Smithsonian Folklife Festival Spices Up the Sound on the National Mall With Free Evening Concert Series

Special Fireworks Display June 30; Seven Distinct Performances Showcase Artists From Armenia, Catalonia and Washington, D.C.
June 15, 2018
News Release
Woman singing and banging a gourd drum

The 2018 Smithsonian Folklife Festival features free programming and performances by Armenian, Catalonian and local musical artists, June 28–July1 and July 4–July 8 on the National Mall. Once the festival’s daily activities wrap at 6 p.m., the celebratory atmosphere continues with its transformation from cultural festival to lively music venue.

Performances take place on the Ralph Rinzler Stage at 6:30 p.m. Food is available for purchase at the festival’s concessions or visitors can bring their own and enjoy a picnic on the Mall. These performances are free and open to the public, and select performances are followed by a special Catalan fireworks display or torch procession.

Thursday, June 28: Yacine & The Oriental Groove | PANALÎ

Contemporary sounds of North Africa via Catalonia and avant-garde folk music from the leader of Armenian Navy Band, Arto Tunçboyacıyan.

Catalan torch procession follows the performance

Friday, June 29: Miqayel Voskanyan & Friends

An evening of Armenian jazz with Miqayel Voskanyan, Arto Tunçboyacıyan and more to be announced.

Saturday, June 30: Les Anxovetes | Zulal | Alidé Sans

Women’s voices from Catalonia and Armenia. Catalan fireworks display after the music.

Thursday, July 5: The Secret Trio | Maria Arnal i Marcel Bagés

Armenian and world chamber music led by Ara Dinkjian and Catalan avant-garde roots music.

Friday, July 6: Green Fields of America

Musical performance of Irish and Irish American music celebrating the 40th anniversary of Green Fields of America, and a dance ensemble from the mid-Atlantic region.

Saturday, July 7: Dance on the Mall

A showcase of Armenian folk dance, followed by Catalan dance music from Cobla Catalana dels Sons Essencials and Joan Garriga i el Mariatxi Galàctic. Catalan torch procession follows the performance.

Sunday, July 8: Sisterfire

Fortieth anniversary of Roadwork with Toshi Reagon and BIGLovely, Alsarah, Tattiana Aqeel, the Bernice Johnson Reagon Songbook, Alexis DeVeaux, Ariel Horowitz, Holly Near, Martha Redbone and Urban Bush Women. This Washington-based multiracial coalition puts women artists on the road, globally.

The Festival strives to maintain an accessible and inclusive environment for visitors of all abilities. Information about Accessibility Services may be found at festival.si.edu/accessibility. For more information on the 2018 Smithsonian Folklife Festival, visit https://folklife.si.edu/, and follow the festival on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

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SI-364-2018

Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage