PVDFest Set to Return to Downtown Providence Starting June 7
GoLocalProv Lifestyle Team
PVDFest Set to Return to Downtown Providence Starting June 7
The 2018 festival will take place from June 7 to June 10.
“There is no better way to experience what Providence’s creative DNA offers than attending PVDFest. This year’s festival will be the biggest one yet for the Creative Capital, featuring unique programming that will inspire crowds and allow them to enjoy themselves like never before. From exciting new public art installations and bumper car races, to some of the best cuisine and musical performers in the world, PVDFest will be another unforgettable experience,” said Mayor Jorge Elorza.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST2018 PVD Fest Schedule
This year’s festival will kick off on Thursday, June 7, with Cyborg Cities: Humans, Technology, and Urban Spaces, a one-day Ideas Conference that will bring together technologists, scholars, and artists to consider what might be gained as well as what might be lost as cities become "smarter."
Friday’s programming will include a participatory Bachata dance with a twist.
The festival is calling for hundreds of couples to join Mambo Pa Ti, the largest Latin dance organization in Rhode Island,as they dance their way to breaking the Guinness World Record for the most people dancing a choreographed Bachata dance.
Kalamata, Greece currently holds the record with 370 couples dancing. Additional Friday programming will also include free bumper cars at the Alex and Ani City Center and food trucks around Biltmore Park.
Also on Friday, The Dean Hotel will host “Fountain Street Hooligans,” which will begin with a collaborative dining experience featuring North, and guest chefs who will serve up delicious recipes at a special outdoor table. Take a seat and explore culinary masterpieces as well as how the restaurant environment plays an important role in creative tourism in Rhode Island’s capital city.
On June 9 and 10, Kennedy Plaza will be turned into the PVDFest Food Village. The Village will feature over 60 local eating establishments and several participating restaurants will give “behind the scenes” sneak peaks, including dish preparations, stories behind signature meals and live cooking demonstrations.
Also on Saturday, festival attendees can grab a bite to eat and make their way over to the first ever Bump n' Bass Raceway. Featured in national press this past winter, the Alex & Ani City Center’s newest addition to their programing, bumper cars, have become a viral sensation that has attracted visitors from across the region. A portion of Providence’s Dorrance Street will be transformed into a glowing speedway as festival attendees race head-to-head with Providence’s newest attraction. Inspired by the late ‘90s electronic music scene, the area will be immersed in glowing neon tape with a DJ and emcee to keep the crowd rockin’ till the last racer crosses the finish line.
On Friday and Saturday, AUSTRALIA’S SWAY POLES will entertain audiences with equal measures of spectacle, disaster, and beauty in “Tall Tales from the High Seas.” The show follows the antics of three mariners as they explore the power of the imagination in a quest for common ground.
On Saturday and Sunday, PVDFest visitors will encounter “Cycle Sonic,” a spectacular art-rock performance on human-powered stages by Philadelphia-based festival veterans SQUONK OPERA. This pageant of double-decker bike stages is propelled by original chamber rock music and celebrates all things bicycle in a city where bikes are a part of the local culture. Giant animated bikers circle the audience in front of undulating flags, with 20-foot legs pumping to the rhythm of sustainable power. With no carbon footprint, “Cycle Sonic” combines the thrill of a live concert with the world of everyday transit.
25 Must See Spring & Summer Concerts in New England - 2018
May 9
Jackson Browne at PPAC
Providence, RI
Hall of Famer Jackson Browne is coming to PPAC in May.
In his career, Browne has sold over 18 million albums in the U.S.
He is known for songs such as "These Days", "The Pretender", "Running on Empty", "Lawyers in Love", "Doctor My Eyes", "Take It Easy", "For a Rocker", and "Somebody's Baby" and others.
Browne was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004 and the Songwriter's Hall of Fame in 2007
May 25-27
Boston Calling 2018
Boston, MA
Boston Calling, the first New England music festival of the season kicks off in downtown Boston on the weekend of May 25 to the 27.
The festival features performances from Eminem, The Killers, Jack White and more.
May 26
Jason Aldean at Xfinity Center
Mansfield, MA
Jason Aldean brings his "High Noon Neon Tour" to the Xfinity Center.
Aldean is celebrating the release of his eighth album titled "Rearview Town."
In his career, he has seen 19 singles reach #1 on the on either the Hot Country Songs or Country Airplay charts with "Why", "She's Country", "Big Green Tractor", "The Truth", "Don't You Wanna Stay" (a duet with Kelly Clarkson), "Dirt Road Anthem," among others.
In 2017. Aldean won the Entertainer of the Year Award at the ACM Awards.
May 28
Latin American Music Festival at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet
Providence, RI
A celebration of Latin culture that showcases the music, art, food, and dance styles of countries like Mexico, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Bolivia, Puerto Rico, and many more.
