A citywide showcase of local artists is celebrating its 13th year. Queen City Shout kicks off Monday, March 18 and runs through Sunday, March 24. New this year are the addition of poetry and dance to the festival.
Queen City Shout has evolved quite a bit since its inception. When local musician Eddie Gumucio established the festival, it was held over the course of one month inside of Borders, a book and music retail store that has since closed. Over the years, Queen City Shout has expanded in length and to various venues. First, the festival was held at several businesses on Commercial Street, and then in 2022, the festival was held for the first time around different parts of the city.
“I feels like the expansion of additional art forms has been almost organic,” Gumucio said in a news release about the addition of poetry and dance to this year’s festival. “There are just so many virtual ways for artists today to connect with fans, and we want Queen City Shout to be a live, in-person sampling of the broader creative melting pot.”