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Women’s History Month and our first #WCW: The Ladies of Jazz

The Wisconsin Union Theater is excited to begin the first of many #WomensCrushWednesdays in honor of March, Women’s History Month. Every Wednesday we will be sharing and exploring the amazing women who have performed at the Union Theater!

This first #WCW is actually dedicated to two amazing women: Ella Fitzgerald and upcoming artist Cécile McLorin Salvant.

World famous Jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald came to perform at the Wisconsin Union Theater’s First Annual Jazz Festival on October 2, 1959. 

"The First Lady of Song," Ella Fitzgerald was the most popular female jazz singer in the United States for more than half a century. In her lifetime, she won 13 Grammy awards and sold over 40 million albums. Her voice was sultry, intimate and sweet.

Another female jazz powerhouse is coming to the Theater tomorrow, March 8th. Vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant, whose voice has a “vast, almost operatic range" according to jazz journalist Fred Kaplan’s profile of her in The New Yorker, has been compared to Ella Fitzgerald on many occasions. Her buttery vocals have seduced audiences worldwide and has earned her two Grammys, both for Best Jazz Vocal Album in 2015 and 2018.

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Theater Director Ralph Russo Retires! Yes, it’s True.

by Esty Dinur, Communications and Community Relations Director

This is big news! After 35 years in various roles in the Wisconsin Union and 15 years at the helm of the Wisconsin Union Theater, Ralph Russo is retiring!

“It’s not a ‘me” thing, it’s a ‘we’ thing.” Ralph Russo (r) and staff  

His list of accomplishments is long. Some of them include:

-Significant increase in the number of students participating in the Wisconsin Union Directorate’s Performing Arts Committee. These are the students who, advised by the theater’s director, book the season each year. There are also more students involved in all aspects of the theater’s work, and ones performing on our stages. Here he is with members of the 2012 committee: 

-The establishment of of a Campus Arts Ticketing office, which sells tickets not just for the theater’s shows but for all arts performances on campus.

-Creation and successful 15 years of the Madison World Music Festival. About a half way through these years, the festival joined forces with the veteran Willy Street Fair. The result is the very successful Saturday Madison World Music Festival programming on the large stage on Williamson Street, taking the international gown to town. 

Here’s a full Terrace for the 2017 festival: 

Reestablishing the Isthmus Jazz Fest. The fest had been hosted by the Civic Center until it closed for construction of the Overture Center. We reached out to the organizers and invited them to bring the festival to the Memorial Union’s Terrace. It has grown since then and this June will take a full week, with performances and other offerings all over town. See the full schedule here.  Related, the Wisconsin Union Theater, under Russo’s leadership, served on the founding team for the Greater Madison Jazz Consortium, the organization responsible for a tremendous increase in the availability of jazz shows through town.

-Establishing Summer Serenades, the free classical music series on the Terrace. 

-Continuing the tradition of quality, authentic performances and expanding and diversifying the programming. 

-With the theater’s Marketing and Communications arm, establishing social media, a website and an electronic newsletter--at a significantly early stage of the technologies’ existence. 

-Bringing back to Shannon Hall productions by University Opera and University Theatre and building strong connections with the two departments. 

-Finally, and significantly, overseeing two years of renovations and remodeling, celebrating the theater’s 75th anniversary and its Concert Series’ 100th. See below the new mechanical space underground during the renovation: 

“It’s not a ‘me” thing,” Russo says, “it’s a ‘we’ thing. I had the privilege of working with a great, talented and dedicated staff, enthusiastic students, and an organization that is dedicated to the arts.” 

What are his plans for retirement? 

First, he’s “looking forward to a summer untethered from my calendar.” Russo plans to spend time reimagining his photography interest, traveling, playing golf, taking a pot throwing class at Wheelhouse, taking a stab at the pile of books accumulated by his bed...and returning to the theater as an audience member for the performances of the Concert Series’ 100th anniversary. 

Later, he hopes to return to the Wisconsin Union  as a trustee--and he expect to find opportunities to continue supporting the arts in the community. 

How does he feel? 

“No sadness,” says Russo, “a little nostalgic.” He plans to take photos of various places around the Union which hold meanings for him, and to turn them into art. He also feels curious and excited about what’s next for him, and for the theater, which he feels is in a good place and certain to continue being so into the future. 

Russo’s last day as the theater’s director is May 26. We wish him a wonderful retirement and we know we’ll see him again soon. 

