This fall, the Acansa Arts Festival of the South is marking a milestone and is doing it with loads of great acts.
This year marks 10 years since the first festival, though it will be the ninth event, having skipped a year in the pandemic. Set for Sept. 5-21, the fest features a broad range of events in venues across the metro, including family-friendly shows, award-winning performers and cultural celebrations.
The lineup also includes a solo exhibition by Sergio Valdivia in the Acansa Gallery, as well as this year’s signature artwork created by Virmarie DePoyster.
Without further ado, here’s what to expect at the 2024 festival.
The Big Dam Horns
Sept. 5, The Rail Yard
Acansa is celebrating big with a birthday party featuring The Big Dam Horns al fresco at The Rail Yard. With hits from the 1960s through today, The Big Dam Horns deliver a horn infused, one-two punch of jazz, blues, soul, R&B and a knockout blow of rock and roll. Beverages and the area’s finest food truck fare will be available for purchase.
The Heart Collectors
Sept. 6, The Studio Theatre
Traveling from Australia to Arkansas, The Heart Collectors are known internationally for blending inspiration from 1960s and 1970s folk and roots music with tight vocal harmonies and enchanting melodies. Performing with cello, guitar, mandolin, banjo and bodhran, their music spans harmony-led ballads to Bowie-esque soundscapes.
Family Arts Day featuring Buckets N Boards
In partnership with UA-PTC
Sept. 7, Argenta Plaza
In partnership with UA-PTC, ACANSA welcomes all ages to a fun-filled arts exploration featuring creative, hands-on activities for the young and young at heart. Buckets N Boards — a hilarious and high-energy show chock-full of amazing percussion, ridiculous songs, spectacular tap dancing, inventive instrumentation and an incredible variety of musical talents — takes the stage at noon.
“Cello Stories: A Life Under Broadway”
In partnership with Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts
Sept. 7, AMFA
Acclaimed cellist Mairi Dorman-Phaneuf has performed in 21 Broadway shows. In “Cello Stories: A Life Under Broadway” she graces the AMFA Glass Box with exquisite arrangements for cello and piano, coupled with captivating stories about her life as a musician.
John Hébert
In partnership with Jazz at the Joint
Sept. 9, The Joint
Bassist John Hébert, a native of New Orleans, Louisiana, and leader of Byzantine Monkey, is known for his unique playing style and lush compositions. His Blue Note Records release “Time Lines” was awarded Record of the Year by Downbeat’s Jazz Critics Poll. Performing around the globe with world famous artists, Hébert now calls New York home, where he has performed at such venues as Village Vanguard, Blue Note, The Jazz Standard, Birdland and The Iridium.
“The Sunshine Boys”
In partnership with Argenta Contemporary Theatre
Sept. 11-21, ACT II
Al and Willie as “Lewis and Clark” were top-billed vaudevillians for over forty years. Now they aren’t even speaking. When CBS requests them for a “History of Comedy” retrospective, a grudging reunion brings the two back together, along with a flood of memories, miseries and laughs. Directed by Vincent Insalaco.
Tripliciti
In partnership with Potluck & Poison Ivy
Sept. 12, The Joint
From the collective minds of virtuoso musicians Andy McKee, Calum Graham and Trevor Gordon Hall, Tripliciti is a bold, new musical experience showcasing three of the foremost acoustic guitar composers in the world today.
“The Other Mozart”
Sept. 13, CALS Ron Robinson Theater
Sylvia Milo’s stunning and award-winning play “The Other Mozart” tells the true, forgotten story of Nannerl, Amadeus Mozart’s sister. Nannerl was a prodigy, keyboard virtuoso and composer who performed throughout Europe with her brother to equal acclaim, but her work faded away, lost to history.
Gangstagrass
In partnership with Argenta Arts District
Sept. 14, Argenta Plaza
Gangstagrass is the Emmy-nominated, Billboard-charting band known for its dynamism and spontaneity and the theme song for “Justified,” the FX television show. Led by Rench, these MCs and pickers are the pioneers of an authentic, paradigm-shifting bluegrass and hip-hop genre. Gangstagrass. It’s not what you think.
“Tennessee Rising: The Dawn of Tennessee Williams”
Sept. 19, The Joint
Written and performed by Jacob Storms, and originally directed for the stage by Alan Cumming. “Tennessee Rising” sheds light on the unexplored, formative years (1939-1945) of Tom Williams. He metamorphoses into his most iconic character — America’s acclaimed playwright Tennessee Williams — while grappling with first love, professional triumph and torment, heartbreak and ultimately “the catastrophe of success.”
Third Friday Art Walk
Sept. 20, Argenta Arts District
Curated by Will Hogg, a new exhibit by Arkansas artist Sergio Valdivia opens in Acansa Gallery at 413A Main Street. Grab an Argenta Arts District Passport and visit up to a dozen venues to see new works and public murals throughout Argenta’s arts and entertainment district.
Ryan & Ryan: Kickin’ the Clouds Away
Sept. 20, CALS Ron Robinson Theater
Ryan & Ryan, a dynamic father-son duo, are Kickin’ the Clouds Away with classic and contemporary music played by four hands on two grand pianos. Barron and his dad Donald perform jazz, ragtime, classical and even gospel song arrangements. Barron’s solo performance was a 2017 festival favorite, and this concert, too, is sure to strike a chord with audiences.
Hispanic Heritage Festival
Sept. 21, Argenta Plaza
Presented by Seis Puentes, the Hispanic Heritage Festival celebrates our local Hispanic community, artists, music and culinary scene. Join Acansa as we explore authentic food vendors, arts and crafts, kids activities and live entertainment.
Dallas Black Dance Theatre’s “DBDT: Encore!”
Sept. 21, UA-PTC CHARTS
The Acansa 2024 festival comes to a close with a diverse mix of modern dance exuding the grace, strength and cultural flair of DBDT: Encore!, previously known as Dallas Black Dance Theatre II, as they perform contemporary and lyrical works including world premieres and revivals of the theater’s repertoire.
Update: This performance has been canceled.
Descriptions provided by Acansa.
Tickets for the ninth annual Acansa Arts Festival of the South are available now, including individual shows and festival passes. Select events are free, and students 18 and younger are free of charge.
To learn more about the arts festival, visit the Acansa website and follow along on Facebook and Instagram for the latest.