Celebrate Brooklyn! 2009: July 16 – July 18
Thursday, July 16, 2009, 7:30 P.M.
Kronos Quartet
Opening Act: Luminescent Orchestrii
For more than 35 years, Kronos Quartet has, time and again, redefined “string quartet,” assembling in the process “a body of work unparalleled in its range and scope of expression” (NPR). Their repertoire runs the gamut from Bartók to Charles Mingus to Jimi Hendrix, and their collaborators have been as diverse as Philip Glass, Asha Bhosle, and Nine Inch Nails. They share the Bandshell stage this evening with the frenzied and slightly diabolical Luminescent Orchestrii, a Gypsy punk string ensemble that “plays renditions of Appalachian and Gypsy tunes that run from lively and infectious to deeply melancholy” (Time Out NY).
kronosquartet.org
myspace.com/kronosquartet
myspace.com/luminescentorchestrii
Friday, July 17, 2009, 7:30 P.M.
The Robert Cray Band / The Sweet Divines
American Express Roots Music Series
According to Rolling Stone, the five-time Grammy-winning Stratocaster legend Robert Cray makes “soul-infused blues [that] has become the bridge between traditional and contemporary.” He remains a strong persuader, as potent as ever after three decades of recording and touring. Opening for him will be The Sweet Divines, four young ladies with a fierce band behind them. The group pays homage to the traveling soul revues of the `60s with an authentic sound that evokes Stax, Aretha, James Brown and funky New Orleans. The BBC has exclaimed, "Sign them up, and let them bring the funk to the masses!"
Robert Cray is presented with support from Betancourt & Associates Realty.
robertcray.com
myspace.com/robertcray
myspace.com/thesweetdivines
Saturday, July 18, 2009, 2:00 P.M.—9:00 P.M.
African Festival with King Sunny Ade / Freshly Ground / The Mandingo Ambassadors / Cheikh M’Baye & Sing Sing / Abena Koomson / Yasser Darwish
American Express Roots Music Series
Celebrate Brooklyn!’s annual all-day festival of music, food and crafts features a lineup of music selected to keep dancers moving into the night. This year’s headliner is the great King Sunny Adé of Nigeria. The bill also includes a rare U.S. appearance by South Africa’s Freshly Ground; The Mandingo Ambassadors, from NYC by way of Guinea, whose music “has been structured to make you feel good” (The New York Times); the wild Senegalese drum troupe Cheikh M’Baye & Sing Sing; the powerful Brooklyn-born, Ghanaian vocalist Abena Koomson; and whirling traditional Egyptian dancer, Yasser Darwish.
The African Festival is presented with major support by The South African Consulate General, and the Consul Generals of Nigeria, Senegal and Ghana. Additional support provided by the Muse um for African Art.freshlyground.com
myspace.com/freshlygroundsa
myspace.com/mandingoambassadors
myspace.com/singsingrythms
myspace.com/abenakoomson
egyptiancelebration.com
All performances rain or shine
All Celebrate Brooklyn! Performances Take Place at the Prospect Park Bandshell. All performances are free with a $3 suggested contribution except Benefit Concerts .
Please do not bring pets, alcoholic beverages, glass, cans, coolers, recording devices or professional (long lens) cameras.