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Rise Up And Sing in Shannon Hall!

by Emili Earhart, Special Events AD

On Thursday, March 9th, join us in Shannon Hall for Rise Up And Sing!––an evening of soulful American music. 

Performing solo is Ruthie Foster, a songwriter born and raised in Texas, who blends gospel, folk, and blues in an expressive, energetic performance. Foster’s rich voice produces not only a warm, resonant sound, but offers a layer of colorful, melismatic sonorities that ring throughout the hall. Performing on guitar, Foster offers a wide range of blues standards, interpretations of gospel tunes, and her own style of folk music.

Joining Ruthie Foster is the Heritage Blues Orchestra. The ensemble features various performers, but tends to highlight the bright sensibilities of the slide guitar––a sound deeply rooted in American Delta Blues––as well as the airy fingerpicking style found in Piedmont Blues. 

At times, the Heritage Blues Orchestra also promotes a strong horn section, as well as vocal harmonies reminiscent of a gospel choir and bluesy, solo voice.

Don’t miss out on these uplifting, heartfelt performances at Shannon Hall! More information about the show and information on tickets can be found here. 

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2018 Madison World Music Festival Lineup Announced!

by Esty Dinur, Chair for Artistic Selection, Madison World Music Festival

The lineup for the all-free 15th annual Madison World Music Festival, September 14-15, has been announced and it includes unique and excellent artists. We are delighted to share them with you. 

Take Gambia’s Sona Jobarteh, one of very few female kora players. As her website states, “she is a modern day pioneer in an ancient, male-dominated hereditary tradition that has been exclusively handed down from father to son for the past seven centuries.” Coming from a Griot family, she is also a social activist, lecturer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist. She performs in the Memorial Union’s Play Circle on Friday, 9/14, 5:15 pm. See her singing and playing the kora here: 

Another exciting female performer is La Dame Blanche, the stage name of the Cuban singer, flautist and percussionist Yaite Ramos Rodriguez. She is the  daughter of Jesus “Aguaje” Ramos, a fantastic trombonist who is also the artistic director of the Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club. Her mix of hip hop, cumbia, dancehall and reggae is truly something to behold--and to hear and dance to. She will close the festival in a not-to-be-missed performance on the Memorial Union Terrace on Saturday, 9/15, at 9 pm. Here she is, doing her magic:

Want more Latin music? We got it! The 11-member Orquesta el Macabeo, coming from the embattled island of Puerto Rico, bring their salsa mix with punk rock, ska and reggae to The Terrace on 9/14 at 4:30 pm. What a rousing start to the music part of the festival! They will also offer a public discussion, details TBA. 

On 9/15 at 5:45 pm at the Madison World Music Festival at Willy St. Fair, La Misa Negra will bring their cumbia and high-energy, Afro-Latin music. Powered by horn and accordion-driven riffs, a fierce rhythm section, and a vintage-inspired sound, they are sure to make you dance!

For a quieter, spiritual and achingly beautiful sound, be sure to check out Aynur, a Kurdish Turk singer whose music is based on traditional Kurdish folk songs, many of them at least 300 years old. Her lyrics are often about the life and sufferings of the Kurdish people, women in particular. She has collaborated with numerous musicians including Yo-Yo Ma and appeared in a documentary film,  “The Music of Strangers,” about Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble. See her at the Madison World Music Festival at Willy St. Fair on 9/15 at 4 pm. 

The entire line-up is below. We will tell you more about the rest of the artists, the film and workshops (which are yet to be announced) in our next newsletter. Feel free to explore these artists in the meantime. And have a great summer. 

2018 MWMF schedule

Thursday, 9/13, Union South Marquee

7 pm, Film: Burkina Rising: the art of resistance in Burkina Faso

Friday, 9/14, Memorial Union:

4:30, Orquesta el Macabeo, Puerto Rico, Terrace

5:15, Sona Jobarteh, Gambia, Play Circle

6:45, Hoven Droven, Sweden, Terrace

9:00, Lemon Bucket Orkestra, Canada/Eastern Europe, Terrace

 Saturday, 9/15, Willy St. Fair:

2:00, Tani Diakite and the Afrofunkstars, Mali/Madison

4:00, Aynur, Turkish Kurd

5:45, La Misa Negra, Latin America

7:45, Gili Yalo, Israel/Ehiopia

 Saturday, 9/15, Memorial Union Terrace:

9, La Dame Blanche, Cuba/France

Workshops will be announced at a later date. 

