5 things to know about Huntsville’s signature festival's new edition

Before Huntsville’s new, as-yet-unnamed music festival launches this fall, this spring the city’s signature fest returns for its 42nd version. The 2024 Panoply Arts Festival is set for April 26-28 at downtown’s Big Spring Park, address 200 Church St. Below are five things to know about this beloved Huntsville event’s music this year.

LOCAL MUSIC SPOTLIGHT

In recent years, Panoply’s music lineup has increased its focus on top local acts. Whereas national acts like Indigo Girls, Secret Sisters and The War and Treaty used to top the bill each night, the biggest spotlight’s now on Huntsville bands. Yeah, booking local groups is cheaper. But it also makes Panoply more of a festival experience you can only get in Huntsville.

Panoply’s 2024 lineup features jazz-tinged alt-rockers Dawn Osborne Band headlining Friday. Rising songstress Delaney Faulds and her band are also in the mix opening night.

On Saturday, funkateers Quantaphonics headline, with support from smooth R&B-ers Lit Soul Band and acoustic-music standouts Little and the Giants. There’s also talented Auburn indie combo The Band Silhouette, featuring Huntsville’s Brenner Oakes on guitar and vocals, headlines.

Panoply’s Sunday soundtrack involves jazz outfit City Vibes, R&B cats and kittens Victoria Jones, Kristoffer Leshaun and Jazz McKenzie. Also, sets from sax stud Shelly Williams, jangly duo The Love Apples, alt-pop singer Gorrio, and songsmiths Preston Watts, Cheryl Llewellyn and Tyler AK. Panoply’s complete 2024 lineup at artshuntsville.org

PRICE IS RIGHT

As always, Panoply is value priced, with $20 weekend passes via the website of Arts Huntsville, the nonprofit who organizers and operates the festival. Single day tix go for $15. Children 12 and under are free of charge.

POSTERIZED

Panoply poster art is a big tradition. This year’s is by Connecticut native is Jessica Nunno. Working out of her Lowe Mill arts center studio, Nunno created a mix of fantastical imagery and visual nods to Panoply’s longtime site Big Spring Park, including koi, ducklings and the park’s red Japanese Friendship Bridge.

In a statement, Arts Huntsville executive director Allison Dillon-Jauken said, “We were thrilled when Jessica agreed to create the artwork for our Panoply 2024 poster, Jessica’s work is filled with artistic energy and creative details, and it fancifully captures the vibrancy and excitement when Huntsville’s arts, entertainment and music scene takes over Big Spring Park for the Panoply Arts Festival.”

THE ART

A backbone of the festival’s central visual component, The Arts Marketplace, will showcase the works of more than 100 creators, including 40-plus making their Panoply debut. This year’s artists come from 23 states, some from as far away as Colorado and Massachusetts.