues,” said Adams.

“This is a free music festival just to celebrate performing arts,” said Adams. “We want people to come down and have a good time at a summer festival. We look at ourselves as a summer festival that’s all about community, it’s all about celebrating performing arts, we just want to have fun in the city of Mobile just to get the community involved.”

The Temple Downtown will serve as a rain location for the event if needed, Adams said. For full festival information, visit www.mobmusicfest.com.

The lineup includes the following artists. For updates, including additional acts, visit the festival’s social media channels: facebook.com/mobmusicfest, twitter.com/mobmusicfest or instagram.com/mobmusicfest.

Friday, July 14 – DJ Loot, Neezy Nee, DJ Rodski, Disrupshun Service Organization, DJ K-Rock, Napalm Nash, Dee Jay Queazy, Tempo Tai, DJ Tech, DJ No Sweat.

Saturday, July 15 – DJ Kix, Young Educated Steppers, Emilee Andrews, Ti Ti Da Babygoat, Taliegh Taylor, Mahree 4x, DJ Black, Dazzling All Stars, Prancing Golden Queenz, The Shimmering Starz, The Fabulous Dancing Dolls, Lani Blu, Multi Funk Band, Coataliya, Run the Lion.

Sunday, July 15 – DJ Tev, Artrina Denise, Kiy, Imtru, DJ Smooth, The Serfas Club, MJ Gill, Doc Masta & Friends.