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Get down with Solas

Folarin Ajibade, WUD Performing Arts Committee Director

Solas has consistently been making excellent traditional Irish music for 21 years. That’s a long time for any musician or band to continuously churn out good music, and that already should let you know how talented the group is. You might also be aware that the band is currently on its last tour before “a long hiatus.” With such a long history, this may be its last tour. If you love Irish music and/or this particular band, try not to miss its possibly final performance in Madison. 

Bring your family and friends to the show, and get ready to sing and dance along to Solas. In the meantime, enjoy the video below:

Catch Solas at Shannon Hall, Wisconsin Union Theater at 7:30PM on March 5th. Get your tickets here.

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2019-2020 Season to be Announced on April 26

by Esty Dinur, Communications and Community Relations Director

Get ready! We will be announcing the 2019-2020 Season on April 26!

I can’t tell you yet what it includes but here are some teasers:

We will have a show of duets by two artists we presented in the past, but not together. That one, I predict, will be a big favorite.

Likewise, we will present three outstanding musicians, all of whom played here before, this time playing together. I expect this one to be very popular too. 

There will be a Valentine's dance in Great Hall! 

You’ll get opportunities to see some amazing women artists from faraway places, as well as relatively near ones.

There will be two tried, true and beloved dance companies, and a dance residency. 

Finally, the 26th, when we announce the season, is also the day single Concert Series tickets, except for the Renée Fleming concert, will be available. 

Keep your ear to the ground!

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Capping four years with the Box Office: Patrick Leitheiser graduates

by Alanna Conley - Communications Intern

Patrick Leitheiser was a little surprised when he got hired at the Wisconsin Union Theater Box Office.

“I never did theater in school, not at all. A lot of people were surprised.” Leitheiser said. 

But despite having no performing arts background, Leitheiser worked for the Wisconsin Union Theater Box Office for the last four years. On Saturday, he graduated from the Wisconsin Law School. Now moving on to practice business law, Leitheiser is reflecting on his time with the Box Office. He said it was a great job to have in college. 

“From an interest perspective, you get to see a lot of cool performances and sometimes get to deal with nice customers,” said Leitheiser. “It’s a really flexible schedule, so if you had exams, you could schedule around them.”

Working for the box office afforded Leitheiser the opportunity to see countless incredible acts over his tenure. Some stand out as his favorites.

“Yo Yo Ma was amazing,” he said, and so was Hilary Hahn. “The Nutcracker is also one of my favorites, you get to see the little kids who put in thirty hours a week.”

As Leitheiser moves on to practice law with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, he has no doubt his experience in a leadership position with the Box Office will help him in the future. He also will remember the staff of the Wisconsin Union Theater that he had the pleasure of working with.

“I want to thank the theater, the box office and front of house staff,” Leithheiser said. “That was my favorite part. It wasn’t the famous performers; it was working with the people.”

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Dance as a Means of Communication

by Samantha Donsky, Communications Intern

The word “communication” today is as common as the word “the.” Thanks to social media and the internet, everyone is able to communicate via written and spoken word with people from all corners of our planet. But communication can be achieved without the use of speeches, or essays posted on Facebook. One way to convey emotions, messages, themes and ideas is the physical act of dance.

Dance has served as a form of communication since the dawn of time. It is suggested that before the development of the written word, dance was an important part of passing stories down from one generation to another. According to the Yearbook of the International Folk Music Council, in Africa, select tribes used dance to impart cultural morals, convey repressed emotions and motivate community members to act, whether it be fighting in a war or harvesting crops.

In today’s society, dance continues to provide emotional catharsis and inspire action in its participants and spectators. This cannot be better exemplified than in works created by Jessica Lang Dance. JLD is “is a New York City based dance company whose mission is to present and perform dance works around the world that immerse global audiences in the beauty of movement and music.”

Since founding the dance group in 2011, Artistic Director and founder Jessica Lang has worked to engage and empower people through translating moments into movement. Her dancers are able to convey emotions like catharsis or grief and themes like religious acceptance, all while dazzling audience members with the beauty of their dance. In “Glow,” the dancers embody carefree camaraderie as they perform in asynchronous groups and pairs. They give off the feeling of playfulness as they become the physical embodiment of light. They suggest that even adults can celebrate like children in the light of the world!

In their piece “A Thousand Yard Stare,” the company of dancers use movement and props to tell the story of soldiers and their struggles both on and off the battlefield. They recreate moments soldiers face during war through the rigid and exact movements on stage and then explode in movement to portray the different experiences and memories that soldiers block out through the thousand-yard stare. Audience members easily get swept up in the emotion and action being performed for them on stage.

One could argue that movement is the best form of communication, because it can be interpreted in many different ways. People can connect with choreography in ways that are personal to them, while universally, the audience experiences the same feelings and themes that are conveyed through the beautiful movement.

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The Perfect Valentine’s Day: Becca Stevens

By Samantha Donsky, Communications Intern

Although New Year’s has just passed, people are already thinking about the next major holiday, Valentine’s Day! Every year, couples and singles alike look to this romantic recurrence to celebrate love or burn reminders of the ones that have hurt them “Friends”-style.

Regardless, there is always the underlying goal to outdo their plans from the year before. But what can top a candlelit dinner for two or a night out with the girls celebrating single life? We have the answer for you.

Performer Becca Stevens is spending her Valentine’s Day with us at the Wisconsin Union Theater at 8pm at the Fredric March Play Circle. Stevens is a New York City-based singer/songwriter whose albums have reached international critical acclaim and who was Downbeat Magazine’s “Best Rising-Star Female Vocalist” for 2017. Her music style is non categorical, as Stevens pulls from genres ranging from R&B to folk when writing her songs.

Her most recent album, “Regina,” is an homage to the regal and independent Queen Elizabeth I, who “didn’t need no man” to be amazing in her own right. Songs like “45 Bucks” and “Queen Mab” send the message to singles that love is not all that it is cracked up to be, while the musical masterpiece “We Knew Love” tells the forbidden and tragic love story of Queen Elizabeth I and Robert Dudley, tugging on the heartstrings of couples out there.

So, for the love haters and lovers alike, Becca Stevens’ performance at the Fredric March Play Circle is the perfect Valentine’s event. You can buy tickets online, by phone at 608-265-ARTS (2787) or in person. We can’t wait to see you all there!

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Eighth Blackbird: Keeping Classical Contemporary Music Current

By Diana Popowycz, Founder and Faculty, Suzuki Strings of Madison

This March 3 at 7:30 pm, Eighth Blackbird, an American contemporary classical sextet from Chicago, will provide you a chance to experience dynamic new music from the 20th century.

This program highlights favorites from their Grammy award-winning albums Hand Eye and Filament. The provocative programming includes a set of Murder Ballades (2013) by Bryce Dessner and Etudes (1985-94) by György Ligeti, the oldest featured composer.

Eighth Blackbird will delight the contemporary music lover, woo the uninitiated listener and welcome the traditional classical patron.

Eighth Blackbird is a Pierrot ensemble. Arnold Schoenberg's Cabaret opera Pierrot Lunaire is the namesake for this particular grouping of instruments which includes flute, clarinet, violin, cello and piano along with the addition of percussion. This has become the default instrumentation for many contemporary ensembles where classical composers of the 20th century take advantage of these distinctive instrumental colors. 

Eighth Blackbird frequently commissions new works and it also performs pieces from the existing oeuvre of contemporary compositions.

This ensemble was formed in 1996 when its members were students at the Oberlin Conservatory’s Contemporary Music Ensemble under the guidance of Tim Weiss.

Fast forward 20 years and you’ll find four Grammy awards and, in 2016 alone, a MacArthur award and a CMA visionary award. In 2017 they were announced Music America ’s Ensemble of the year.

They hold a dizzying calendar of residencies, outreach events, collaborations, commissions and concerts. We are fortunate to have Eighth Blackbird on stage at the Wisconsin Union Theater’s Shannon Hall. This  individually and collectively brilliant contemporary music ensemble is sure to leave you elated. Check out Eighth Blackbird on Spotify. Get your tickets soon. 

In addition, there will be a pre-show musical  treat at 7 PM in Shannon Hall by the violin ensemble Sonora Strings . Sonora has performed pre-shows for both Hilary Hahn and Joshua Bell.

Extend your musical experience even further by attending a dynamic concert talk by Randal Swiggum at 6 pm in the Frederic March Play Circle.

