26 More Weeks of Live Music Coming to Tuscaloosa River Market

A full half-year of live music is coming this spring and summer to the Tuscaloosa River Market thanks to grant funding from the Alabama State Council on the Arts, and the city needs small acts to fill the new slots.

The city of Tuscaloosa announced the good news Tuesday morning - the ASCA awarded the River Market $5,200 as part of its $1.2 million Harvesting Heritage program, which funds public events throughout the state.

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Live music is already present at the venue's weekly Farmers Markets in the fall, but with this new money from the ASCA, the city can hire performers from April through September and bring the autumnal series back.

The funding will pay for 26 additional performances at the River Market, a city spokesperson said, paying each artist $200 for a two-hour set.

"The Farmers Market is primarily looking for solo guitarists with vocals or small ensembles to perform. Performances will be on Saturdays from 9:30 am - 11:30 am with a 15-minute break," the city said on a website about the grant.

“As the only standing weekly event in Tuscaloosa, the Farmers Market has become a hub for culture,” said Alexis Clark, Operations Manager of the Tuscaloosa River Market. “I’m looking forward to it also becoming a hub for cultural arts.”

You can learn more and apply to be a live performer here.

For more coverage of news in West Alabama, stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread.