From Tiny Desk To Raleigh’s Biggest Arts Fest

As Artsplosure approaches its 38th year of presenting its namesake festival, Artsplosure: The Raleigh Arts Festival, it’s no wonder that this year’s celebration comes with a notable lineup. For nearly four decades, the stages at our free art and music festival has hosted both worldwide legends and skyrocketing newcomers. Since it’s inception, Artsplosure has succeeded in bringing high quality art to our entire community, and this year is no different!

As we began to curate our three days of music for this year’s festival, we reflected on this spectrum of artists and how to continue to bring an array of music for our growing community’s expansive taste. With that in mind, we are proud to present the legendary WIlliam Bell and newcomers Tank & The Bangas.

As winners of NPR’s 2017 Tiny Desk competition, Tank & The Bangas sound is lively, avant garde, and captivating. Their style captures the Artsplosure spirit. Check them out at their Tiny Desk performance earlier this year, and mark your calendars for Sunday, May 21st when they take the stage at 3:00pm.

The roster of icons continues to grow at Artsplosure, too! Naturally, William Bell and his new album “This Is Where I Live” are at the top of the list. Bell’s songs from his extensive career are known around the world, and his new album delivers the same striking soul-stirring energy. Dubbed one of the Best Southern Records of 2016 by the Bitter Southerner, Bell’s music brings together tried and true soul melodies with a modern twist — just in time for Artsplosure to bring the same style to Fayetteville Street! Bell had his own Tiny Desk set as well this year, joined Tiny Desk this year as well, along with his 11 piece band, which will join him in Raleigh on the Artsplosure stage on May 20th at 7:30pm.
 

 
From NPR’s Tiny Desk to Raleigh’s biggest arts festival of the year, both of these dynamic acts and many others will keep the celebration going at our three full days of art for all at Artsplosure: The Raleigh Arts Festival 2017.