Plan for a full Saturday night of quality contemporary music and pre-shows events! 6:00 concert talk Randal Swiggum 7:00 pre-show concert, Sonora Strings 7:30 Eighth Blackbird

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The King’s Singers: Long time favorites

Amanda Venske, Concert Series Coordinator

Like many self-professed choral nerds, I have a playlist in my music collection that includes many “feel good” choral pieces. These are the type of pieces which make one value music and the profound emotional impact it can have. The King’s Singers have always been a staple in my playlists. Whether it’s an arrangement of Billy Joel’s “And So It Goes” or a standard of renaissance polyphony, the close harmonies envelope you and compel you to keep listening.

“And So It Goes” by Billy Joel Arr. by Bob Chilcott

The King’s Singers originated in 1968 with six graduates from King’s College in Cambridge, England. Since then, they have won two Grammy awards and traveled worldwide to perform and inspire the next generation of vocal ensemble musicians.

In 2018, The King’s Singers will be celebrating their 50th anniversary. Although members of the group have changed over the years, their musical mission and makeup have remained intact. 

The King’s Singers’ newest member is Patrick Dunachie, left

The British close harmony group has always had the same type of six voices, with two countertenors, a tenor, two baritones, and a bass, even with the changing of members over the fifty years. A countertenor has a unique voice, with the ability to sing much higher than most men.

GOLD, their 50th anniversary album, is full of timeless songs, new and old. I am very much looking forward to seeing them in Shannon Hall on April 14, 2018. Buy your tickets here.

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Richard Goode effortlessly commands the stage

Amanda Venske - 2017-2018 Concert Series Coordinator

Known as the first American to record the complete Beethoven Sonatas, Richard Goode performs emotional and striking interpretations of classic piano. On November 4, Goode will play selections of Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, and Berg.

What may surprise some is that Goode began his performing career as a chamber musician. He did not make his solo debut until age 47, when he played at Carnegie Hall. As a soloist, Goode’s interpretations are known to be incredibly thoughtful. His playing feels natural and speaks to an intimacy with the music. 

Goode shows excellence as a performer and an educator. From 1999 through 2013 he served as Co-Artistic Director of the Marlboro Music School and Festival in Marlboro, Vermont. He records exclusively with Nonesuch, and has made over two dozen recordings. His supreme knowledge and understanding of Classical music inspires music lovers and students alike. Luckily, Goode will also be giving a masterclass to some of the piano students here at UW-Madison in the Mead Witter School of Music.

With such a command of the stage and passion for Classical and Romantic music, Goode’s concert on November 4, 2017 at 7:30 pm is not one to be missed. The program will include one of the Beethoven sonatas which made Goode famous: Beethoven’s Sonata No. 28 in A major, Op. 101 (1815-16). Tickets can be bought here.

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Terence Blanchard: taking risks and defying genres

By Alanna Conley - Communications Intern 

Looking at Terence Blanchard’s résumé, it doesn’t take long  to recognize he is one of the best in the industry. And that’s coming from a girl who until recently considered jazz as nothing more than elevator music (I have since changed my mind).

Blanchard’s discography spans feature films, documentaries and Grammy award-winning studio albums. His vast repertoire is a reminder that jazz can transcend labels and that music can tackle big issues.

Blanchard has used his art form to make statements on social issues, both in his own work and in film. In 2015, he released the album Breathless with his quintet, The E-Collective. The title track is a trumpeter’s spoken-word protest against the death of NYPD chokehold victim Eric Gardner, who famously repeated to the officers tackling him that “I can’t breathe.” 

When the band was first conceptualizing the album, they embarked on a two week tour across Europe. Blanchard remembers audiences being a little surprised at how the style deviated from what they expected, but by the end of the performance the band received a standing ovation. 

While Breathless is a departure from what Blanchard has done in the past, he’s never been afraid of taking risks and defying genres.

Apart fromm studio albums, Blanchard has had a long working relationship with movie director Spike Lee, scoring some of Lee’s  most successful projects. Blanchard was a main contributor on the soundtrack for Do the Right Thing and scored Malcolm X. 

“[Spike] said, you have a talent for this, you have a future in the film business. And I said, OK, thank you. And I thought he was just being nice,” Blanchard told NPR in 2008. “Then he called me to do ‘Jungle Fever,’ and we've been working together ever since.”

Blanchard also has taken on some lighter projects, including Disney’s Princess and the Frog in which he played the trumpet for Louis the alligator. In total, Blanchard has scored over 50 films for some of Hollywood’s best directors, including Leon Ichaso, Ron Shelton and Kasi Lemmons. His body of work is so large, Blanchard is the most prolific jazz musician to score movies.

