Lotus World Music & Arts Festival begins soon; catch early shows today

Carol Kugler, The Herald-Times
·4 min read

Here are some numbers for the 30th year of the Lotus World Music and Arts Festival in Bloomington: more than four days of music, art and activities for people of all ages, two early events, more than 20 international artists at seven venues.

Lotus Executive Director Katrina Koch said getting everyone to Bloomington at the right time has been "challenging. We keep coming across barriers to get visas."

The Robert Mirabal Trio will perform tribal rock originating from the Taos Pueblo area of the U.S.
The Robert Mirabal Trio will perform tribal rock originating from the Taos Pueblo area of the U.S.

So this year's lineup will focus more on U.S.-based musicians and artists. Even so, music from North and South African countries, South America, Europe, Central America, the Caribbean and all corners of North America will highlighted.

2 events 2 weeks early

Making Movies, performing a blend of Afro-Latino, psychedelic and rock 'n roll, will start this year's Lotus World Music and Arts Festival with events Sept. 13 at the Indiana Memorial Union.
Making Movies, performing a blend of Afro-Latino, psychedelic and rock 'n roll, will start this year's Lotus World Music and Arts Festival with events Sept. 13 at the Indiana Memorial Union.

This year's events will begin two weeks early, with performances on Sept. 13 and 14. Latin rock band Making Movies will host a free screening of the PBS documentary film "Ameri'kana," that has musicians from four cultural backgrounds exploring the cross-pollinated nature of American music. After the 7 p.m. screening in Whittenberger Auditorium in the Indiana Memorial Union on Sept. 13, there will be an informal Q&A and demonstration by Making Movies about the creative process used to make music.

Then at 9 p.m. Sept. 14, Making Movies will perform a concert in Dunn Meadow on the Indiana University campus.

4 days of more Lotus events

When the main events begin Sept. 28 through Oct. 1, there will be something old (a return to the Waldron Arts Center) and something new (no tent in the Fourth Street area of the festival).

Baba Commandant & the Mandingo Band, from Burkina Faso, will perform Afrobeat music.
Baba Commandant & the Mandingo Band, from Burkina Faso, will perform Afrobeat music.

As in past years, the main portion of the festival will begin with a Thursday night concert at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater. Windborne combines the vocal talent of its four musicians who perform different styles of music. Then Baba Commandant & the Mandingo Band will bring different energy to the stage with their Afrobeat style.

Both Friday and Saturday will feature musicians throughout the downtown area in churches, auditoriums and outdoors. The music begins at 6 p.m. both nights and ends at midnight. A wristband allows people to enter different venues, stay and listen, or get up after a set and move to another location. The Fourth Street Stage between College Avenue and Walnut Street will not be inside a tent this year. The stage will spotlight exceptionally talented local bands early, followed by acoustic international artists.

Before the music begins Saturday night, there will be musical performances, demonstrations and interactive art activities from noon to 5 p.m. as Lotus in the Park takes over the Waldron, Hill and Buskirk Park at 331 S. Washington St. Food trucks and merchandise will be for sale.

Eric and Suzy Thompson will perform Old-Time American music.
Eric and Suzy Thompson will perform Old-Time American music.

The final day will be Sunday, Oct. 1, with sessions of Festival Unwind Yoga at the FAR Center, 505 W. Fourth St., beginning at 11 a.m. Then at 3 p.m. (doors open at 2:30 p.m.) multi-instrumentalists Eric and Suzy Thompson will play Old Time, Cajun and Blues, and Sonny Singh will perform Punjabi anthems at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater. Admission is the Lotus Festival pin, costing $15 each.

Kavita Shah and Cape Verdean blues will perform at Lotus.
Kavita Shah and Cape Verdean blues will perform at Lotus.

What about the food?

Next to the Fourth Street Stage and near the Sixth Street tent, Bloomington-based food and drink (non-alcoholic and alcoholic) vendors will be selling their fare.

Food Truck Village will be open on East Kirkwood Avenue between Washington and Lincoln streets from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and 5:30-11 p.m. Saturday. Buskirk-Chumley Theater also will offer concessions.

Food trucks also will be selling food and drink during Saturday's Lotus in the Park events.

Getting tickets for the Lotus festival

Madalitso Band will perform Malawi groove music.
Madalitso Band will perform Malawi groove music.

While purchasing a wristband will get you into the Friday and Saturday night events, the Thursday opening concert requires a separate ticket, which costs $20 in advance and $25 day of the show. There is an all-inclusive ticket that gets you into all the concerts Thursday through Sunday that costs $95 in advance and $105 day-of.

The weekend pass (wristband) for Friday and Saturday costs $75 in advance and $85 day-of. For one day of the weekend, advance tickets cost $40 and $45 (Saturday) day-of. For seniors and students, the single-day price is $35 each day.

RAM from Haiti will perform Haitian roots music.
RAM from Haiti will perform Haitian roots music.

It's the $15 Lotus pin that will get you into the Sunday afternoon concert. If you need a pin, check out the Festival Store, which is at the Buskirk-Chumley box office, 114 E. Kirkwood Ave.; or purchase one at the closing concert if any are still available.

Where to find more about all Lotus events?

For more information about what's happening with this year's Lotus festival, go to the interactive schedule at lotusfest.rendezville.com or ask questions at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater box office at 114 E. Kirkwood Ave.

Reach Carol Kugler at ckugler@heraldt.com.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Lotus World Music & Arts Fest in Bloomington Sept. 28-Oct, 1