Organizers of one of the most popular music festivals in the Bay Area are offering an impressive lineup of music, food, art and other attractions for this weekend’s event. Art & Soul Oakland will attract thousands of people with top musical talent, food from all over the globe, hundreds of artisan booths, and the largest family fun zone of any festival in the Bay Area. Named among the top 12 ‘must-see summer festivals’ in Northern California by the San Francisco Chronicle, the event will happen August 4 & 5 in downtown Oakland.

Art & Soul features a diverse lineup of fifty bands that represent the Bay Area’s best talent in rock, R&B, jazz, soul, folk, metal, blues, and gospel. Latino performers include:

- Boca do Rio. Known for its ‘Brazilian Beats & Beyond, their live music is inspired by musicians who have laid the rhythmic foundations of samba, baião, samba-reggae, and others.

- La Misa Negra, a group known for heavy-hitting South American cumbias.
- Fusing Latin and folk rhythms with adventurous jazz explorations, the VNote Ensemble mines the hidden treasure of Venezuelan music.
- Zendaya, an American actress, singer, and dancer who currently stars on the Disney Channel show, Shake It Up.

Also new this year, some of the Bay Area’s hottest food trucks will join favorite festival vendors, bringing a variety of American and global food. Beer, wine, and other beverages will also be offered.

The Family Fun Zone features kid-friendly rides and carnival games, inflatable bounce houses, and interactive arts.

Art & Soul Oakland 2012 takes place in downtown Oakland on Saturday, August 4, 2012, from 2:00 p.m. to midnight, and on Sunday, August 5, 2012, from noon to 6:00 p.m. The festival is centered in Frank Ogawa Plaza and City Center.

Advance online tickets for single-day admission are $10 for adults, $5 for seniors (65 and older) and youth (ages 13-17). Advance tickets are available online at www.ArtandSoulOakland.com. At the gate, single-day admission will be $15 for adults, $8 for seniors and youth. Children 12 and under enjoy free admission to the festival. For more information, visit www.ArtandSoulOakland.com or call (510) 444-CITY.