While Blanchard has found immense success in films, he still prefers playing live. “Writing for film is fun but nothing can beat being a jazz musician playing a club, playing a concert,” Blanchard told Downbeat magazine in 1994.

You can see Terence Blanchard and the E-Collective live at Shannon Hall on June 17. The group is headlining the 30th Anniversary Isthmus Jazz Festival. Tickets available now!

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Check out Theatre LILA’s evening of music, dance, and drama in “The BED”

Theatre LILA’s second production of the 2016-2017 season, The BED, will open on March 10 in the newly renovated Fredric March Play Circle at the Wisconsin Union.

“It’s a great space for this kind of show,” said Theatre LILA Artistic Director Jessica Lanius. “It’s intimate, very accessible, and technologically outfitted so we can experiment a lot of storytelling forms, all inspired by a large, four poster bed.”

The evening of “invention,” exploring love, intimacy, nightmares, betrayal, and dreams is co-directed by Lanius and Spring Green actor, director, playwright and author James DeVita. “I saw a play produced by Theater LILA some years ago and was immediately struck by its intriguing, inspiring style of storytelling through movement and gesture,” DeVita commented. “When Jess asked me about collaborating on The Bed I jumped at the chance. It scared me, so I knew I should do it.”

Through poetry, dance, music, and drama, a performance ensemble of 11 actors will present the world premiere work of more than a dozen authors, all arranged around larger themes that take place in, on, and around a bed. During rehearsal the play will be molded and shaped by the actors and co-directors. This development method, intrinsic to Theatre LILA’s process, focuses on improvisation, physicality and a sense of play (the definition of “LILA” in Sanskrit).

Lanius explained, “It’s really inspiring to have the opportunity to work in a room full of talented actors, musicians, writers, and dancers. Taking these brand new pieces and working together to breathe life into them — everyone’s imagination and creativity working at full force — is really exhilarating.”

THE BED
A Theatre LILA Invention

Take an intoxicating ride in the most seductive and dangerous room of all.

March 10, 11, 16, 17 & 18 at 7:30 p.m.

March 11, 12 & 19 at 2 p.m.

Fredric March Play Circle, Wisconsin Union Theater

Tickets on sale now: arts.wisc.edu or (608) 265-2787

Adults–$29, Students–$17.50, UW-Madison Students–$10

For more information, please visit http://www.theatrelila.com/LilaNOW/_pages/LilaNow.htm. 

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Mnozil Brass

By Maria Konecke-Concert Series AD

Slapstick humor and classical music are not usually associated with each other, but for Mnozil Brass humor is an essential aspect of the Austrian brass septet. 

Renditions of Bohemian Rhapsody and the William Tell Overture exist alongside Schubert and Gershwin in the group’s performance repertoire. 

While I am admittedly not well-versed in brass repertoire, I am excited to see a unique classical music performance with a side of slapstick. 

Mnozil Brass will perform Thursday, March 30, 2017 at 8 PM in Shannon Hall. Buy tickets here.

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Madison World Music Festival: Don’t Miss This Amazing Event!

by Esty Dinur, Chair for Artistic Selection, Madison World Music Festival

The lineup for the all-free 15th annual Madison World Music Festival, September 13-15, has been announced and we are delighted to share it with you. See the schedule below and follow the links to learn more about the amazing artists and events you can enjoy for free. 

2018 Madison World Music Festival Schedule:

Thursday, 9/13, Union South Marquee 7 pm, Film: Burkina Rising: the art of resistance in Burkina Faso

Friday, 9/14, Memorial Union: 4:30, Orquesta el Macabeo, Puerto Rico, Terrace

5:15, Sona Jobarteh, Gambia, Play Circle

6:00, Dance workshop with Lemon Bucket Orkestra, Festival Room

6:45, Hoven Droven, Sweden, Terrace

9:00, Lemon Bucket Orkestra, Canada/Eastern Europe, Terrace

Saturday, 9/15, Willy St. Fair:

2:00, Tani Diakite and the Afrofunkstars, Mali/Madison

4:00, Aynur, Turkish Kurd

5:45, La Misa Negra, Latin America

7:45, Gili Yalo, Israel/Ethiopia

Saturday, 9/15, Memorial Union Terrace:

9, La Dame Blanche, Cuba/France

Follow the Facebook page here.