Providence’s favorite creatures from another planet will touch down to kick off PVDFest with an extraterrestrial space-funk dance party! These mutant musicians, alien go-go dancers, and rowdy robots combine stand-up comedy, sci-fi, dancing, daredevil stunts, soap opera hysterics, and professional wrestling with live rock and funk music and audience-interactive improvisation. If it sounds crazy now, […]

Welcome to the PVDFEST Opening Night VIP Party A Gathering of Champions for the Arts in Providence! Mayor Jorge Elorza, Director of Providence Art, Culture and Tourism Lizzie Araujo and FirstWorks Executive Artistic Director and Founder Kathleen Pletcher cordially welcome you to the kickoff event for the Capital City’s signature cultural festival. Join us for […]

Trumpeter/Vocalist from New Orleans, USA From playing himself in the HBO Series “Treme,” to barbecuing outside his New Orleans bar, Kermit’s Treme Mother-in-Law Lounge, to sitting in with Jon Batiste and Stay Human on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” trumpeter/vocalist Kermit Ruffins keeps himself busy when he isn’t on stage doing what he does […]

A New Orleans Institution Since 1983 For almost 4 decades, the Grammy-winning Rebirth Brass Band has been stunning fans with a fiery live show and a rich musical catalog. Their trademark sound pays homage to the New Orleans brass band tradition while weaving a tapestry that combines elements of jazz, funk, soul, R&B and the […]

Squonk’s latest free outdoor spectacle is a joyous, participatory event that brings audiences together for a humorous, uplifting visual extravaganza. Propelled by Squonk’s irresistible music, the show features two giant purple puppet hands, each the size of a house and rigged like a sailing ship. Squonk invites audience members on stage to power the giant […]

Squonk’s latest free outdoor spectacle is a joyous, participatory event that brings audiences together for a humorous, uplifting visual extravaganza. Propelled by Squonk’s irresistible music, the show features two giant purple puppet hands, each the size of a house and rigged like a sailing ship. Squonk invites audience members on stage to power the giant […]

Alsarah & the Nubatones introduce audiences to a dynamic fusion of sound. The Brooklyn-based, East-African retro-pop group was born out of conversations about Nubian “songs of return,“ modern migration patterns, and the cultural exchanges between Sudan and Egypt. Since their debut performance in 2011, the group has performed around the world to critical acclaim. With […]

Squonk’s latest free outdoor spectacle is a joyous, participatory event that brings audiences together for a humorous, uplifting visual extravaganza. Propelled by Squonk’s irresistible music, the show features two giant purple puppet hands, each the size of a house and rigged like a sailing ship. Squonk invites audience members on stage to power the giant […]

Squonk’s latest free outdoor spectacle is a joyous, participatory event that brings audiences together for a humorous, uplifting visual extravaganza. Propelled by Squonk’s irresistible music, the show features two giant purple puppet hands, each the size of a house and rigged like a sailing ship. Squonk invites audience members on stage to power the giant […]

“The Era are arguably among the best footwork dancers in the world” —Chicago Reader The Era Footwork Crew, who have pioneered the battle dance known as Chicago footwork since 2014, will be joined by DJ Spinn from the electronic collective Teklife for an outdoor, interactive party for the Providence community. This Footwork Rave will also […]

Squonk’s latest free outdoor spectacle is a joyous, participatory event that brings audiences together for a humorous, uplifting visual extravaganza. Propelled by Squonk’s irresistible music, the show features two giant purple puppet hands, each the size of a house and rigged like a sailing ship. Squonk invites audience members on stage to power the giant […]