AS220 Foo Fest 2025
115 Empire Street, Providence, RI 02903
Saturday, August 9th, 1 PM - Midnight
$25, kids 12 and under get in free
Foo Fest, AS220's legendary summer block party fundraiser, returns for the first time since 2018!
On Saturday, August 9th, from 1 PM to midnight, AS220 shuts down our block of Empire Street in downtown Providence and spills out onto the street. Foo Fest attendees can expect 11 hours of music, dance, and performance on two stages, hands-on art making demos and activities, interactive installations and spectacles from local creative minds, food and drink from local vendors, and the opportunity to participate in our creative community with thousands of other people. This year, Foo Fest coincides with the 40th anniversary of AS220's founding and celebrates the unjuried, uncensored, and all-ages access to arts and creativity that the organization provides to all Rhode Islanders.
AS220 is excited to announce our 2025 Foo Fest Artist-In-Residence: Shey ‘Rí Acu' Rivera Rios! Shey will bring their creative vision to enliven Foo Fest’s artistic activities, installations, and spectacles, and will bestow a visual identity for the fest under the banner of "Feral Fruit":
"FERAL FRUIT turns Foo Fest into a community altar for the revolutions to come. AS220 was founded 40 years ago as a response against oppressive institutions that seek to censor, control, determine, and co-opt the creative voice of individuals and communities. Artists didn't just push back against these systems, they created a home for the arts, they generated resources and pathways for artists. Over the years, AS220 continues to be a radical space for joy, creativity, experimentation and abundance for all.”
Bands:
Lookers - "part post-punk, part disco delirium, kissed by noise, tangled in pop"
DakouDakou - "warping Chinese folk songs through a psychedelic, 60s garage-pop lens"
Nova One - "lush, dreamy music that celebrates and centers vulnerability, self-love, self-expression, and queer futurity"
Cómo Qué Wao - "a rock band from Providence, Rhode Island: Drums + Synth: Nikko Fyfe, Bass Guitar: J.R. Uretsky, Vocals + Lyrics: Dr. "
Mellowpunk - "dreamy indie textures with energetic, punky grooves and catchy pop writing"
The Benjis - "a grunge pop outfit" with "a hook-laden power pop sound"
Curated sets from:
Chip Douglas: "Stargazing at Foo Fest” is a soulful blend of hip-hop, R&B, and dance featuring Thomas Dyer, Mary Gipson, Devonish, ShiReal, K.A.E., Ninie 330, Kunle, Riel Santana, Tye Cooper, JONE$, and Tai Lee. This experience is anchored by Providence’s own DJ Nyce Hitz alongside a live band featuring Big Walt and Zae.
Kincaid McLaren: "Like Nobody's Watching" is a Caribbean-style dance party where all are welcomed to unplug with reggae, dancehall, and soca. Featuring Ylsanita, DJ AV, and Mardon Famous
Cam Bells: Cam Bells is a DJ/Producer born & raised in Providence, RI and the curator of Soul Lounge at Foo Fest featuring Storm Ford, Yanna G, and Jackie Medina (with Jimmy Medina on keys), with additional live sounds from Big Walt
Takeover Battle League: "WAR OF WORDS" - 4 rap battles totaling 8 performers culminating in two main events: Elijah Strait vs Caswell and Chess vs Jus Cuz.
Haus of Glitter: The Foo Fest Kiki Ball - "It's time to dance like there's no tomorrow, strut the runway and celebrate community! Whether you want to battle for the first time, come defend your crown from a past ball, or simply come be entertained by a stunning display of artistry, imagination, and ferocity"
Anti-Robot Club Marketplace: An array of more than a dozen artists, vendors, and small businesses showcasing & selling their latest work, including vintage clothing, streetwear, original art, homegood products, and much more, curated by Spocka Summa.
Cypher Pressure Dance Jam: Breaking (breakdancing) showcase presented by The Park Studios and All City Rockers, hosted by Poppin Groove with DJ Irv Stylez, live graffiti, painting, and art with Mr. Baez, and a kids dance jam. Featuring B-boys Notorious Nic, Beknock, Elveezy, Roadhouse, Providence and judges Baldi, Eddie Ed, and Gerson.
Art-making activities and installations:
Alex Hornstein - "WILD LIVES: Posssum Parties" invites you to sink a ball into the cup and trigger videos of "wildlife in Rhode Island getting CRUNK on feral, fallen, fermenting fruit!"
Aunty's House - Children's art activities from the beloved Providence-based community studio and exhibition space!
Bidon Community Print & Design Studio - Make free prints on a portable printing press under the expertise of a master printmaker!
Providence Poetry Slam - Magnetic poetry and poetry readings!
Tuft x PVD - Tufting demos and interactions from "RI’s FIRST Black, Queer and Woman- Owned Rug Tufting Studio"!
CRAM Audio Technologies - Electronic instrument petting zoo. Bleep, bloop, blorp! Buzz.
Haus of Codec - Make your own PRIDE flag and show what you're proud of!
Eli Nixon - Build your own cardboard horseshoe crab bike helmet topper. Come on, where else are you going to do this?!
Gif-o-Graf - "The world's first 2d animation machine · Turn paper cut-outs into pro animation · No Phones. No Laptops. No AI."
Sussy & Helen Santana - Practice saying "NO!" Embrace the joy and celebrate the freedom in refusing what no longer serves us
Xander Marro - help Xander document her uncle's vintage t-shirt collection. Pick one out, model it, and it's yours to keep! They've all been washed.
WHAT IS AS220?
AS220 is a non-profit community arts organization located in downtown Providence, Rhode Island since 1985. We center creative education and creative leadership. AS220 provides all people in Rhode Island with affordable access to galleries, performance venues, educational opportunities, residential spaces, and work studios. Exhibitions and performances of original work at AS220 are unjuried, uncensored, and all ages. We offer access to six rotating gallery spaces; a performance stage; a black box theater; a print shop; a darkroom and media arts lab; a fabrication and electronics lab; a dance studio; a large youth program; 47 residential spaces (39 of which are designated affordable housing) and 7 work studios for artists; and a restaurant and bar.