Last Friday more than 100 people filed into the Open Space for Arts & Community, where four performers filled the cavernous performance hall with hip hop and rap.

The concert was the third in the Fly Fridayz series, which islander Marcus Jones-Moore recently organized to bring more hip hop music to the island.

“I just wanted to have a platform for young artists to have a way to get into the music business or have a way to perform their music,” Jones-Moore said.

Jones-Moore, 32, has been performing hip hop for some time as Speak On The Mic and has made several albums. When he moved to Vashon from Tacoma, he said, he noticed a lack of hip hop music on the island and set out to organize a concert with local artists. He eventually connected with David Godsey of the Open Space for Arts & Community, who agreed to host the Fly Fridayz series.

“It keeps on getting bigger,” Jones-Moore said.

At the third concert last week, Jones-Moore performed along with rappers Lilly, Ralph Reign and Colin, all young performers from Vashon or with connections to the island. Stageworks, a company based on Vashon, donated an impressive set and lighting for the event.

Jones-Moore noted that many teens and young adults on Vashon like listening to hip hop, and Fly Fridayz allows them to enjoy a concert without leaving the island.

“The whole point is to for kids to have a place to come out and enjoy and spend the weekend doing something fun,” he said, “just to give them a place … where they can hang out with their peers and at the same time see a live performance.”

A fourth Fly Fridayz concert is in the works for February. Watch The Beachcomber for more information.