The 36th annual Cambridge Arts River Festival arrives this weekend, and so far, there’s been very little buzz about the live performances. Which is a shame, because the bands rumored to be taking part on the Middle East Stage are excellent, and viewed together for a free, all-day, and all-ages event make for one of the better spring music mini-festival lineups around New England.
This isn’t confirmed, and there’s nothing posted on the River Festival page at the City of Cambridge’s website, but a little birdie tells us who might be playing on Saturday: Abadabad, The Barbazons (formerly the Fagettes), Mini Dresses, American Echoes, Blinders, and future Boston Calling performers Dirty Bangs.
UPDATE 12:38 p.m.: The lineup is finally official. Here’s what’s of note to us, and get the full thing on the River Festival’s Facebook page:
Energize: Indie, Rock & Alternative Stage
Produced by The Middle East Night Club.12:00-1:00 Dirty Bangs
1:00-2:00 Blinders
2:00-3:00 American Echoes
3:00-4:00 Mini Dresses
4:00-5:00 The Barbazons
5:00-6:00 AbadabadConnect: Folk & Roots Stage
Produced by: TOAD/Lizard Lounge
Emcee: Tom Bianchi12:00 Danielle Miraglia & the Glory Junkies
1:00 The Wiles
2:00 Ruby Rose Fox
3:00 The DuPont Brothers
4:00 Cuddle Magic
5:00 Sun Parade
Here is a site map, via Do617:
And here’s the full event description:
Join us for this free annual celebration of the arts, family art-making activities, and over 100 specialty food purveyors and craftspeople.
Six dynamic festival stages will showcase local music, theater and dance. Community tables, poetry and storytelling tents, interactive areas (including a chalk art tribute to beloved icon Sidewalk Sam), roving performances, and the revival of Peoples Sculpture Racing combine to make the 2015 Cambridge Arts River Festival a vibrant celebration of the arts in Cambridge. The World of Food, Arts Bazaar, and two Brew Gardens offer refreshment and unique local artwork and crafts for purchase.
Come early for the festival kickoff event – People’s Sculpture Racing – a human power sculpture race at the intersection of Pilgrim and Sidney Streets at 11AM! This year the festival revives the old Cambridge tradition of sculpture racing. Come watch 17 sculptures run a 3/4 mile course! Visit the sculptures after the race in the University Park Common Sculpture Garden. Visit www.sculptureracing.org for more information.
