XPAND FEST ANNOUNCES LINEUP FOR THIRD ANNUAL EVENT, JUNE 8, 2019
NASHVILLE FUNK-FUSION OUTFIT DYNAMO TO HEADLINE, LOCALS THE GET RIGHT BAND, APRIL B & THE COOL, EMMA’S LOUNGE AMONG HIGHLIGHTS
April 2, 2019 (Asheville, NC) - With two years of knockout programming already under its belt, Xpand Fest returns to downtown Asheville’s South Slope neighborhood this June with what’s slated to be its most expansive and genre-diverse lineup yet.
The third annual street festival will welcome local heroes, “hip shaking, earth-quaking” (Relix) quartet The Get Right Band, the soulful, electrifying April B & The Cool, and Appalachian “space-wave” group Emma’s Lounge, to name a few.
"The Get Right Band couldn't be more excited about playing at Xpand Fest this year. We love to celebrate Asheville, we love to celebrate the arts, we love working toward important sustainability goals... it's like Xpand Fest was designed around the things we care about. This is really a festival that embraces and supports the local community. It's for the artists and the audience. We're all participants when we engage in the arts together. We're excited to connect with new fans and to become new fans of other bands and artists at the festival." - Members of the Get Right Band
In follow-up to last year’s efforts to introduce Xpand Fest as a force on the national frontlines, the free music & arts event will also be playing host to Nashville-based 10-piece funk ensemble Dynamo as headliners, who will top off the evening with their exhilarating live show. The group, whose label-mates include jazz-fusion icons Snarky Puppy, are no stranger to the Asheville soundscape, and are among the list of crowd-favorite touring names in Western North Carolina.
Now entering year three of operations, Xpand Fest executive director and founder of the Xpand brand Johanna Hagarty is keen in her vision to shine light on the Asheville arts and entrepreneurial community by activating creatives to be more hands-on in what matters to them. This is also a chance to encourage the community to feel that small financial contributions make a big difference for this free street festival and the economy as a whole. With over 95% of take-home funds from Xpand Fest going right back into the local ecosystem, a key goal for Xpand is to support the visionaries who make Asheville the arts destination that it has made itself out to be.
To further commit to the mission of integrating a sustainable focus inspired by the global goals identified by the United Nations (UN), Xpand is pleased to partner with an array of community organizations who align in value and community impact. One exciting partnership worth noting at this time is The Adé project. Adé is home for artistic liberation across the lines of race, class, ability, age, culture, gender, and sexuality in the South. Adé builds, sustains and connects a regional base of black, brown, and indigenous artists catalyzing social change through storytelling, creative facilitation, strategic campaigns, service projects, development + management, residencies, and performance developed in response to the current conditions in our communities.
With other stand-out programming including the return of the lantern parade and drop-in daycare for your children, this event has a little something for everyone.
For more information on the initial Xpand Fest 2019 programming, please visit: xpandfest.org
For hi-res photos and images, or additional marketing materials please visit our google folder here.
Xpand Fest 2019 Performer Lineup
Dynamo
The Get Right Band
April B & The Cool
Emma’s Lounge
Sirius. B
The Snozzberries
The Digs
Eleanor Underhill & Friends
Upland Drive
The Appalucians
Magenta Sunshine
Queen Bee & The Honeylovers
Dyado
Galena
Polly Panic
Gruda Tree
Sister Ivy
Activations By:
Octopus Garden, Empyrean Arts, Street Creature Puppets, The Adé Project, Toybox, Mountain Circus Arts, AARP, Mojo Coworking + Skyrunner, Zapow Gallery, Roots and Wings, Kids Garden and MORE!
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