By Kimberly Uslin
Legendary reggae band The Wailers, sprawling septet The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, southern rockers the North Mississippi Allstars, and R&B artist KEM will headline this year’s Artscape, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake announced at a press conference Tuesday morning.
Also playing are local and regional musicians such as Matmos, Dead Melotron, Wild Honey, and Red Sammy, who will perform on the Station North Stage, as well as a number of other local performers who will take the Festival Stage.
The diverse variety of musicians represents an expansion of not only the festival as a whole, but of Baltimore’s recent expansion and improvement. “For the first time in decades, Baltimore is growing again,” said Mayor Rawlings-Blake, later adding, “Artscape is [also] moving out and around.” By participating in the festival’s activities, she said, “we have an opportunity to renew our love for Baltimore at an exciting time in our history…I’m looking forward to this event. It’s usually the hottest weekend of the month and the most fun.”
This year’s festival features an international theme intended to “take you on an arts journey throughout the world,” according to Mayor Rawlings-Blake. During the festival, over thirty countries will be represented at Artscape in art and performance.
In order to help fans track this diverse programming, the festival introduced the new Artscape Mobile App, available for Apple and Android devices, which allows users to follow the festival’s scheduling and special events.
Friday night, the Wells Fargo Main Stage hosts R&B artist KEM. Best-known for his single “Why Would You Stay,” KEM is a Detroit-based singer/songwriter and producer. In 2010, he was nominated for two Grammy Awards for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song and recently appeared in the 2012 film Sparkle, starring Jordin Sparks and Whitney Houston.
Changing tone, southern blues/rock band North Mississippi Allstars take the stage on Saturday night. Formed by brothers Luther and Cody Dickinson (sons of Memphis rocker Jim Dickinson), the group has toured internationally and are renowned for their rock and roll take on Mississippi hill country blues.
Also performing Saturday are The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, a New Orleans group celebrating their 35th anniversary. Self-described as “a big old musical gumbo,” the DDBB performs everything from “When the Saints Go Marching In” to Rihanna covers.
Closing out the festival are reggae giants The Wailers. Best known as the second half of Bob Marley and the Wailers, the group has performed with artists of all genres, from Carlos Santana to Stevie Wonder. The Wailers have sold over 250 million albums and continue to tour throughout the world.
Other highlights of the festival include the mile-long collaborative installation No Passport Required: A Cross Cultural Arts Experience, which will cover N. Charles Street with art of all mediums, and 10,000 Brushes & The Baltimore Mural Experience, which allows those who attend the festival to participate in the painting of several pre-designed mini murals. For more information about Artscape offerings, download the Artscape Mobile App or go to www.artscape.org.