For the seventh year, the District’s largest free overnight arts festival, Art All Night, returns to Tenleytown on Saturday, September 24 from 7pm to midnight. Local businesses and public spaces transform into pop-up galleries and performance stages to welcome more than 150 artists and performance groups from across the city.
The Tenleytown festival includes a feature performance by the legendary Big Tony & Trouble Funk. The powerhouse band, which got its start in the clubs of Washington, DC in 1978, is credited as one of the pioneers of the city’s signature Go-Go sound. Their second album “Drop the Bomb” was the first Go-Go record released outside the District, and they went on to tour internationally and release eight additional albums. Their anthem “Pump Me Up” has been sampled more than 70 times, including by such notable acts as Kurtis Blow, Public Enemy, and Run-DMC.
“We are honored that the iconic Big Tony & Trouble Funk will perform at Art All Night 2022 in Tenleytown,” said Leigh Catherine Miles, Executive Director of Tenleytown Main Street. “They are living legends whose high-energy groove is synonymous with our city’s official musical sound Go-Go.”
Big Tony & Trouble Funk take the stage at the St. Ann’s Gymnasium, 4400 Wisconsin Avenue, at 10:15 pm. Doors open at 7 pm. Opening act Vico Cycle performs at 7:30 pm followed by Cheaper Than Therapy at 9:00 pm. Admission is free.
Tenleytown Main Street kicks off the Art All Night festivities at 7:00 pm at their Welcome Center, 4404 Wisconsin Avenue, NW. The Afro-Brazilian drum ensemble Batala Washington will deliver a heart pounding performance to signal the start of the evening. Afterwards, festival-goers can pick up a printed event guide and enjoy art, music, dance, film, and more at Tenleytown’s 15 venues.
In addition to Big Tony & Trouble Funk, event highlights include:
- The Global 48 Hour Film Project, featuring the best original short films from their global competition each produced in a single weekend
- Helix, an interactive textile sculpture illuminated by black lights and created live during Art All Night
- An outdoor silent disco from Hushed, Inc. – The Silent Experience
- A special after hours showing at the American University Museum, including behind the scenes access and discussions in the artist studios
- Two art and makers markets with jewelry, textiles, pottery, ceramics, décor, and more from 20+ DC area creators
- More than 20 live bands spanning bluegrass, classic rock, folk, funk, and indie-pop
- Dance from around the world, including Bollywood, belly dancing, flamenco, Irish dance, and hip-hop
- Art exhibits featuring collages, drawings, mixed media, paintings, photography, sculpture, and more
- Interactive art experiences and mini classes for festival attendees
“Tenleytown has an extensive visual and performing arts community, making Art All Night a natural fit for our neighborhood,” said Miles. “With an expansive and diverse schedule of events and artists, we look forward to neighbors and visitors from across the district joining us for this celebration of the creative arts.”
A full schedule of exhibits and events is available at tenleytownmainstreet.org/event/art-all-night/ All events and exhibits are free to attend.
Art All Night in Tenleytown is accessible via Metro on the Red Line. An Art All Night shuttle bus, provided courtesy of Georgetown Day School, will run on a continual loop throughout the evening. The American University will also provide free shuttle service between the Tenleytown-AU Metro Station (Red Line) and Katzen Arts Center every 15 minutes.
Art All Night in Tenleytown is presented by Mayor Muriel Bowser in partnership with Tenleytown Main Street and with the generous support of the DC Department of Small & Local Business Development and the DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities. Additional support provided by American University, City Ridge, Georgetown Day School, Pepco – an Exelon Company, and Wegmans.