Announcing PVDFest headliners, mayor says he is putting focus back on the arts

The mayor's announcement of PVDFest's headliners is typically an event filled with fanfare, music and cheers.

Yet this year's briefing was peppered with questions over changes Mayor Brett Smiley has made to former Mayor Jorge Elorza's creation. That includes switching the location from the Downtown to the Providence River, ending block parties and curbing drinking.

"I’ll be clear — I made a decision to put the focus on this festival back on the art, back on the performances, back on the experiences that families and residents can have … and there are plenty of places for people to go get a drink," Smiley said, referencing a new rule banning open containers. "But the festival itself is not going to have open containers this year, and that was a decision that I made."

Attendees will, however, be able to grab some suds at The Guild's outdoor beer garden conveniently located in the festival area. Aside from that, revelers will need to go to a brick-and-mortar establishment to get anything that's more than zero proof. Expect the festival's usual round of food trucks to offer bites and refreshments.

Director of Art, Culture, and Tourism Joe Wilson Jr. said the festival's focus should be "elevating and highlighting our creatives and bringing community together to celebrate all of that that makes Providence our beloved providence."

More: Frustration brews over sudden PVDFest changes curbing drinking, block parties

Smiley defends new PVDFest location, saying some businesses lost out last year

The location has also stirred questions, as businesses along the riverfront are expected to benefit while downtown spots may suffer.

"It’s important to keep in mind that under the old footprint, there were winners and losers also. And there were many businesses for whom PVDFest was a very bad week for them," Smiley said.

However, PVDFest's new dates – Sept. 8-10 – mean that it will coincide with a WaterFire lighting on Sept. 9, an intentional move on the city's part.

“The WaterFire installation is probably a two-minute walk from Washington Street," Smiley said. "There will be tens of thousands of people within minutes of your business, I would say to a business owner."

According to the mayor, this year's festival will be held later in the summer than previous years since the hospitality industry raised concerns that hotels and eateries see a lot of traffic in June – the month in which the festival was typically held – then face a post-Labor Day slump.

More: PVDFest is coming back. Here's what to know.

Here's who will perform at PVDFest

Mavis Staples, a Gospel Hall of Famer and Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner, will headline the festival. The singer, now in her 80s, is known for civil rights anthems, performances for presidents, a close relationship with Martin Luther King Jr. and time in The Staple Singers. She will take the main stage on Sept. 9.

Here are the other acts that have been announced so far:

• Stay Silent PVD: This group of creatives focusing on New England's diasporic communities and hip-hop will offer three hours of DJ sets and live performances on Sept. 8 and Sept. 9.

• Flawless Real Talk: Rap and hip hop artist Flawless, a Rhode Islander who was featured on the Netflix reality competition "Rhythm + Flow," will perform on Sept. 9.

• Sidy Maiga: Maiga will return to PVDFest on Sept. 10 to showcase his eleventh annual Afrika Nyaga Drum and Dance Festival to celebrate African culture and recognize the diaspora.

Festival goers can also expect art installations throughout each day of the event from Pneuhaus, an art studio specializing in immersive sculptures.

Kathleen Pletcher, executive director of FirstWorks, an organization that partners with the city to put on the festival, said "there is more and more to come." The city is still inviting interested vendors, artists and performers to apply to become part of the festival through June 20.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: PVDFest: Here's who's headlining and other key details of the festival