Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 at the Mateel Commuity Center!
Saturday, March 24th, 2012 / Doors and African dinner at 7pm / Music begins at 8pm
Mateel Community Center
Tickets $27 Advanced / $30 door / $2 Discount for MCC Members
Advanced Tickets availble at "The Usual Outlets" starting February 10th, 2012
Youngest son of the legendary Nigerian afro-beat pioneer, Fela Kuti, Seun started playing saxophone and piano at the ripe age of eight and has been performing on stage since he was nine. He started his career opening for his father’s band, Egypt 80, and he still performs with this band today, taking over the role of bandleader after Fela’s untimely passing in 1997. Since then, he’s led Egypt 80 as lead vocalist/ saxophonist, and become the focal point of a band recognized to be one of Africa’s most influential ensembles.
While Seun is the front man and a star in his own right, in many ways Egypt 80 is still his father’s band and, true to form, they bring to the stage an energetic exchange between as many as twenty singers, musicians, and dancers. Though a perfect stand-in for Fela, Seun also brings a more personal and modern touch that is resonating with a new generation of Nigerian youth and flavors both his own original tracks and the classic Egypt 80 songbook. Mixing a pungent blend of funk and jazz with a politically-charged African sensibility, their gritty, nasty, and explosive combination of horns, keyboards, percussion, guitars, and vocals is both sophisticated and overwhelming.
Though in the 70’s they performed almost nightly at The Shrine, a club Fela built, these days they rehearse once a week and play three or four times a month at various venues around Lagos, along with regular tours of Europe and Africa. Now embarking on what is only their second U.S. tour since Fela’s passing, they are supporting the release of their brand new disc, From Africa With Fury: Rise, a captivating follow up to their highly-regarded, self-titled debut of 2008. A rare opportunity for stateside fans to experience the spectacle of Seun Kuti & Egypt 80, we can think of no grander way to close the 27th annual Reggae On The River than with a performance by this iconic powerhouse.
For more information see: www.myspace.com/seunkuti
AFROMASSIVE is the hottest new experimental fury of afrobeat/funk-inspired and electronically fueled grooves this side of the Mississippi. The group was founded in the tall trees of Humboldt County and now currently based out of the thriving concrete jungle of Oakland. It's a collective of like-minded musicians looking to cultivate something uniquely different in our current diverse music scene. S...ome of the musicians in AFROMASSIVE are or were members of Bay-Area afrobeat cohorts, ALBINO! (albinoband.com), and NorCal electro- funk outfit, MooGot2 (www.moogot2.com), as well as various other Northern California music communities..
Inspired by today's yearning for electronic music, heavy bass, and experimental sounds, while deeply rooted in funk, and 70's soul and jazz, AFROMASSIVE uses their knowledge of Afro-Cuban and West African rhythm to put their unique, up-to-date spin on the Afrobeat music made famous by Fela Kuti. They are on a mission to turn on your brain and make you GET DOWN! After the successful release of their first EP, "Gridlock" (available here: www.cdbaby.com/afromassive) they are ready to show their music to the world and inspire booties to move across dance floors nationwide! After years of sold-out audiences in Humboldt County, they made their San Francisco Bay Area debut this past February to a packed house @ The Elbo Room with the SF Afrolicious DJ duo, Senor Oz and Pleasuremaker.
The crowd reactions are increasing elated and ecstatic for this ensemble's powerful music, so don't miss your chance to experience the in-your-face sound of AFROMASSIVE!
For more information see: www.afromassive.com
sambAmore was born out of the artistic community in which we call home, Humboldt County. Drumming and dancing have long been a strong influence in this area. The dance and drum relationship is rooted deep in African community celebration.
Jesse Jonathon, music director for sambAmore and a graduate of Humboldt State's Music Department found a passion for community music and dance. It was his desire to mix drumming and dancing with a powerful melodic presence, so he recruited a band of brass and woodwind players to perform his original compositions and arrangements.
Andelain L. Roy, dance director for sambAmore, was born and raised dancing in Humboldt. Andelain shares the same passion for community celebration, dancing in her first parade in 1991. Andelain leading the dancers and Jesse leading the band the group can be found playing parades and stage performances to inspire their community and encourage Humboldt to sambAmore.
For more info visit: www.myspace.com/sambamore
