Carmel International Art Festival to Return With Live Music and Dance This Fall
Performers include Cole Woodruff, Tim Wright, Ten Branches and more.
Each fall, the Carmel International Art Festival transforms Carmel's Arts & Design District into a celebration of art, music, and community. Returning September 26 and 27, this year's festival will once again take over Range Line Road and Main Street, welcoming a collection of artists, vendors, and performers. The official lineup follows:
2026 CIAF Main Stage, Saturday, September 26
9:55 - 10 am: Boy Scouts Presentation of Colors & Pledge of Allegiance / CHS Choir National Anthem
10 - 11:30 am - Tim Brickley & The Bleeding Hearts
12 - 1 pm – Kanaka Jams
1:30 - 2:30 pm - HP+
3 - 4:30 pm – Touch of Grass
5 - 6 pm – Ten Branches
2026 CIAF Main Stage, Sunday, September 27
9:55 - 10 am - Boy Scouts Presentation of Colors & Pledge of Allegiance / CHS Choir National Anthem
10 – 11 – Hippie Dream
11:30 - 12:30 pm – Island Mixtape
12:45 - 1:15 pm – Tim Wright
1:45 - 3:15 pm – On the Record
3:45 - 5 pm – Phone Club
2026 CIAF West Stage, Saturday, September 26
10 - 11 am – John Alvarado
11:30 - 12:30 pm – Indiana Ballet Conservatory
1 - 2:30 pm – Laughing Jack – Irish Sea Shanties
3 - 4 PM – Jeremiah Cosner
4:30 – 6 pm – The Gene Markiewicz Band
2026 CIAF West Stage, Sunday, September 27
10 – 11 am – Eliott Feruson
11:30 - 12:30 pm – Central Indiana Dance Ensemble
1 - 2:15 pm – Kenny Phelps Jazz Trio
2:35 - 3:35 – Cole Woodruff
4 – 5 pm – Sarah Hund
About the Performers
Cole Woodruff is a singer/songwriter from Indianapolis. He has played across Indiana for nearly 20 years. Listen to Cole's music on Bandcamp, YouTube or Spotify. Find Cole every Saturday playing the Vivante Patio in Carmel from 6-9pm.
Tim Wright is a singer. He has performed with The Wright Brothers since 1972. He also plays guitar, banjo, and pedal steel. He had 9 singles chart on Billboard, two reaching the top 40.
Ten Branches: Ten Branches music was developed by Phil Stockton to inspire others and create a culture of positivity. God gave us all 10 branches to reach out, touch and help others cultivate their dreams.
The Phone Club, a 6-piece pop/rock cover band playing a grab bag of fun, surprising selection of songs from the 60's thru today. Their goal is to put on fun shows that have a little something for everyone.
The Gene Markiewicz Band is made up of Markiewicz, one of Indianapolis' most established drummers and inductee in the Indy Jazz Hall of Fame, along with his ensemble, an exciting trio featuring pianist Gary Walters, and bassist Peter Hansen.
Tim Brickley & Bleeding Hearts are a legendary, long-running, critically acclaimed rock and roll band from Indianapolis. They randomly choose from almost 200 covers spanning the entire history of rock, as well as other genres.
Touch of Grass brings 25 years of music & tomfoolery. Their blend of instruments and voices keep audiences coming back. Comedy, close vocal harmonies, and a passion to entertain audiences keep them busy with upwards of 100 performances yearly.
Kanaka Jams brings the sounds of the Hawaiian Islands to the Midwest. Theyt are comprised of musicians from Hawaii as well as Hawaiians-at-heart who share the love of island music. They play traditional and contemporary Hawaiian music with a little variety blended in.
Kenny Phelps Trio: Entrepreneur and owner of Owl Music Group, he is one of the most in-demand jazz drummers internationally. Having grown up playing gospel music, he later switched to playing R&B and then jazz. Throughout his career, he has performed in multiple bands in multiple styles, as well as playing for television and commercials.
On The Record: With veteran musicians and vocalists, they cover a multitude of genres from the 1960s to today including rock 'n' roll, rhythm and blues, soul, funk, country, beach and Cajun, among others.
HP+: A modern jazz supergroup based in Indianapolis; the ensemble features prominent Midwest jazz artists playing original compositions and unique interpretations of standards.
Hippie Dream: A Woodstock-themed band that has expanded into a full classic rock variety act. Six piece group with guitars, bass, drums, keyboards and saxophones.
Island Mixtape: Popular songs you love played on steel pan, congas and other instruments you've never heard of.
John Alvarado: Classical and Flamenco Guitar; award-winning guitarist.
Jeremia Cosner: American singer/songwriter born to break it down. His song “Spinning Away” has found its way on film, TV and the airwaves globally. Cosner has evolved from an acoustic singer into a full band project that has a vintage soul with modern rock qualities.
Eliott Ferguson: A folk artist from Fishers, Eliott is a mixture of the folk/blues genre. He has a smooth tenor voice and a laid back feel to his genre bending music.
A traditional Irish and Celtic folk band formed by Garry Farren. They perform a lively mix of Irish and Scottish pub songs, American roots tunes and spirited sea shanties featuring strong audience sing-a-longs.
Sarah Hund: Sarah Hund was recently Director of Bach to Rock Music School in Zionsville. She has recorded three albums with her band, The Blue Eyed Bettys, and they have toured the U.S. and Mexico many times.
The CIAF committee expects nearly 30,000 people to attend this year. The festival will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, September 26 and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, September 27.
