New free musical festival will bring Talib Kweli to Milwaukee

Summer of Soul, a new free outdoor music series, will bring a blend of national and local performers to the grounds of the Marcus Performing Arts Center.

Formally titled The Summer of Soul: Outdoor Marketplace & Concert Series, shows will take place beginning July 10 on every other Wednesday through Sept. 18. They'll be staged in the outdoor Peck Pavilion near the corner of Water Street and Kilbourn Avenue.

Summer of Soul events will have a marketplace with more than 50 vendors, including artists, makers and restaurateurs.

The series is curated and organized by local firm Culture x Design working with MPAC and lead sponsor Bank of America. Event times are 5 to 10 p.m.

Here is the schedule:

July 10: Growing Nation, the first live performance in more than a year for the Milwaukee-based group that blends soul, R&B and hip-hop.

July 24: The Robert Randolph Band, gospel-flavored live powerhouse, featuring pedal steel guitar wiz Randolph.

Aug. 7: Moonchild, Los Angeles-based alt-R&B trio.

Aug. 21: Talib Kweli, famed Brooklyn MC and collaborator with Mos Def and other hip-hop giants.

Sept. 4: Brew City Soul, eclectic local group that draws on soul, jazz and R&B.

Sept. 18: De La Buena, popular purveyors of Latin dance music with a psychedelic element.

For info, visit cultureexdesign.com.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Free concert series Summer of Soul launches at Marcus Center