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Lotus World Music and Arts Festival 7 results
Rachel Sermanni, a 25-year-old singer-songwriter from Scotland, will perform at the Lotus World Music and Arts Festival on September 29 and 30. | Photo courtesy of Ian Wallman

Lotus Time! Part 4, Young Musicians Fill the Bill
Benjamin Beane
The Lotus World Music and Arts Festival is upon us, when performers from around the world fill the downtown streets with music. In part 4 of our series, writer Benjamin Beane profiles a young singer-songwriter from Scotland and an even younger brother/sister Indian-American duo who are rising stars in bluegrass. Click here to read the full story.
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Meklit, an Ethiopian-born, Oakland-raised, Ethio-jazz musician and philanthropist. | Courtesy photo

World Music Trailblazers Bring Innovative Sounds to Lotus
Benjamin Beane
Music speaks. And it can tell stories. Musical acts Meklit (Ethiopia) and Sabha Motallebi (Iran) will showcase their own forms of musical storytelling this year at the Lotus World Music and Arts Festival. In part 3 of his series, writer Benjamin Beane explores their genre-bending and -expanding music — and the stories they want to tell. Click here to read the full story.
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The graceful and mesmerizing aerial acrobats of AsaBela WINGS Aerial Academy will perform in both the matinée and evening Va-Va-Va-Vaudeville shows. | Photo by Chris Rall

Behind the Curtain: Va-Va-Va-Vaudeville
Jennifer Pacenza
It’s a juggernaut! It’s a celebration of Bloomington’s amazing talent! It’s an extravagant array of performers — jugglers, dancers, comedians, aerial acrobats, burlesque performers, musicians, and even clever canines! It’s Va-Va-Va-Vaudeville! Jennifer Pacenza takes you Behind the Curtain of this variety show playing this weekend at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater. Click here to read the full story.
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(l-r) Nyckelharpa player Olov Johansson, guitarist Roger Tallroth, and violist Mikael Marin of the Swedish band Väsen will be performing at their ninth Lotus World Music and Arts Festival this year. | Courtesy photo

Two Lotus Fest Trios Offer Twists on Traditional Music
Benjamin Beane
Xöömei and nyckelharpa … must be the sounds of Lotus! A meeting ground of world musical styles, the year’s Lotus Festival brings Swedish string trio Väsen and Tuvan throat singers Alash, offering an innovative twist on the traditional music of their home countries. Click here for videos and Benjamin Beane’s profiles of the bands, including an exclusive interview with Väsen.
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Trio da Kali (Mali/soulful Mandé griot traditions). | Courtesy photo

Lineup for 24th Lotus World Music Festival Announced
Benjamin Beane
The lineup for the 24th annual Lotus World Music and Arts Festival has been announced. In the coming weeks, writer Benjamin Beane will profile some of the more prominent acts that will perform. Lotus, which Beane says “perfectly encapsulates Bloomington’s celebration of cultural diversity,” begins September 28. Click here for the provisional lineup.
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The Top 10 Limestone Post Stories of All Time (Since Our Launch, Anyway)
Lynae Sowinski
Since we launched in September, the praise from Limestone Post’s readers has been epic. So thank you, readers! And thanks to our writers, photographers, and videographers for their excellent work! While we’re just as fond of numbers 11 on down, here are our top 10 most-read stories. Click here to read the full story.
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Dancin’ in the Streets (and Much More) Lotus Festival 2015: The Street Scene
Miles Reiter
It may never change its name to Lotus World Music, Arts, Food, and Street Festival, but it could. While music from around the world fills the tents downtown during the Lotus World Music and Arts Festival, musicians, dancers, artists, and other performers fill the streets outside the tents, especially Kirkwood Avenue and 6th Street. Videographer Miles Reiter caught much of the action and artistry on tape. Check out his video, “Lotus Festival 2015: The Street Scene,” here.
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