Folk singer Tracy Grammer, French a cappella group Paroplapi and the Cool Crooners, an African swing-jazz group, will perform.And that\'s all just the music.Visual arts exhibits, including sculptures in venues and a festival backdrop, will adorn the city this weekend, and the John Waldron Arts Center is displaying Bloomington music posters from the \'70s. Children 12 and younger and senior citizens 65 and older will receive discounts, as will Indiana University students who buy their tickets at the Indiana Memorial Union and show student identification.The festival will close with a free, three-hour World Spirit Concert, at 2 p.m. At the festival, the price is $30 per night, or $50 for a two-night pass. Some acts can be seen on more than one night.The list of performers literally spans the globe, from folk-funk team The Laura Love Duo (a Lotus favorite Williams is often asked about) to Italian folk-techno-pop act Fiamma Fumana to the blues/gospel/R&B group The Holmes Brothers, perhaps the biggest name act on the bill.Prices for Saturday and Sunday shows are $25 each night, or $40 for a two-night pass, if purchased in advance. Food and drink from local establishments will be available, and special art works will pepper the Lotus grounds.Lotus began in 1994, when Executive Director Lee Williams and friends decided Bloomington could use a world-music festival reflective of the city\'s diversity.The mission of the not-for-profit festival - named after Orange County folk singer and songwriter Quinten Lotus Dickey - has always been to promote the education of world cultures, Williams said.And in honor of the 10th birthday, Lotus organizers are offering special events to attendees.Included in Thursday\'s "Lotus Retro" lineup are nine scheduled acts, including The Cottars, a folk group from Cape Breton Island, and the Mahotella Queens of South Africa.The special price for that opening night - $10 in advance or $15 the day of the show - is a nod to the first Lotus, when there were just a handful of performers and tickets cost $10.Following tradition, this Friday and Saturday - Lotus concert showcase nights - dozens of performers will play concurrently at nine downtown venues, including the Bloomington Convention Center, the John Waldron Arts Center, two churches and a few tents.Half-hour breaks between performances will give audiences time to regroup with friends, grab drinks or snacks or head to a different venue for another show.
But this year, the significance of the event is even bigger - 2003 marks the 10th anniversary of the festival.For the 10th year, Lotus organizers are bringing Bloomington a group of musicians so diverse that concert-goers are guaranteed to find something to suit their tastes.About 30 individuals, bands and singing groups from Zimbabwe, Kyrgyzstan, Cape Breton Island, the Dominican Republic, China, South Africa, Spain, France, Ireland, Cuba, Italy, Papua New Guinea and Iraq are among those who will display their talents in downtown venues.More than 6,000 people are expected to attend, if previous years\' numbers are any indication. BLOOMINGTONThe Lotus World Music and Arts Festival is always a special time in downtown Bloomington.
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