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By Aqueila M. Lewis

The eighth annual Comcast Art and Soul Festival was the highlight of Labor Day weekend in downtown Oakland. The threeday extravaganza featured a star-studded lineup of 60 national recording artists and some of the Bay Area’s most talented bands on six stages.
   The event also featured a kids stage and family fun zone, carnival rides, face painting, art with the Youth Art Gallery and Youth Arts Project, storytelling, magic shows, a fashion show and dancing.
   Attendees enjoyed the sounds of rock, R&B, blues, funk, jazz, Latin, world music, gospel, folk, country, classical, African and more.
    The featured performers included Zion I, Los Rakas, Aqualibre, Hieroglyphics, Big Cat Tolefree and Tia Carroll, country singer Miko Marks with special guest D’Wayne Wiggins, Ise Lyfe, Deja Bryson, Kev Choice Ensemble with special guest, Martin Luther, Rose Royce, Indigo Girls, RnR featuring Rick Braun & Richard Elliott, Lawerence Matthews, Bishop Walter Hawkins, Unity Mass Choir, Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, BATU-KE featuring Energia do Samba Brazilian Dance Company and The Bobby Young Band.
    Miss Oakland 2008 and Miss Oakland’s Outstanding Teen 2008 also made an appearance at the event.
    Over 200 artisans, food booths, an annual mural program and special hands-on art projects were provided by Pro Arts, Oakland Art Gallery and Community Mural Project. After the festival, the murals will be used to visually enliven Oakland’s neighborhoods.
    This year, Art and Soul held its first commemorative art design contest. Attendees had the opportunity to see the winning design by local artist Sherry Holliday Hastings and purchase tshirts, posters and signed, limited edition silk prints.
    Over 30 local businesses and merchants sponsored the event.