The festival will be filled with live performances from dance groups, musicians, and vocalists who are ready to put on a show.
June 6
Imagine Dragons at Xfinity Center
Mansfield, MA
Imagine Dragons is bringing their "Evolve Tour" to the Xfinity Center this summer.
The group is known for songs such as "On Top of the World," "Amsterdam," and "Warriors."
June 7 - 10
PVDFEST
Providence, RI
Live music, dance, food, and visual art installations transform the Providence. Dozens of music performances play over a four-day event. Multi-art installations take-over of public spaces, parks, and outdoor stages in the heart of Providence, Rhode Island. Artists from across the globe perform.
June 15
Paul Simon at TD Garden
Boston, MA
Formally one half of the legendary duo "Simon & Garfunkel," Paul Simon is bringing his solo tour to the TD Garden.
Simon has earned sixteen Grammys for his solo and collaborative work, including three for Album of the Year (Bridge Over Troubled Water, Still Crazy After All These Years, Graceland), and a Lifetime Achievement Award.
He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001.
June 15
Tim McGraw & Faith Hill at Mohegan Sun
Uncasville, Ct.
Music legends Tim McGraw and his wife Faith Hill are bringing their Soul2Soul World Tour to Mohegan Sun this summer.
The tour is one of the highest grossing tours in country music history.
Tim McGraw
McGraw has won three Grammy Awards, 14 Academy of Country Music Awards, 11 Country Music Association (CMA) awards, 10 American Music Awards, and three People's Choice Awards.
He has sold more than 75 million records worldwide.
Faith Hill
Hill has won five Grammy Awards, 15 Academy of Country Music Awards, six American Music Awards, and several other awards.
June 15 & 16
Zac Brown Band at Fenway Park
Boston, MA
The Zac Brown Band is returning to Fenway Park for their "Down the Rabbit Hole Live" tour to Fenway Park.
In their career, the band has charted 16 singles, 13 of which have reached #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs or Country Airplay chart.
Their hits include, " "Chicken Fried", "Toes", "Highway 20 Ride", "Free", "As She's Walking Away", "Colder Weather", "Knee Deep", "Keep Me in Mind", "Goodbye in Her Eyes", "Sweet Annie", "Homegrown", "Loving You Easy", and "Beautiful Drug".
June 21
The Wailers at Greenwich Odeum
East Greenwich, RI
In honor of Bob Marley, the Wailers are continuing to tour and celebrate his legacy.
There are more than 250 million Bob Marley & The Wailers recordings sold, including 1977’s Exodus, anointed Best Album of the Century in 1999 by Time Magazine, and “One Love,” named Song of the Millennium that same year by BBC.
June 22
Dave Matthews Band at Xfinity Center
Mansfield, MA
The popular rock band makes their return to the Xfinity Center in Mansfield this summer for one show.
Expect some new material, exploratory jamming, and hits like “Crash,” “Ants Marching,” and “What Would You Say," among others.
Dave Matthews Band has sold over 60 million records worldwide.
July 6
Luke Bryan at Fenway Park
Boston, MA
Country music star Luke Bryan is coming to Fenway Park.
Bryan released his latest album titled "What Makes You Country," on December 8 of 2017. The album features the hit single "Light it Up."
To date, Bryan has sold more than 7 million albums and 27 million singles worldwide.
Bryan, who's career who began in 2000, is best known for his number on singles " I Don't Want This Night to End," "Drunk on You," and "Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye."
July 19
Chris Brown at Xfinity Center
Mansfield, MA
Chris Brown is bringing his “Heartbreak on a Full Moon Tour” to the Xfinity Center.
Brown has sold more than 100 million albums and singles worldwide, making him one of the world's best-selling music artists.
He has won several awards, including 14 BET Awards, 5 Billboard Music Awards, and 5 Soul Train Music Awards. According to Billboard, Brown has the seventh most Hot 100 entries on the chart with 87.
July 21
Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers and Los Lobos at Indian Ranch
Webster, MA
Hornsby's music has been recognized on a number of occasions with awards, including the 1987 Grammy Award for Best New Artist with Bruce Hornsby and the Range, the 1990 Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album, and the 1994 Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance
He also collaborated with Grateful Dead and was a member of the band from September 1990 to March 1992, playing over 100 shows during that period.
July 21 & 22
Foo Fighters at Fenway Park
Boston, MA
The Foo Fighters are bringing their "Concrete and Gold Tour" to Fenway Park for a two-night stay.
The Foo Fighters recently released their ninth album titled "Concrete & Gold," which reached #1 in the U.S.
Over the course of the band's career, four of their albums have won Grammy Awards for Best Rock Album. Overall, they have sold over 12 million copies in the United States alone.
They are known for songs such as "Best of You," "Learn to Fly," "Times Like These," and more.
July 27 - 29
Newport Folk Festival
Newport, RI
The Newport Folk Festival returns this summer with a lineup that includes “The War and Treaty,” “Twain,” “Lucius” and more.
