Arts Alive Celebrates Juneteenth, Pride Month, and Father’s Day on June 14, 15, and 16
Arts Alive, ArtsFalmouth’s annual celebration of the arts, will be held Friday, June 14, from 5 to 9 PM, Saturday, June 15, from 9:45 AM to 9 PM, and Sunday, June 16, from 11 AM to 5 PM, with close to 40 performances under two tents on the Falmouth Library Lawn and at the Peg Noonan Park bandshell, and 75 artisans and craftspeople offering a colorful array of handcrafted items along Shore Street Ext. and in Peg Noonan Park. Arts Alive features music and activities that honor Juneteenth, Pride Month, and Father’s Day.
“We had a tremendous response from performers wanting to play at Arts Alive this year, as well as from artisan vendors,” said Marilyn Rowland, president of ArtsFalmouth, Inc. “We are pleased to present many acts that are new to Arts Alive, and that I’m sure attendees will enjoy.”
Arts Alive is free, open to all, and takes place rain or shine.
The festival begins Friday, June 14, with performances by the many talented music students of Falmouth Academy, award-winning singer/songwriter Shannon Davis, and a Town Dance with the spirited rock band, Puffy Elvis.
The Artisans Market takes place Saturday, June 15, from 10 AM to 6 PM, and Sunday, June 16, from 11 AM to 5 PM. There will be a fine array of painters, photographers, woodworkers, fiber artists, jewelry artists, home décor crafters, potters, personal care item artists, and much more.
The Art Tent has participatory activities for children and adults, including a puppet workshop by Dream Tale Puppets from 10 AM to 1 PM on Saturday. A dozen or more community organizations will have tents on the Library Lawn to share information about the services they provide to the community.
The Juneteenth Celebration on Saturday morning is a highlight of Arts Alive. It begins at 9:45 AM as drummers welcome visitors with African beats. A libation ceremony follows to honor ancestors. There will be an historical reenactment, a song by the Juneteenth Celebration Chorus from Lawrence School, poetry, art and more.
Jazz vocalist Tish Adams extends the spirit of Juneteenth with a vibrant selection of songs: elegant torch songs, high-energy swing, rip-roarin’ blues. Joe Mongelli and the Cape Cod Jazz Crew, a jazz quintet, present the music of Horace Silver, an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger, who was of Cape Verdean heritage.
Cognitive Dissonance, another jazz quintet, specializes in Afro-Cuban and Mainstream Jazz. Cranberry Jam makes its debut performance at Arts Alive. The 19-piece band will perform big band instrumental and vocal favorites.
Several rock bands will perform on Saturday, including Paradise Rock, 12-Step Boogie, Ubeyou, and the 82nd Street Band.
The Falmouth Theatre Guild presents a lively array of show tunes, and Morgaihne Huntress offers her own one-woman show, Allsorts: A Cup of Compassion. Turning Pointe Dance Studio will perform a selection of contemporary and classical dances.
L’Esperance Mandolin Ensemble presents classical, folk, and jazz music, while the Greenlanders, a group that has been together for 60 years, performs songs of the 1960s and ‘70s folk revival. And the Harper and the Minstrel offer medieval, Renaissance, and Celtic music on at least a dozen instruments.
The Cape Symphony Flute Quintet performs classical and contemporary music on piccolo, concert flute, alto flute, and bass flute music, while Julian Loida plays vibraphone, using his synesthesia (a blending of the senses) as inspiration.
The ZYG 808 is a Grammy-nominated musician, composer, producer, vocalist, DJ, and recording artist of indie groove, alternative pop, rare groove/funk, Afrobeats, and hip-hop. Wamptronica is an underground dance music group, specializing in house music, Afrobeat and rare groove, bringing the good vibes from the first light.
Several singer/songwriters perform at Peg Noonan Park Saturday afternoon: Andrew Sexton Trio, Michael Shea, Rich Latimer, and Richard Keith.
A highlight on Sunday is the Kim Moberg Band’s performance of Kim’s original work, The Seven Fires Prophecy: Suite for Humanity, a nine-song suite that ties the ancient Anishinaabe legend to the current social environment as a way of sharing indigenous teachings and life lessons.
College Light Opera Company gives a preview of the summer season, and Troupe Mirage entertains with belly dancing. The Falmouth Chamber Players perform woodwind trios and octets, while the North River Brass Quintet offers orchestral music in various genres.
The Kerosene Heater band plays rocking country music, Northern Lights offers soft rock, and Bird at Sea performs soulful and inventive music. Neil Ganju plays hits from the 1950s to the 2020s.
Rose and Jerry sing and play roots/Americana music, Low Pressure plays covers and originals, and Wayside offers its own take on roots/Americana music.
At Peg Noonan Park DJ Kris Kay will play tunes for a traditional Tea Dance to celebrate Pride Month.
For more information and a complete schedule of events, visit artsfalmouth.org/arts-alive-2024/ or email artsfalmouthinc@gmail.com
Notes on The Arts 