sound culture – Chicago Urbanite

July 5, 2011July 11, 2011

July 12: Afro-Peruvian Electronica band Novalima performs in Chicago!

If you have never heard of Afro-Peruvian music, you should consider an introduction to this great musical genre by Novalima, a Peruvian band that has successfully blended traditional Afro-Peruvian music with Electronica, Latin American beats and other contemporary genres. I got the chance to see them perform a couple of years ago at the Music Without Borders series at Millenium Park. They brought the house down on that occasion and put everyone to dance with their highly danceable rhythms and great energy . In 2006, Novalima was awarded with the IMA (The Independent Music Awards) for Best Album in World Fusion category and in 2009 they were nominated to the Latin Grammy Awards. In 2010, their song “Machete” from the album “Afro” appears in the film Machete. Here is a video of that song:

Our friends from Sound Culture and Aguzate had the brilliant idea to bring Novalima back to Chicago. The concert will take place on July 12 at Mayne Stage. Check the flyer below for information about this concert. Also, I have two tickets for this show to give away. The person that gets the most subscribers to my blog or Facebook page until Sunday gets these tickets. Just send me a list with the names of the people who subscribed. I will announce the winner on Monday. Thanks and good luck!

April 30, 2011April 29, 2011

Today: Fiesta Cultural and Femi Kuti

Fiesta Cultural

Today you have the chance to attend a cultural festival whose mission is to celebrate cultural and artistic diversity while raising much-needed funds for Inter-American Magnet School. Fiesta Cultural is a bilingual, family-friendly event that showcases Latin America’s rich and diverse cultural heritage with live music and dance performances, a savory food fair, children’s art displays, artisan bazaar and children’s art activities. The line-up for this year’s event includes performances from the Chicago Children’s Choir, Aztec Dance with Ms. Bravo, IAMS International Folkloric Dance Group, Old Town School Brazilian Ensemble, Nica Dance Group, Ngoma Alegre, Jarochicanos, Los Vicios de Papá, and Soul & Duende. The event will take place at Inter-American Magnet School (851 W. Waveland Ave) from 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 adults, $5 children. Family tickets for two adults and their children will be available for $25. Free parking is available at the Addison/Halsted public lot and at the Lakeview Lutheran Church lot at 835 West Addison.

Femi Kuti & the Positive Force

Later tonight, don’t miss the chance to see a legend of Afrobeat, internationally beloved recording artist and son of famous Nigerian musician, composer, and pioneer of Afrobeat music Fela Kuti. Femi never felt just satisfied with being the Afrobeat King’s heir. He freed himself from his father’s legacy in 1985 by putting together his own band, The Positive Force, and thereby working to find his own voice. His new album, “Africa For Africa” goes back to the roots of his music, and was recorded at Decca Studio, the premier studio in Afrobeat’s history. He will tour North America this spring in support of the album. More than just a simple musician, the 48-year old composer has become a true African Ambassador, in its most honorable sense. Femi was in Johannesburg to sing for Africa during the opening ceremony for the Football World Cup. There he sang one of his hits “Beng Beng Beng,” and took the opportunity to meet a few of the anti-Apartheid heroes. Here is a video clip of this song:

WBEZ91.5, in conjunction with Sound Culture Chicago are bringing Femi Kuti to Chicago for a show tonight at Chicago Metro (3730 N. Clark St. Chicago-two blocks North of Wrigley Field). Tickets cost $25. Doors open at 8PM and show starts at 9PM. You can buy your tickets here

April 21, 2011

This weekend is all about Latin America and good intentions

The weekend is approaching and is dominated by great options for excellent live Latin American music and for good intentions. Here is my itinerary for your weekend:

FRIDAY

Los Guitarristas – Free Lunchtime Concert
If you work downtown, plan on coming tomorrow by the Chicago Cultural Center (78 E. Washington) at your lunch hour for a free concert with Los Guitarristas! This is a quartet of guitarists formed by maestro Alfonso Chacon who wish to bring the traditionaof Latin American guitar esembles to a new generation in Chicago. A teacher as well as performer, Mr. Chacón enjoyed a long career in music in South America, performing with some of the greatest artists of the 20th Century, including Lucho Gatica, Chabuca Granda, Cholo Aguirre, Raúl Shaw and el Dúo Rey-Silva. Los Guitarristas is more than a concert group, it is an organization dedicated to teaching these styles and all guitarists are welcome to study with Alfonso. The show runs from 12 to 1pm and is part of the Friday Music Without Borders series.

