Soul of America festival scheduled to open today

Ready or not, here it comes.

Today, months of speculation and controversy come to an end as the James Brown Soul of America Music Festival officially begins.

The event features more than 70 musical acts, spoken-word artists and comedians, spread over three stages and three days. The Visual Soul visual art component will feature more than 100 pieces of art spread across various venues and the on-site execution of a sculpture by British artist Donald Brown.

The Godfather of Soul is scheduled to make an appearance, and perform, at about 6 p.m. Saturday on the Augusta Common stage.

Here's a stage schedule from the festival Web site, jbmf.org:

FRIDAY

Augusta Common

5 p.m.: Josh Pierce

5:30 p.m.: Entropy

6:10 p.m.: C'Note

6:50 p.m.: Big Robert T.

7:30 p.m.: Henry Welsh

8 p.m.: D'Haene

8:35 p.m.: The Funkmasters

9:10 p.m.: Brandy Moss Scott

9:40 p.m.: Tony Wilson

10:30 p.m.: Tyler Craig

10:55 p.m.: David Brown & Castine

11:15 p.m.: Tony Terry

TBA: Nappy Roots

Eight Street Stage

5 p.m.: Viperfish

5:35 p.m.: Michelle Ari

6:10 p.m.: Reggie Byrdman

6:40 p.m.: SWORN

7:10 p.m.: Tasha Wright

7:40 p.m.: Khia

8:10 p.m.: Tequilla Green

8:40 p.m.: Damien Simon

9 p.m.: Country Boys

9:25 p.m.: Just June

9:55 p.m.: Steve Harris

10:30 p.m.: Shorty Capone

11 p.m.: Auto Rock

11:30 p.m.: Darryl Moore

Amphitheater

5 p.m.: Alam & Ellie

5:40 p.m.: Ellison Bier Band

6:15 p.m.: Todd Adleff & Tim Tibbitts

6:50 p.m.: Herakayne

7:25 p.m.: VocalDrop

8 p.m.: Gis Johannson

8:35 p.m.: Stacey Plunkett

9:10 p.m.: Tribal Style

9:40 p.m.: Nick Lewis

10:15 p.m.: Double D

10:40 p.m.: Camouflage Spaceship

11:05 p.m.: Rocco Band

SATURDAY

Augusta Common

10 a.m.: K-Dub

10:25 a.m.: S

10:55 a.m.: Versatile

11:25 a.m.: Brandy Moss Scott

11:55 a.m.: Lady Flex

12:20 p.m.: Millionaries & Playaz

12:50 p.m.: Henry Walsh

1:20 p.m.: Brian Clay

1:50 p.m.: Me Talk Pretty

2:30 p.m.: Do-Do Brown

3 p.m.: Reggaeton

TBA: Jadi

TBA: Ceego

TBA: Chino & Cheema

TBA: Jyareh

TBA: Quavius

TBA: Ashley

5 p.m.: Lina

5:45 p.m.: Tony Wilson

6 p.m.: James Brown

7:30 p.m.: Living Remix

8:15 p.m.: Augusta Mini Theater

8:50 p.m.: Drew

9:20 p.m.: J Paul

9:50 p.m.: The Breed

10:20 p.m.: Sunni Stephens

10:50 p.m.: Nazarene

Eighth Street

10 a.m.: Viper Fish

10:35 a.m.: Mike Bonner

11:05 a.m.: Damien Simon

11:40 a.m.: Ellison Bier Band

12:15 p.m.: Tony Cannon

12:50 p.m.: Gis Johansson

1:55 p.m.: Urban Idol

TBA: RaSearch

TBA: Full Deck

TBA: Calvin Payne

TBA: Bliss

TBA: Errion

TBA: Kat and Twin Flava

TBA: Kathryn

TBA: Infamous

TBA: Demeanor

TBA: N-Authority

TBA: Hoodlum

TBA: B-Team

TBA: Blood

TBA: UGD

TBA: Cheeto Gambine

TBA: General Heat

TBA: Young Vet

TBA: Ben Pimpin

TBA: Q-Swon

TBA: Blair

3:30 p.m.: Steve Harris

4 p.m.: Flame

4:30 p.m.: Big Red

4:55 p.m.: Tribal Style

5:30 p.m.: Smoke

6 p.m.: H.B.O.Y.S.

6:30 p.m.: Blind Rhetoric

7:10 p.m.: Michelle Ari

7:40 p.m.: Chef Dave & J. Crumb

8:10 p.m.: Allen B

8:40 p.m.: Mr. Henley & Ricky Dunn

9:10 p.m.: Sounds of Integrity

9:40 p.m.: Brotha Trav

9:55 p.m.: Zeke

10:10 p.m.: TRU

10:25 p.m.: Jerrica

10:40 p.m.: Passionate

10:55 p.m.: Hannibal

11:10 p.m.: C.P.

Amphitheater

10 a.m.: Sounds Unlimited

10:35 a.m.: Preston & Weston

11:10 a.m.: Playback Featuring TuTu

11:45 a.m.: Tahnee Latrell

12:20 p.m.: Rocco & Ellie

12: 55 p.m.: D'Haene

1:30 p.m.: Bill Harris

Bulkhead Stage

2 p.m.: Oktane

2:40 p.m.: City Youngins

3:10 p.m.: Todd Adleff

3:50 p.m.: Tim Tibbetts

4:20 p.m.: SpongeBob

4:50 p.m.: Allison Foster

5:30 p.m.: Special K

6:10 p.m.: Ashley Rivera

6:30 p.m.: Above Da Rest

6:50 p.m.: Vocal Drop

7:30 p.m.: Blue Marley

8 p.m.: Ice Cream

8:30 p.m.: Larrry Veal

9 p.m.: Henry Welsh

9:30 p.m.: National Habitz

SUNDAY

Augusta Common Stage

TBA: Introduction of MC(s)

Roger Whitehead

Claude Harris Jr.

Gates of Praise

Elaine Mitchell

IV Christ

Brian Herrington

Jubba

Tribute

Thelma Robinson

Miles Draper Mealing & the

Y & S Chorale

Zionaires

Marcus Dawson

JayReed

Zion

The Levites

The New Dynamic Abraham Brothers

Deitrick Haddon

Amphitheater

TBA: Introduction of MC(s)

Mary Sumpter

Fat Cat

The Rev. Andrew Mincey

John Hobbs

Grady Allen

EQ

Shawna Roberson

Rufus Williams

Paul Coppett & VOP

Sleepy Eyes

Jesse Gillis

Flo Carter

Behold

La'Veda Le'

Jerrica

Royal Priesthood

Christ Sent Fellowship Choir

IF YOU GO

WHAT: James Brown Soul of America Music Festival

WHEN: 5 p.m. to midnight Friday, 10 a.m. to midnight Saturday and 1 to 8 p.m. Sunday

WHERE: Downtown Augusta between Eighth and Ninth streets and Reynolds and Broad streets: there's also an art festival celebrating Mr. Brown in visual images, Visual Soul, at venues across Augusta through June 14: see www.visualsoul.com.

COST: Weekend passes $35 in advance or $50 at the gate. Daily tickets are $19. Children 13 and under are admitted free with paying adult (limit five per adult). Advance tickets available at Soultry Sounds, Bright Ideas, PCS Express and Tina's Shoe Gallery or online at ticketing.wildseats.com. Call (706) 849-1052.