With less than 48 hours notice before Artown’s final World Music Series headline performance of July, fast reaction and a body of resources at Executive Director Beth Macmillan’s finger tips ensured the show goes on and bigger than originally planned.

“We received a call on Monday that our scheduled headliner Kailash Kher, a Bollywood performer, wasn’t able to secure visas in time to make our event,” said Macmillan. “We immediately go into planning mode. I believe that every challenge provides an opportunity and this was our chance to shine. I reached out to the network of industry alliances and found a comparable replacement maintaining our Bollywood flavor for the series but also was able to secure additional entertainment for a double headline performance bring more than originally planned. And all of this was done while Artown events continued on.”

The World Music Series, a FREE musical series held each Wednesday throughout July, has a new lineup that includes an opening performance by Rupa & the April Fishes followed by Non Stop Bhangra. 

Starting at 7:30 p.m. Rupa & the April Fishes perform. The musicians have been praised by the media and legions of follows for their debut album eXtraOrdinary rendition that reached the top spot on the iTunes charts in its category, was featured on multiple National Public Radio programs and described as “one of the hottest emerging acts” by Time Out Chicago. With their second album, este mundo (this world), Rupa & the April Fishes hold up a carnival mirror to life and present a warped, humorous and occasionally disquieting reflection sequestered beneath Rupa’s infectious and captivating melodies designed to be thought-provoking about life, love, art, death and the real and artificial divisions that keep us apart. The San Francisco-based musical agitators are specialists in crossing borders and building bridges and effortlessly blur the boundaries of genre and geography to create a sound Time Out has called global agit-pop.

 Following Rupa & the April Fishes, Artown turns the stage over to Bollywood and Indian themes with Non Stop Bhangra. Transforming Wingfield Park into a thumping nightclub complete with color of swirling saris, the rhythm of pounding feet and the relentless energy of brilliant beats, Bhangra, a traditional Punjabi folk music and dance style, captivates audiences. The group features the turntable skills of DJ Jimmy Love and the dancers of Dholrhythems, led by Vicki Virk and Suman Raj, alongside live dhol drums, emcee’s and an cast of musicians and dancers. Non Stop Bhangra has built a loyal following in San Francisco with a genre-busting elixir of Northern Indian Bhangra music and dance, shaken with hip hop, reggae and electronica. The performance is all encompassing and features a dance lesson, dance performances, live music and DJs.  In addition to club appearances, Non Stop Bhangra has performed at San Francisco’s Stern Grove Festival and shared the stage with artists such as Michael Franti & Spearhead, Anoushka Shankar, Karsh Kale, Delhi 2 Dublin, State of Bengal, B-Side Players, Dengue Fever and more.

What do you get when you combine the grace of ballet with passionate rock, dance and Broadway? Vortex presented by A.V.A Ballet Theatre. 

For just two nights, July 23 and 24 at the Robert Z. Hawkins Amphitheater, a cast of extremely talented performers from Reno and guest artists from Ballet West perform demanding and passionate movement inspired by the dynamic force of music.   

Artistic director Alexander Van Alstyne has choreographed an exciting contemporary ballet that’s like no other.Ballerinas perform grande jetés to music by popular rock artists all with exciting props and sets to create a visual spectacle not to be missed. 

Tickets are $15 and $20 for adults.  Students with I.D are only $10.  VIP tickets are also available for $40 and include wine, beer and hors d’oevres.  Gates for both shows open at 7:30 p.m. for picnicking and the VIP party and the performance begins at 8:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online by calling 775-762-5165 or at the Bartley Ranch box office the night of both shows.

Wearable art is one of the unique elements incorporated into Artown in 2010. Fiber, Paint and Pearls showcases just that July 24, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., and July 25 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. The exhibit and sale, featuring four local artists, takes place at the Bartley Ranch Brick House in south Reno.

Jill Altmann, Toni Lowden, Pamela Hunt Lee and Arlene Wohl all began as weavers, some dating back 20 years. Jill’s wearable art combines weaving and knitted elements creating an individual look in contemporary design. Toni, known as a tapestry maker of large commissions, is now exploring painting and altered fiber works. Pamela Hunt Lee has done large fiber pieces and paintings and now does unique jewelry designs for individuals rather than the department stores of the days past. Arlene Wohl ‘s woven garments were juried into the Smithsonian Craft Show this past year showcasing her unique combinations of fibers and colors.