On The Park Stage

The Conway Family

The Conway children, aged nine to thirteen, play traditional Irish seisiún musicwith precocious professionalism. Eoghan is on tin whistle and flute, Oisin and Fiachrah play flute, and Runhann rounds out the act on the accordion. See this Somervillian sensation to believe it.

Paved Country

Fronted by Sarah Mendelsohn and Marjie Alonso, this country outfit is currently touring behind its second CD, "Deconstructing Paradise," a collection of irresistible hooky country-rock gems. Paved Country mix plenty of twang with gorgeous harmonies and distinctive lyrics - a blend that leaves fans and critics (No Depression and the Boston Globe) gushing.

Mariachi Mexamerica

Lead by the fiery Pepe Gutierrez, Mariachi Mexamerica play lively Mexican folk music, matching impeccable musicianship with infectious gusto. Wearing elegant serapes, boleros and sombreros, the band will perform authentic mariachi music, which originated with Mexican cowboys, known as charros. After playing on the stage, the musicians will then rove through the audience, serenading festival goers in a more intimate setting.

Reverend Glasseye and his Wooden Legs

Rural Americana minstrels with a flair for 19th-century carnivalesque theatrics, Reverend Glasseye and his cohorts are among Boston's most creative and original acts. The carefully crafted songs range from solemn dirges to rousing folk numbers and conjure images of old time vaudeville and itinerent preachers. The Reverend Glasseye gruffly croons in a Tom Waits-like tone while the rest of the Wooden Legs play a wide range of instruments including drums, guitar, banjo, horns, upright bass, flute and accordian. Sound unusual? It is.

Jake Brennan and the Confidence Men

Fronted by the wildly charismatic Brennan, this black-leather clad band mixes roots rock with a honky-tonk punk. Some critics hear "Exile on Main Street" Stones while other hear Bruce Springsteen and Hank Williams; but they're all unanimous in their praise for this up-and-coming band. When Brennan played a show at the Middle East this past Spring, Peter Wolf of J.Geil's Band fame joined him for a rendition of "Cry One More Timea passing of the torch from one rock icon to a future rock icon?

A very special guest, Mr. Lif

Mr. Lif is Boston's reigning, outspoken king of hip-hop. His rapping style and beats evoke the golden age of old-school hip-hop and are downright irresistible. It's Lif's lyrics, however, that set him apart from his rapping contemporaries. The highly literate Lif challenges the social and political status quo and no subject is taboo. Lif has recently received glowing press in the Boston Globe, the Boston Phoenix and the New York Times and is on the verge of becoming a hip-hop star of global proportions. For those who weren't able to attend his recent AXIS show (celebrating the release of his new rabblerousing cd "Emergency Rations," don't miss him when he saunters onto the ArtBeat Park stage, Saturday at 4:45pm.

On The Elm Street Stage

Willie Berstein

Wille Berstein is a musical trio that performs original songs using banjos, guitars, cello and guitarron. Perhaps the best way to describe this Somervillian act is a postmodern jug band where you'll hear influences as varied as Captain Beefheart and the Velvet Underground. For this year's ArtBeat festival, they'll be performing a few food-themed numbers such as "MSG," Slug Bar," and the rousing anthem "Chicken Butt."

Georgia Overdrive

Georgia Overdrive play the best (and some of the worst) of classic country. From Merle Haggard and Johnny Cash to Glenn Campbell and Johnny Paycheck, Georgia Overdrive pay homage to the great songs and artists of country musicsongs about truck drivin', heartache, and Pabst Blue Ribbon beer. Featuring a roster of highly accomplished Boston musicians and singer Jim Horan, whose deep gravelly vocals are perfectly suited for authentic country crooning, this act will have you digging for your old Hank Williams vinyl.

27

This female-fronted indie rock trio is adept at creating songs that are both experimental in nature and hypnotically beautiful; think of moody acts like Cat Power and Mazzy Star. With lush vocals, guitar, drums, clarinet and samples, 27's music shifts seamlessly from a soft hush to dramatic roar. The band has toured with such kindred spirits as Low, Karate and Clem Snide and is about to start touring behind its gorgeous new release "Animal Life."

Little Rabbit

Little Rabbit is a musical quartet that performs fiddle tunes and old-time songs with 3-part harmony using banjo, mandolin, guitar and stand-up bass. In the wake of the "Brother where art Thou" craze, this Somerville-based band will satiate bluegrass and Americana folk fans still hungry for more rural roots music.