The second annual Believer Festival will take place on April 13 and 14 in Vegas. The lineup includes Barry Jenkins, Wajahat Ali, Jericho Brown, Thi Bui, Zinzi Clemmons, Dave Eggers, Jean Grae, John Hodgman, Mohsin Hamid, Nick Hornby, Leslie Jamison, Morgan Jerkins, Tayari Jones, Rachel Kushner, José Orduna, Vogue Robinson, Ayelet Waldman, Meg Wolitzer, Kanchana Ugbabe and comedian Aparna Nancherla.
DEAR FESTIVALGOERS:
Admission to three of our events are free BUT you need to RSVP (like, right here) to hold your spot at each. Please note: proceeds from The Believer Variety Show will raise funds for BMI’s City of Asylum program to help a writer in peril in their home country.
The festival consists of four events Friday through Saturday.
All seating is first come first serve. Please arrive early.
Please register and select which event(s) you plan to attend.
If you want to attend the entire festival (which we encourage), register for all four individually.
For complete event details, visit the festival website.
The festival’s variety show, hosted by John Hodgman and Jean Grae, will raise funds for BMI’s next City of Asylum fellow. The City of Asylum program provides safe haven for writers whose voices are muffled by censorship, or who are often living with the threat of imprisonment or worse.
The Believer Festival is a two-day roving celebration of writing, music, and visual arts, presented by the Beverly Rogers, Carol C. Harter Black Mountain Institute (BMI). In the heart of the desert of southern Nevada, established and emerging artists, comedians, literary luminaries, and the Las Vegas arts community come together & divine a creative oasis. The festival will feature artists Dorothea Ulrich, Nima Abkenar, and The Los Angeles arts collective Optics Division of the Metabolic Studio.
Schedule:
DESERT SONGS: HIDDEN TRACKS
Friday, April 13, 6 p.m.
The Amphitheatre at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
State Highway 159, Las Vegas, NV 89161
6:30 p.m. Program begins
Featuring: Jericho Brown, Nick Hornby, Leslie Jamison, Javon Johnson, Rachel Kushner, Jose Orduña and Kanchana Ugbabe. Special guests to be announced.
Note: Entry to the Red Rock Conservation Area is free for registered attendees of this program.
LINER NOTES @WRITER’S BLOCK
Saturday, April 14, 1:00 p.m.
Writer’s Block Bookstore 1020 Fremont St #100, Las Vegas, NV 89101
1:15 p.m. Program begins
Featuring: Thi Bui and Zinzi Clemmons. Hosted by Dave Eggers.
Note: Signing to follow.
“BEALE STREET BLUES”: SONGS OF LOVE AND BETRAYAL
Saturday, April 14, 3:00 p.m. doors | 3:30 p.m. start time
Las Vegas Academy Theatre 315 S 7th St, Las Vegas, NV 89101
Featuring: A reading by Mohsin Hamid and Tayari Jones followed by an interview by Morgan Jerkins with Barry Jenkins
With a special introduction by Vogue Robinson
LAUGH TRACKS: THE BELIEVER VARIETY SHOW WITH JOHN HODGMAN AND JEAN GRAE
Saturday, April 14, 7:45 p.m doors | 8 p.m. start time
Fremont Country Club 601 Fremont St Las Vegas, NV 89101
Featuring: Wajahat Ali, John Hodgman, Jean Grae, Nick Hornby, Aparna Nancherla, Ayelet Waldman, Lawrence Weschler, Meg Wolitzer, and a special musical guest to be announced.
