Rosewood Arts & Music Festival beefs up band lineup in sixth year

This year, the Rosewood Arts Festival is emphasizing its music offerings.

It has a new name to match: The Rosewood Arts & Music Festival. And a new director: Local poet and arts advocate Al Black.

“We feel we’ve expanded and improve the music component,” Black said of the festival, which is Saturday, Sept. 10 at Rockaway Athletic Club on Rosewood Drive.

Black is doubling the music playing time to 12 hours from 6. Twelve music acts will alternate performing on two stages from 10 a.m.-10 p.m., and a spoken word poet will announce every band. Acts range from jazz to hip-hop to blues to Americana.

“You name the style of music and we tried to have it. We wanted to make sure that our music represented Columbia in all of its diversity,” Black said.

He hired two music coordinators, local musician and show promoter Benz Kirby and Infinite Room music collective organizer Jeremy Weissman to tackle the task.

“Jeremy looked for some younger acts and I looked for veteran acts. We wanted to have bands that cover a wide range,” Kirby said.

That includes stalwart players like Reggie Sullivan as well as greener bands like Daddy Lion.

“We hope it draws more people, even if they just come to see one band,” Kirby said. “It will be an unusual festival, and I mean unusual in a very good way. You just don’t have this grouping of types of bands together.”

In addition to music, the festival features 60 artist booths, a juried art show, poetry, a literary tent and short theater performances.

Black takes over the festival – now in its sixth year – from previous director Arik Bjorn, who stepped down from the role after announcing his run for U.S. Congress.

Rockaway owner Forrest Whitlark tapped Black to be the new leader.

“We approached Al because we felt he was visible and connected and might be able to take it a little bit further,” Whitlark said.

This year, that means more music and more variety.

ENTERTAINMENT

Apollo Stage

10 a.m.: Blue Iguanas​

Noon: Daddy Lion

2 p.m.: Reggie Sullivan

4 p.m.: Stillhouse

6 p.m.: The Dirty Gone Dolas

8 p.m.: Art Contest

Dionysius Stage

11 a.m.: The Dubber

1 p.m.: Sheem One

3 p.m.: She Returns From War

5 p.m.: Those Lavender Whales

7 p.m.: Infinitikiss

9 p.m.: Wallstreet & the Blues Brokers featuring Marv Ward

ARTISTS

Sabrina White

Mary Lou Price

elizabeth b. Ceramics

Simon Graham

Jason Freeman

CJ Martin-Marchese

Courtney Kolker

Janice Haynes

Donna Kerlin

Ty Davis

Michael Geddings

Cait Maloney

Lindsay Wiggins

Ginny Merett

Fairoozan Abdalla

McRose Designs

Christine Luft

Amy L. Alley

Vi Horton

Susan H. Johnson

Cameron White

Johnny Frick

Andrew Sheppard

David W. Boykin

Bee’s Knees

Laurie Canter

Jellykoe

That Godzilla Guy

Hippy Do-Da Creations

Janet Place

Sacred Spirit Designs

Forrest’s Art Studio

Root Ware

Pistil Shrimp

Abstract Alexandra

Arthur Turfa