Arts and Culture
Art+ Soul Brings Out the Talent
R&B artist Estelle
Oakland’s beloved 19th annual Art+ Soul festival, held in the heart of the downtown area on July 27 and 28, will feature a range of musical talent on its stages, a dance contest, family fun, a marketplace of artisans and food for every appetite, from down-home barbecue to world class fusion cuisine.
Oakland welcomes home two-time Grammy® winner Fantastic Negrito who co-headlines along with Grammy® winning R&B artist Estelle.
A powerful something-for-everyone lineup features Oakland favorites Agape Soul, SOL Development, Jonah Melvon, Grammy® nominees Alphabet Rockers, a parade with Samba Funk!
Also, a newly established Emerging Artists Stage dedicated to the late Victor McElhaney will feature artists on both days.
Other features include the crowd-pleasing Kinetic Arts Center circus stage; a huge Family Fun Zone jam-packed with interactive arts, carnival, bouncy houses and more; hundreds of handcrafted art and artifacts at the festival’s annual Artisan Marketplace; scores of food vendors cooking up everything from down-home barbecue to global and fusion cuisine; plus beer, wine and specialty cocktails featuring Effen Vodka, a festival sponsor (21 & over).
Saturday, July 27, highlights
Estelle
On the heels of her acclaimed 2004 debut The 18th Day, Estelle soared to international prominence on 2008’s Shine. The lead single, “American Boy” featuring Kanye West, won a 2009 GRAMMY® and double-platinum certification. She released the follow-up All of Me in 2012, and the single “Thank You” received a GRAMMY® nomination for “Best R&B Performance.” 2015’s True Romance yielded the smash “Conqueror.” Guest starring in a popular episode of “Empire” in Season One, Estelle joined star Jussie Smollett for a duet of the tune. It stood out as “one of the show’s highest-charting songs” and fueled the Original Soundtrack to a #1 bow on the Billboard Top 200.
The multiplatinum GRAMMY®Aw a r d – winning UK singer, songwriter and actress is also an entrepreneur and activist, launching her own online boutique named Elle Vie while also establishing the All of Me Foundation, which grants college scholarships and opportunities abroad. Among many highlights, the foundation sponsored a trip to Senegal for Los Angeles students who had never ventured outside of the city.
Warming up the main stage for Estelle will be Oakland’s Agape Soul, Alphabet Rockers and other artists soon to be announced.
Community of Unity Gospel Showcase
Darnell Davis & Remnant headlines the Gospel stage presented by Community of Unity that is certain to inspire. The ever-popular showcase also features Lawrence Matthews & Friends, Derrick Hall & Co., Terrance Kelly & Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, Pastor Botiwa Jackson & Restored, Leonard Bailey & Friends, Jonathan Johnson, Doris Bumpus, Dale Anthony & Faith Out Loud, Quinese, and the Community of Unity Choir.
The high-flying annual Turf Dance Battle presented by Yak to the Bay will also occur.
Art + Soul Oakland 2019 takes place in downtown Oakland Saturday, July 27 and Sunday, July 28, from noon to 6 p.m., centered in Frank H. Ogawa Plaza.
Advance tickets are available for purchase online for just $12 Adults and $6 Seniors (65 & older). Save even more with two-day tickets available through advance purchase only. At- the-door admission will be $15 Adults and $9 Seniors (65 & older). Ages 18 and under enjoy free admission (no ticket required).
Art + Soul Oakland 2019 is Northern California’s most accessible festival with direct service via both BART’s 12th Street City Center station and AC Transit, in addition to $5 parking in the adjacent City Center West Garage, 12th Street at Martin Luther King Jr., Way. Free attended bicycle parking will be available (please bring your own lock).
