Press release: NICE Festival announces main stage line-up

Honoring Norwalk International Cultural Exchange’s commitment to increasing awareness of the diversity of people from around the world through arts and culture, NICE festival organizers have assembled a line-up of multi-cultural, celebratory sounds for all ages to enjoy. In addition to the featured live bands listed below, The NICE Festival, a daylong celebration of world cultures, will have dance performances, poetry readings, a special family performance and interactive arts area, international foods and craft vendors.

This 2nd Annual NICE Festival is expected to be attended by well over 5,000 people from throughout the New England region and takes place on Saturday July 8, from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM at Oyster Shell Park, located off North Water Street in Norwalk, Connecticut. Admission to the festival is free.

St Lukes Steel Band: Band members hail from the West Indies: the islands of Antigua, Barbados, Bermuda, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago are all represented in the ensemble. Their repertoire includes soca, calypso, reggae, classical, sacred, jazz, popular and island folk music.

River City Slim Zydeco Hogs: The group brings the exuberant sounds of the bayou to the hills of New England, cooking up a spicy musical gumbo that combines the traditional sounds of the button accordion and washboard with a driving, syncopated beat.

Orquesta Afinke: A Latin musical group featuring a dynamic percussion, a swinging rhythm section and harmonic brass sounds, including genres such as Salsa, Merengue, Cumbia and Bolero. They perform the music of notable Latin artist’s such as: Hector Lavoe, Willie Colon, Grupo Mania, Frankie Ruiz, Oscar D’Leon, Tito Puente and many others.

Funky Dawgz Brass Band: The band is one of the premier touring acts on the live music scene today. Emerging from Connecticut, these young men play a contagious upbeat mix of traditional New Orleans R&B, original music, hip hop, funk, and today’s top hits with a brass twist.

The Steel Wheels: Hailing from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, The Steel Wheels are familiar with the traditions of folk music and how a string band is supposed to sound. Their musical style weaves through Americana and bluegrass, folk and old-time music, and the acoustic poetry of the finest singer-songwriters.

For more information, including specific times bands will be performing, parking, transportation and other features, please visit norwalknice.org New festival information is updated regularly. Festival occurs rain or shine.