Win 2 Tickets to Oliver Mtukudzi & The Black Spirits w/ Special Guest Timbila
Wednesday, August 1st at SOBs Doors: 7:30pm Show: 9pm
Enter to Win Above!
Oliver Mtukudzi & The Black Spirits are coming out to SOB'S in Manhattan for not only one show, but two! On August 1st The 'Tuku Music' innovator will hit the stage for a total of two fantastic performances showcasing his talents in the distinctive musical style representing many of The Black Spirits' cultural traditions. Mtukudzi began performing in 1977 when he joined the Wagon Wheels, a band that also featured Thomas Mapfumo. Their single, "Dzandimomotera", went gold and Tuku's first album followed, which was also a major success. Mtukudzi is also a contributor to Mahube, Southern Africa's "supergroup". With his husky voice, he has become the most recognized voice to emerge from Zimbabwe and onto the international scene and he has earned a devoted following across Africa and beyond. A member of Zimbabwe's KoreKore tribe, Nzou Samanyanga as his totem, he sings in the nation's dominant Shona language along with Ndebele and English. He also incorporates elements of different musical traditions, giving his music a distinctive style, known to fans as "Tuku Music". Mtukudzi has had a number of tours around the world. He has been on several tours in the UK, US and Canada to perform for large audiences.
Opening for Oliver will be Timbila. They present an exciting and varied musical performance featuring a mix of familiar and unfamiliar instruments. Intricate interplay between guitar, bass, drums and traditional instruments from Southern Africa form the basis for highly melodic vocal performances from the group’s two female lead singers. The music ranges from hypnotic and lulling mbira (thumb piano) songs to highly energetic timbila (xylophone) boogie. Ever since the band’s founders—songwriter and mbira/timbila player Nora Balaban and guitarist Banning Eyre—met in Zimbabwe in 1997, they have been adapting these traditions to create contemporary songs, deeply based in tradition, but also informed by the musicians’ backgrounds in folk, rock, jazz and other kinds of African music.
