R&B vocal group SWV (Sisters With Voices), New Wave/ska greats English Beat and an all-star tribute to James Brown will headline this year’s Artscape, the Baltimore Office of Promotion & the Arts announced today.
Sisters With Voices, whose 1992 debut album “It’s About Time” sold more than 2 million copies on the strength of the singles “I’m So into You”, “Downtown”, “Weak,” “Right Here/Human Nature” and “You’re Always On My Mind,” reunited in the early aughts and has released two albums since 2012, “I Missed Us” and “Still.”
Though founding member and vocalist Ranking Roger died earlier this year, The English Beat (or just The Beat for you Brits out there) goes on under the stewardship of vocalist and guitarist David Wakeling, whose voice you remember from “Save It For Later” and “Mirror In the Bathroom.”
And just as it sounds, the James Brown Dance Party is a tribute to the Godfather of Soul that features bassist Fred Thomas, who played with Brown for 33 years.
The theme of this year’s festival, running from July 19-21, is “Discover,” marking the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. That will be honored in an installation, “Sydmonauts,” by the Australian artists Amigo & Amigo, of nine astronaut sculptures inspired by 3-D digital art.
Among the biggest changes to this year’s outdoor celebration of the arts: The Artists’ Market is moving to Charles Street–in part to put it on center stage, BOPA said, but also because Mount Royal Avenue north of the light rail tracks will remain open to vehicular traffic.
And this year’s Artscape will highlight more literary work with the Artist Books and the Prints, Multiples & Editions Fair at the Charles Street Garage, along with a poetry workshop.
Other highlights include the Johns Hopkins University Station North Stage–headlined by author D. Watkins, rapper Eze Jackson, folk singer Caleb Stine and rock group Old Eastern, to name a few–and the Morgan State University Festival Stage–headlined by jazz group Clarence Ward III & Dat Feel Good, indie group Thunder Club, Latin artist Zakke and others.
Here’s the full music schedule:
Artscape Main Stage
Friday, July 19
5:45 p.m. Funsho
6:45 p.m. WBAL-TV Season to Celebrate: Auditions Winner
7:30 p.m. SWV
Saturday, July 20
1:30 p.m. Scotty P & The Love From Above
3 p.m. PBC Vocal Band
4:30 p.m. Super City
6 p.m. Reverend Smackmaster and The Congregation of Funk
7:30 p.m. James Brown Dance Party
Sunday, July 21
11:30 a.m. The Shroom Pickers
1 p.m. Rufus & Da B’More Brass Factory
2:30 p.m. Ron Holloway Band
4 p.m. The Scotch Bonnets
5:30 p.m. English Beat
Johns Hopkins University Station North Stage
Friday, July 19
12:30 p.m. Baltimore City Public Schools
2 p.m. Lily Barek
3:30 p.m. Antica
5 p.m. Munk
6:30 p.m. Black Angel Down
8 p.m. Andy Bopp
9 p.m. Eze Jackson
10 p.m. D. Watkins
Saturday, July 20
12:30 p.m. Raindeer
2 p.m. Ember
3:30 p.m. Leo & Cygnus
5 p.m. Kurt Deemer Band
6:30 p.m. Juice Bruns
8 p.m. Caleb Stine & Friends
9 p.m. DJ TZ EEECH
9:45 p.m. Juana
Sunday, July 21
noon Survival Society
1:30 p.m. MovaKween
3 p.m. Porch Setters Union
4:30 p.m. June Star
6 p.m. Old Eastern
Morgan State University Festival Stage
Friday, July 19
12:30 p.m. Jessi Adams
2 p.m. Cha Cha
3:30 p.m. King Toad
5 p.m. Eli August & The Abandoned Buildings
6:30 p.m. Omnia Azar
8 p.m. Zakke
Saturday, July 20
12:30 p.m. Eman the Heartbreak
2 p.m. Amanda Lynne Band
3:30 p.m. LaRosa
5 p.m. Suga Grits
6:30 p.m. Luxury Brown
8 p.m. Thunder Club
Sunday, July 21
1:30 p.m. Skyline Hotel
3 p.m. Roc Writah
4:30 p.m. David Smooth #1 Temptation Revue
6 p.m. Clarence Ward III & Dat Feel Good
