Blog

Ahh, it always feels good to hear from our patrons, especially good things. Lately, if you have been to any of our performances you should have received an email from us after the show, asking for your feedback and suggesting other concerts you might enjoy. The feedback has been wonderful! Here are a few emails we received regarding the Habib Koité performance at the Somerville Theatre on March 7. (If you ask me, these folks got it right. The show was FANTASTIC and I adored his new band.)

Hello. We really enjoyed this week's Habib Koite concert - but have an idea for you to possibly improve the enjoyment and understanding of his (and other non-English speaking singers) music: Provide an English translation of his songs - either in the program notes or some sort of on-stage video screen. As a songwriter I am very interested in the words of any song, and particularly with the passionate rendition that Habib gives. Thanks! -Zack

This slightly overdue Pick of the Week is Ghanaian-Canadian artist, Kae Sun. You will like this if you like any of the following: soul, folk or hip-hop, or anything else because it's impossible not to enjoy this track. Some call it "urban folk." I call it "good music." His debut album came out in 2009 and has since supported artists such as Ana Tijoux (one of our personal favorites with a new album out now... listen to it here), Janelle Monae, K'naan, and Speech Debelle. Kae Sun recently independently released a new record called AFRIYIE.

I am especially excited for our annual Flamenco Festival this week!  I always look forward to the performances. I relish in the passion and exuberance of the artists and also in the contagious energy of our ever-enthusiastic flamenco audience. Our first Flamenco Festival was back in 2000 and featured the companies of Manuel Soler and Carmen Cortéz.  Over the past 14 years, I’ve gotten to see such a wide range of flamenco, from Sara Baras’s contemporary interpretations to Farruquito y Familia’s more traditional approach.  And of course, I will never forget the ultimate artistry of Paco de Lucía, whom we had the privilege to present seven times.  His first performance with us was in 1993 at the Berklee Performance Center, and tragically, his last was at the Boston Opera House in 2012.  The legacy of this incredible musician will certainly be in my heart during the festival this year and beyond.