The City of Oakland’s Art & Soul Festival kicks off its second decade as the Bay Area’s favorite summer gathering on August 20 and 21, 2011. Thanks to its stellar musical lineups, abundant parking, easy BART access and the bargain price of just $10 per day ($15 at the door) general admission, Art and Soul has been named the Bay Area’s “Best Festival” by East Bay Express for 10 consecutive years.

Advance tickets are now available online through August 19 at artandsouloakland.com.

Saturday Stage

Art and Soul roars to life with world class rock presented by KFOG 104.5 / 97.7 FM on the Art and Soul Main Stage on Saturday. Five for Fighting leaped to national acclaim with the Grammy-nominated song, "Superman," from the Platinum-certified America Town CD in 2001. The retrospective hit, "100 Years," from the Platinum-certified The Battle For Everything CD, has quickly become a classic hit. Singer-songwriter John Ondrasik shares his experiences and sentiments by penning smart, insightful lyrics set to well-crafted music.

Having released a brand new self-titled album, Marc Broussard delivers his impeccably crafted lyrics with deep emotion. Flavored by R&B and seasoned by his native Louisiana, his style has been described as “Bayou Soul.”

Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Shawn Mullins, who topped the charts with "Lullaby" and "Beautiful Wreck," brings his bold vocals to the stage. Transformative events, including the birth of his first child in 2009, have brought new depth and perspective to this veteran artist.

Saturday’s Main Stage also includes the melodic intensity of British quintet Scars on 45, which is propelled by insistent drum beats and the emotional drive of the co-ed vocals. Bay Area-based The Heavenly States will bring their cathartic rock and provocative lyricism that gained them a spot on KFOG’s local scene to the festival.

Sunday Stage

Tower of Power headlines the Art and Soul Main Stage on Sunday (presented by KBLX 102.9 FM.) This renowned funk and soul band with the famed horn section proudly originated in Oakland, and has been recording and touring continuously for more than 40 years. The band’s horn-driven sound is unique, and the way they approach everything, from writing and arranging to mixing and performing, is totally their own. Combine all of that with an outstanding lead vocalist, and you have one of the most dynamic groups of musicians to ever hit the stage.

They have produced 19 albums (not counting compilations) and have worked with virtually every star in the modern musical pantheon including Elton John, Santana, Bonnie Raitt, Little Feat, Aerosmith and Rod Stewart. Tower of Power remains synonymous with the R&B, Funk and Soul sound that reverberated out of Oakland and took the nation and world by storm in the 1970s.

Another Oakland musical treasure helps anchor Sunday’s Main Stage. The inimitable Goapele has risen to the national stage from her early days with the famed Oakland Youth Chorus. Her tireless work in community affairs and human rights earned her the Human Rights Cultural Hero Award. An Art and Soul veteran, this local favorite has grown into an acclaimed modern singer-songwriter. With incredible pipes, when Goapele sings, she rips it.

Also on Sunday’s Main Stage is the Kev Choice Ensemble. The Oakland native could be the most musical hip-hop act ever. He is a classically-trained, jazz-educated pianist -- who has attracted some of the Bay Area’s brightest young jazz players to the ensemble -- performing complex arrangements that seamlessly blend R&B, jazz fusion and funk with bright, moving hip-hop vocals.

New to Art and Soul this year is the WomenGig Stage hosted by popular comedienne Marga Gomez on Saturday. This stage is dedicated to promoting rising female musicians to Bay Area audiences. The big buzz is directed at Vicci Martinez, the high-energy finalist on NBC’s The Voice. A prolific singer-songwriter from Tacoma, WA, Martinez’ rich, emotional vocals, profound lyrics and percussive acoustic guitar playing have made her a crowd favorite.

The Australian Rosie Burgess Trio crosses many genres, sliding from folk to blues to gypsy-rock and back. Their latest album was named one of the Top 10 of 2010 by Rhythms Magazine. Canadian Faye Blais shares her dynamic vocals, crafted into a bluesy folk style, served with a side of acoustic or electric guitar and keys.

Having fronted an indie rock band, Oaklander Lia Rose has gone solo to sing her songs filled with an intimate, complex sound that captivates audiences with her dreamy vocals and emotion-filled lyrics.

If Jimi Hendrix and Sade had a one night stand, their love child would be Sistas in the Pit. This adventurous, dynamic trio pair skillful musicianship with raw, electrifying performances as they make their mark in rock.

