East meets West
It's a new road for Houston's iFest: Opera, Lucinda and acrobats
Houston's 2011 International Festival, themed "The Silk Road: Journey Across Asia" and running two weekends from April 29 through May 8, brings some big national names this year.
Lucinda Williams, Jonny Lang, Robert Randolph and the Family Band and the Joe Ely Reunion Band are among the acts hitting Houston's festival. Those who prefer classical to country, blues and funk can look forward to an opening night collaborative "East meets West" concert on Friday, April 29, featuring the hardcore contemporary-classical Kronos Quartet, Afghan rubab player Homayun Sakhi and the Houston Grand Opera.
Musical guests and other iFest performers will spread over 10 stages in downtown Houston, specifically showcasing world performers from the nations that line the Silk Road: China, India, Turkey and the Middle East. Along with musical guests, festival goers can expect acrobats, local and international dance performances and plenty of international eats.
Some acts (like Williams and Randolph) are more of Houston's lucky spillover from the coinciding Jazz Festival in New Orleans.
The full iFest line-up can be accessed here.
Tickets are $12 in advance and $18 at the gate, with kids under 12 admitted free on Mother's Day. (Kids tickets are $3 otherwise.) Tickets can be purchased online in advance here or at H-E-B stores. Opening night concert tickets must be purchased online, and are $20 for lawn seating and $35 for reserved seating.
What part of iFest are you looking forward to most? Ely? Lucinda? The acrobats? The Opera?