July 26, 27 & 28
Taylor Swift at Gillette Stadium
Foxboro, MA
Taylor Swift is coming to Gillette Stadium for three shows this summer as part of her “Reputation” Stadium Tour.
Swift is the winner of 10 Grammy Awards, five Guinness World Records, one Emmy Award, 21 Billboard Music Awards, 12 Country Music Association Awards, eight Academy of Country Music Awards, and one Brit Award.
She is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, having sold more than 40 million albums—including 27.8 million in the US—and 130 million single downloads.
She was named Time Person of the Year in 2017 as part of the “Silence Breakers.”
August 3-5
Newport Jazz Festival
Newport, RI
The 2018 Newport Jazz Festival will run from August 3 to August 5 at Fort Adams State Park and the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
The festival will show off over 50 individual jazz ensembles on four stages including performances at the International Tennis Hall of Fame and Fort Adams State Park.
The festival will feature artists such as George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Roy Hargrove, Alicia Olatuja and more.
August 5
Jay Z & Beyonce at Gillette Stadium
Foxboro, MA
The tour is the second one that Beyonce and Jay-Z have done together following 2014's On The Run tour.
Jay Z
Jay-Z is one of the best-selling musicians of all time, having sold over 50 million albums and 75 million singles worldwide, while receiving 21 Grammy Awards for his music.
He holds the record for most number one albums by a solo artist on the US Billboard 200 with 14.He has also had four number ones on the Billboard Hot 100, one, ”Empire State of Mind,” as the lead artist.
Jay-Z married Beyoncé in 2008. As a couple, they have an estimated net worth of $1.16 billion.
Beyonce
In her career, Beyoncé has sold an estimated 100 million records as a solo artist, making her one of the best-selling music artists in history.
She has won 22 Grammy Awards and is the most nominated woman in the award's history.
Beyonce is also the most awarded artist at the MTV Video Music Awards, with 24 wins.
Forbes ranked her as the most powerful female in entertainment on their 2015 and 2017 lists, and in 2016 she finished in sixth place for Time's Person of the Year.
August 9
Jimmy Buffett at Fenway Park
Boston, MA
Escape to Margaritaville with music legend Jimmy Buffett at Fenway Park. Buffett will be joined by Huey Lewis and the News.
In his career, Buffett has released 30 studio albums, eight of which are Gold Albums and nine are Platinum.
He won his first ever Country Music Award (CMA) for his song "It's 5 O'clock Somewhere."
August 10
Billy Joel at Fenway Park
Boston, MA
For the fourth consecutive year, rock and roll legend Billy Joel will play Fenway Park.
Billy Joel released his first hit song, arguably still his biggest hit, Piano Man in 1973 and since has become the 6th best selling recording artist and the third best selling solo artist in the United States.
Joel was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1992 and then the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999.
August 11
Journey & Def Leppard at Fenway Park
Boston, MA
Legendary rock bands Journey and Def Leppard are combining to bring a huge show to Fenway Park.
Def Leppard is one of only five rock bands with two original studio albums selling more than 10 million copies in the U.S.
Overall, they have sold more than 100 million records all over the world.
Journey has sold over 80 million albums worldwide, earned 19 top 40 singles and 25 gold, platinum and multi-platinum albums, and has headlined multiple sold-out stadiums.
August 12
The Beach Boys at Indian Ranch
Webster, MA
The legendary Beach Boys are returning to Indian Ranch this August for a concert that you don't want to miss.
The group had over eighty songs chart worldwide, thirty-six of them US Top 40 hits (the most by an American rock band), four reaching number-one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The Beach Boys have sold in excess of 100 million records worldwide.
August 24 & 25
Kenny Chesney at Gillette Stadium
Foxboro, MA
Kenny Chesney is bringing his "Trip Around the Sun" tour to Gillette Stadium with special guest Dierks Bentley.
Kenny Chesney has already performed at Gillette Stadium more times than any other artist and broke 9 attendance records during his 2015 Big Revival Tour.
Chesney has recorded 20 albums, 14 of which have been certified gold or higher by the RIAA, produced over 40 top 10 singles on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay Charts, 28 of which have reached #1.
August 3o
Rhythm and Roots
Charleston, RI
21st Annual Rhythm and Roots Music and Dance Festival Every Labor Day Weekend at Ninigret Park Best Festival for Music.
Every Week
Live Music at GoLocal LIVE's Alex & Ani Lounge
Providence, RI
Be sure to stay tuned to the Alex & Ani Lounge on GoLocal LIVE where you will see some of the best local musicians in the state perform.
To date, local stars like Allysen Callery, Mickey Lamantia, the Billy Harpin Band and others have all taken the stage at the Alex & Ani Lounge.
Stay tuned all Spring and Summer to check out the performances.
Click here for past performances