Earth Wine & Fire Festival
In honor of tomorrow’s Earth Day, the Collective Consciousness Movement and Earth, Wine & Fire are hosting an Earth Day Benefit Festival to benefit The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum (one of my favorite places in Chicago because of its beautiful Butterfly Haven). This is a family-friendly festival that intends to enlighten consciousness through music, food, wine and green conversation. Headlining the night is The Collective Consciousness Movement (CCM), a group that uses music and performance to bring awareness of reality, individuality, and spirituality. The group breaks the mold of musical genres by letting their concept drive their musical direction and distinct style. Entertainment will also include fire breathers, fire spinners and dancers, belly dancers, live musicians, capoeira dancing, massage therapists, live painters, photography galleries, wellness and meditation therapists, readers, Reiki practitioners and vendors. For $25 an attendee will receive appetizers, dinner, drinks, full access to museum, music and lots of entertainment. Children 12 and under are free.

Location: The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum (2430 N. Cannon Dr.Chicago) 6:30pm-11:00pm

Pre-Sale – $25 www.earthwineandfire.com Door – $35

Globe Sonico at D’Noche

If after going to the Earth Wine and Fire Festival you feel like you still want to groove the night out, then head to D’Noche in the Logan Square neighborhood (2710 N. Milwaukee). Agúzate and Sound Culture present a new DJ night with the best in global beats and international grooves.

D’Noche is an intimate lounge that serves up fantastic cocktails and pan american cuisine with a late night menu. No Cover.

Gozamos 1 Year Anniv. Party w/ ZZK + Sonorama

ZZK (Chancha via Circuito & El G) with SONORAMA will perform tomorrow as part April 22 as part of the Gozamos 1-Year Anniversary celebration.ZZK is a record company from Buenos Aires, Argentina dedicated to the experimentation withdifferent latin rhythms like cumbia, reggaeton and folklore sounds from the Andes. ZZK is born out of a Buenos Aires club called Zizek, where genres clash and cross over, making you dance, while still providing fresh and innovative sounds rarely heard before.

Location: 8fifty8, 858 W. Lake. 9pm- 2am

$5 in advance with code “gozamos” and $15 at the door.
Ticket link: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/157764

SATURDAY

Unieros Fundraiser event for Japan

The people from Unieros is asking for your help to make 1,000 origami cranes to symbolize their wish for Japan’s recovery after the devastating earthquake and tsunami.They are asking for Ladies to wear shades of pink or red; and for men to wear green to symbolize colors of hope that comes from sakura – the blooming of Japanese cherry blossoms in Spring.You will also get a mini Japanese language lesson with Kazumi.
Location: Multilingual Chicago, 2934 N. Milwaukee Ave., Suite C, Chicago. 7pm-11pm
Admission: $5 or more donation at door. They will have computers so you can make your donation online to the American Red Cross.
100% of proceeds will go to the American Red Cross.Light refreshments served. BYOB.RSVP: Emailevents@unieros.com

SUNDAY

Traditional Peruvian Music with JORGE PARDO

Finish the weekend by joining me in this wonderful cultural event of Traditional Peruvian Music that I am organizing. The star of this event is Jorge Pardo, a young Peruvian singer who won the 2005 Viña del Mar International Song Festival and was nominated to the Latin Grammy Awards. Jorge is on a U.S. Tour promoting his latest CD titled MUSICA TRADICIONAL PERUANA, a tribute to Arturo Zambo Cavero & Oscar Aviles. Cavero and Aviles are two of the most emblematic and beloved figures of the Peruvian criolla music genre, and Jorge has collected their most popular songs in this CD, giving a fresh sound to these songs without diverting from the classic style to sing criolla music. The show will also have the participation of Peruvian Folk Dance Center (performing Afro-Peruvian rhythms), Dayan Aldan(next generation musica criolla singer) and best guitarists from Peru Ales Vela (from Elenco Nacional del Folclore) and Yuri Juarez (from Gabriel Alegria Afro-Peruvian Sextet and elected 2009 Latin Jazz Guitarist of the Year by Latin Jazz Corner).

Location: Rios D’Sudamerica, the finest Peruvian restaurant in the Midwest, located in the Bucktown neighborhood (2010 W Armitage Chicago) Doors open at 7pm. Show starts at 7:30pm.

Admission: $15 donation

Tickets will be available at the door but is highly recommended to buy them in advance.
Those who buy tickets online will be automatically entered to a raffle to win two tickets for NOVALIMA concert in Chicago on July 12 (must be present to win prize).

Visit https://chicagourbanite.wordpress.com/featured-concert-traditional-peruvian-music-with-jorge-pardo/ to get your tickets online