IMPACTS ON CREATING ART AND COMMUNITY BUILDING Renowned Rhode Island-based musician Sidy Maiga’s expertise lies in traditional and contemporary Malian and West African music. Sidy is highly skilled in djembe and dundun, two percussion instruments whose importance goes beyond rhythm, style, and musical skill. These instruments and their construction require cultural knowledge that signifies the […]
“Part living history, part concert, all uplifting” —The Washington Post While they may appear worlds apart, Mali’s Amadou & Mariam and the Blind Boys of Alabama share something that is undeniable: deeply felt music of the soul that transcends cultures, nations and musical styles. For over 40 years, Amadou & Mariam have combined their personal love story with a global […]
Mayor Jorge O. Elorza, the City of Providence’s Department of Art, Culture+ Tourism and founding partner FirstWorks will once again host PVDFest, Providence’s free outdoor signature arts festival, June 10-12, 2022. After an unimaginable two years, artists and performers from around the corner and around the globe will reinvigorate and rebuild Providence’s world-renowned art and […]
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 […]