Bewitching and vocally soulful, masterful guitarist Shelley Doty rounds out this fiery Oakland trio. The incomparable Mel and The Wild Cellist opens. Winner of 19 Australian Music Awards, Mel Watson joins with Corbin Keep for a show fueled by Mel’s four-octave voice, Corbin’s acoustic cello, and an improvisational style that keeps audiences guessing.

Yoshi’s Jazz Stage is back on Saturday (presented by KCSM, JAZZ 91.1 FM) Oakland-based headliners Mingus Amungus will fascinate jazz fans with their virtuosity. The seven-piece band weaves its way through Mingus’s intricate charts with hard-hitting bebop funk, and then sprinkles San Francisco’s native hip-hop jazz flavor to bring it up to date. Oaklander Kristi Martel brings her four-octave voice and soul diva piano playing to present emotional, moving music.

Also on the bill is hot young jazz guitarist Terrence Brewer. His spirited, expressive playing has left crowds impressed and elated. Yoshi’s Stage kicks off with the Oakland Public Conservatory of Music showcasing the abundant local talent that is fueling the next generation of Oakland musical greats. 

On Sunday, the 12th Street Stage transforms into the ever-popular Blues Stage, presented by the Bay Area Blues Society. A sampling of the packed bill for the Blues Stage includes blues divas Rhonda Benin and Tia Carroll, the R&B Funk of Marvin Holmes and the Uptights, a salute to Motown by The 5 Elegant Men Temptation Review, the roots rock-infused sound of Tess and Hip Trash, and legends of the Oakland blues, including Teddy “Blues Master” Watson and “Terrible Tom” Bowden.

Also on Sunday, the Dance Stage returns with dynamic choreography and artistry during “Dance through the Decades.” Presented by Carla Service and Dance-A-Vision Entertainment, the high-energy program celebrates many styles of dance, ranging from the Lindy Hop, which evolved in Harlem in the 1920s and 1930s, to contemporary Turf, which originated right here in Oakland.

Families welcome

A family paradise, the festival boasts the largest Family Fun Zone of any festival in the Bay Area, complete with kiddie rides, children’s entertainment and free festival admission for ages 12 and under.

The Family Fun Zone is jam-packed with interactive activities for children of all ages, as well as kid-friendly carnival games, inflatable bouncers and hands-on activities where kinds can create their own art to take home.

Every year, Art and Soul Oakland features hundreds of artisan and vendor booths as well as a mouth-watering array of food reflecting the rich cultural diversity found in Oakland—the most diverse city in America. 

Festivalgoers can also sample a variety of award-winning wines in the Rosenblum Wine Garden. The $5 sampling fee contributes to Art and Soul’s support of artisans and local musicians.

How to get there
       
The 11th Annual Art and Soul is Northern California’s most accessible festival, offering direct service from BART (12th Street/Oakland City Center Station) and free parking for thousands of cars. Last year, more than 60,000 people enjoyed sensational music, food, fun, dance and art in beautiful downtown Oakland.

The 11th Annual Art and Soul Oakland takes place in downtown Oakland on Saturday, August 20 and Sunday, August 21, 2011 from noon to 6 p.m.

The festival is centered in Frank Ogawa Plaza and City Center, encompassing 10 strollable city blocks.

Admission for adults is $10 per day (if purchased online by August 19) and $15 per day at the door. Seniors and youth (ages 13 - 17) are $5 per day (if purchased online by August 19) and $8 per day at the door. Children 12 and under are free.

Advance tickets are available on line at ArtandSoulOakland.com.

For more information on the 11th Annual Art and Soul Oakland, visit ArtandSoulOakland.com or call (510) 444-CITY.

Background

Over the past ten years, Art & Soul has showcased major national talent and even helped launch musical careers. The festival has hosted a broad range of national recording artists and local favorites, including Ziggy Marley, Joan Osborne, Blues Traveler, Rickie Lee Jones, Shawn Colvin, Indigo Girls, BoDeans, MC Hammer, En Vogue, CAKE, Lenny Williams, Tony! Toni! Toné!, Plain White T’s, Silversun Pickups, The Lovemakers, Los Lobos, Lyrics Born, The Matches, Zion-I, Bobby Caldwell, Angie Stone, Rachelle Ferrell, Stephanie Mills, Will Downing, Con Funk Shun, Ledisi, and a host of local jazz, blues, gospel and R&B favorites.