MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Maplewood’s Springfield Avenue Gazebo Concert Series returns this summer on five Friday nights from July 20 through Aug. 17. Working in conjunction with HONK NYC, which “brings the tradition of global street band music and spectacle to audiences everywhere,” Maplewood’s Office of Cultural Affairs has created a series that represents a diverse mix of international genres including some of the best Brazilian, funk, Latin, Haitian and blues bands from across the Tri-State Area. The series concludes with a shift from the Caribbean to Eastern Europe with a performance by an internationally renowned 12-piece Ukrainian brass band.
“This community is so supportive of live music that it is challenging find musical traditions that aren’t already represented, so this year at the Gazebo we’ve chosen to try something a bit different,” Office of Cultural Affairs manager Andrew Fishman said.
All concerts in the 2018 Concert Series at the Springfield Avenue Gazebo will be held Friday nights beginning at 7 p.m.; they are all free and open to the public.
The schedule is as follows: On July 20, Plezi Rara brings traditional Haitian festival roots music; on July 27, Xol Azul Band brings rock music rooted in Latin tradition; on Aug. 3, Forro For All will showcase accordion-driven party music from Brazil featuring Maplewood’s own Scott Kettner on percussion; on Aug. 10, the Chuck Lambert Band brings modern electric blues infused with traditional Caribbean sound; and on Aug. 17, Zlatne Uste, a 12-piece brass band, celebrates traditional Balkan dance music.
For more information, visit http://www.maplewoodartsandculture.org/ or contact emailculturalaffairs@twp.maplewood.nj.us.
Photos Courtesy of Maplewood
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