For Oaklanders, Labor Day weekend is a great time to stay home!  The Art & Soul Festival features 60-plus music acts performing blues, jazz, culture jam, gospel, latin, hip-hop, world music, and more.

After reviewing the acts, I’m most attracted to the Art & Soul Stage, which will be located at 12th and Clay Street.  Click to preview these headliners: The Matches on Saturday, 4:45pm; Indigo Girls on Sunday, 4:00pm; and Stephanie Mills on Monday, 4:30pm.

Who are these headliners?  First, The Matches are local guys who went to Bishop O’Dowd High School and made it as successful, punky alt-rockers.  Welcome back to the 1980s in this mini-concert:  Their City;  December Is for Cynics; Violent Love; Dog-Eared Page.

Indigo Girls are Atlanta singer-songwriters, who have been touring for years.  Love ’em!  According to their website, “Amy Ray and Emily Saliers have politely declined the opportunity to mellow with age.”  Feel the 1960s in this mini-concert:  Galileo; Ghost; Power of Two; Land of Canaan.

Finally, Stephanie Mills has a powerful voice.  Years ago, she played Dorothy in the original Broadway production of The Wiz.   She also dated Michael Jackson for a brief time, what a claim.  Get that 1970s vibe in this mini-concert:  Home; The Medicine Song; Sweet Sensation; Starlight.

More Info:  The Festival runs from Saturday through Monday, 12 noon to 6pm daily.  The music, art, kids zone and food options are scattered throughout downtown Oakland (directions).  Tickets cost $10/day for adults, $5/day for teens (13-18) and seniors (65+), and are free for kids.