ArtsCape organizers find new ways to expand art festival

The Arts Council of Southeast Missouri is hoping a few new offerings at will make the already popular ArtsCape Community Arts Festival an even more attractive event to locals.

Among those changes: organizers have booked national touring music group Trout Fishing in America to headline the musical entertainment and opened up an area for a "musical instrument petting zoo."

"We haven't brought in a huge national act before," arts council chair Claudia Ruediger said of two-time Grammy nominees TFIA. "We wanted to use this to draw more people in, and one of the nice things about Trout Fishing is they appeal to children and have a strong adult following with their folk music."

The band's music includes hints of reggae, Latin, blues, jazz and classical music. TFIA will play a noon concert just for children and follow that performance with a 4 p.m. adult show. Between will be performances by Nashville-based Brother Henry and local bluesman Bruce Zimmerman.

The TFIA duo is fronted by 6-foot-9-inch vocalist and guitarist Ezra Idlet, who performs with the 5-foot-5-inch bassist Keith Grimwood, bringing a humorous visual aspect to their stage performances. The northwest Arkansas-based eclectic duo prides itself on making music that entertains both children and adults, and has won awards from parents' groups for their child-friendly subjects.

Those who want more of a hands-on approach to music can visit the new "musical instrument petting zoo" set up by Shivelbine's Music.

Owner Bill Shivelbine has for years provided the sound for ArtsCape's musical acts for free. Now he'll also provide instruments -- strings, percussion, woodwinds, brass -- for children to play around with at the festival.

Shivelbine's employees will staff the "petting zoo," showing youths how to make noise on whatever instrument they please.

Ruediger said that, while TIFA's children's show and other children's activities saturate ArtsCape, organizers don't want the festival to be known as just a family festival -- they want people of all ages and lifestyles to attend the event.

"What ArtsCape really is about is for people of all ages to be able to experience a variety of the arts," said Ruediger. "It's really about trying to reach out to the community."

Where other arts council events, like the Christmas craft show, raise money for the organization, Ruediger said the group just hopes to break even on ArtsCape. The purpose is more to connect all people with the arts.

Vendors, street painting, musical performances for adults and other activities appeal to wide audiences, said Ruediger.

This year is the sixth for the festival, but during the first three it was put on as part of the City of Roses Music Festival. ArtsCape only became its own separate event in 2004, and moved from downtown to Capaha Park last year.

Last year organizers estimated a crowd of about 2,200 people. This year they expect even more.

msanders@semissourian.com

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