Max Rykov teamed up with internationally renowned spoken word poet and founder of BAAM! (the Birmingham Arts & Music festival), Sharrif Simmons, to organize its fifth anniversary, the Avondale Music & Art Festival.
From August 15-17, 2014 the Avondale Park & Business District came alive, with more than 25 live performances, short films, artistic work created by area youth, special events and a tribute to the Legends of Muscle Shoals, featuring Bad Brad & the Sipsey Sims with special guests David Hood, Kelvin Holly and Will McFarlane,
Programs included live music from a wide variety of genres, including jazz, blues, rock, hip-hop, reggae, neo-soul, classic soul, electronica and Latin merengue. 
Non-Musical Highlights included:
Guinness Book of World Records Attempt at the World’s Longest Soul Train Line | August 15, 5PM-8PM | Avondale Park 
TEDxBirmingham Salon | August 16, 4PM-5:30PM | Bottletree Café 
Birmingham Celebrity Jeopardy | August 17, 6PM-7PM | Avondale Brewery