Artsplosure

 
The Raleigh Arts Festival will bring the best visual and performing art and artists to Downtown May 19 – 20 around Moore Square and City Plaza.
 
Artsplosure offers art from the works of 170 independent visual artists from across the United States; the tunes of 15 Main Stage and North Carolina Stage performers; a chance to expose and explore your children’s creativity at Kidsplosure; and a chance lose yourself in the Impressionist Garden sculpture on City Plaza.
 
Artsplosure will feature more than a dozen musical performances on two stages in Moore Square. Headlining this year’s event will be Grupo Fantasma, a 10-piece Latin band from Austin, Texas. The Grammy award winning band will perform on the Main State in Moore Square on Saturday, May 19 at 8:00 p.m.
 
The Main Stage will also be filled with:
 
New Orleans’ brass and funk band Big Sam’s Funky Nation, which will close out the festival on Sunday, May 20 at 5:30 p.m.;
Dana Fuchs;
The Americana sounds of the Black Lillies;
North Carolina’s Sidecar Social Club;
Jazz vocalist Sara Gazarek;
Rockers Sons of Bill; and,
The blues/folk sounds of Suzie Vinnick.
 
The North Carolina Stage will showcase talented up-and-coming artists who claim North Carolina roots. Taking the stage this year will be:
 
Multi-instrumentalists Justin Robinson and the Mary Annettes;
Canadian blues performer Charlie A’Court;
The smooth jazz of Yolanda Rabun;
Indie pop group Fan Modine;
Jazz trio Foureman;
Lacy & Phaneuf;
Gospel group Old Nadine from Christ the King Presbyterian Church; and,
The Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Gregg Gelb.