One of the more popular summer celebrations to be found in the greater Bay Area, Oakland's 12th annual Art & Soul Festival brings a wide variety of sounds to the City Center area. The festival draws tens of thousand to downtown Oakland and was voted by readers of the East Bay Express (one of Art & Soul's principle sponsors) as the best annual event in the city. This year, Art & Soul adds a late-night bash on Saturday evening and cutting-edge art show to its long established reputation as one of the region's top music festivals that will offer a whopping 50 bands spread over five stages.

As a precursor to the two-day festival, a free Friday night pre-party will be held at Awaken Café located at 1429 Broadway. The festive event kicks off at 7:30 p.m. and features live performances by the Rosie Burgess Trio and the Anita Lofton Project. Just steps away, attendees can walk to Telegraph and Broadway to find the Liba Falafel mobile food truck serving up tasty eats or head to the burgeoning Midtown Arts District which includes Pro Arts, Oaklandish, Joyce Gordon Gallery, Bittersweet, NNEEKA and the debut of Oakland’s newest pop-up store lOAKal, a mixed-use gallery curated by Ken Harman of Spoke Art.

On Saturday, classic rock station KFOG presents an array of sounds on the Art & Soul Main Stage at 12th and Clay topped by local acoustic-guitar driven rock group Luce (led by songwriter Tom Luce) best known for the hit songs "Good Day." Another highlight will be a special performance by R&B iconoclast Meshell Ndegeocello. Fresh from a recent appearance in SF as part of the Stern Grove Festival, the gifted musician will show her range with a stripped-down duo appearance alongside frequent collaborator, guitarist Chris Bruce. The EBX Stage presented by the East Bay Express in front of City Hall features even more diverse acts on Saturday in a line-up that includes local hip-hop luminaries Lyrics Born and headlining Hieroglyphics affiliated crew Souls of Mischief (best known for their seminal album 93 'til Infinity), Oakland's own metal heroes Saviours and psych-folk group Vetivier. Other highlights include a full day of gospel programming at the Jefferson Street Stage presented by Edwin Hawkins and the Community of Unity and a dance stage in Frank Ogawa Plaza.

Sunday moves the main stage offerings in an R&B direction radio station KBLX offering a line-up that starts off with local product and rising Disney Channel star Zendaya from the show Shake It Up. The young singer, who filmed the video to her hit song "Swag It Out" at her alma mater Oakland School for the Arts, will be joined onstage by hometown favorites Pop Lyfe (also students of the award-winning Oakland School for the Arts) and Z-Swagg Dancers and Singers. Four-time Grammy nominee and gospel/soul talent Oleta Adams ("Get Here," "Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me") and Lalah Hathaway, the daughter of R&B legend Donny Hathaway, fill out the main stage bill.

The EBX stage gives airing to more local indie rock groups with Oceanography, Churches (featuring Rogue Wave drummer Patrick Spurgeon), Persephone's Bees and energetic, genre-busting singer Forrest Day, while the Jefferson Street Stage switches to blues with such Bay Area artists as Lady Bianca and Jackie Payne. The annual party also features dozens of local artists presenting and selling their wares at various booths. The annual celebration of culture and diversity offers al fresco dining from area restaurants and plenty of entertainment options for the whole family including hands-on mural painting, bounce houses and carnival rides for children. You can get more information, cheaper advanced tickets and a complete schedule of entertainers at the Art & Soul website.

Art & Soul Festival
Saturday-Sunday, August 4-5, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. (extended to 12 a.m. Sat.) $10-$15 adults; $5-$8 seniors and youth 13-17; children 12 and under free
Oakland City Center