Baka Beyond · Tuesday, August 14 · 8 p.m.
Margaret Greenham Theatre · All tickets $18
Mighty Popo · Wednesday, August 15 · 8 p.m.
The Club · Adult $12, Senior/Student/Child (14 and over)/Arts Lovers $10
Banff Centre Box Office: 1-800-413-8368 or 762-6301
Playbill Series events presented as part of the 2007 Banff Summer Arts Festival
As part of the 2007 Banff Summer Arts Festival, The Banff Centre presents two evenings of energy, passion, and world music rhythms. On Tuesday, August 14, African-Celtic fusion group Baka Beyond will bring their pulsating beats to the Margaret Greenham Theatre, and the next night, renowned Canadian-Rwandan guitarist-singer Mighty Popo will deliver a stellar evening of African roots acoustic music in the intimate setting of The Club.
Baka Beyond's music originated through an inspiring trip band leaders Su Hart and Martin Cradick took to live with the Baka people, a society of hunter-gatherer musicians who live in the rainforest of southeast Cameroon. Since that original visit Hart, Cradick, and band members from the U.K., West Africa, and France have consistently produced a blend of Celtic, Gaelic, and West African music, fusing fiddle, electric guitar, and African percussion, with a remarkable mingling of Gaelic and African lyrics. Baka Beyond channels royalties from their performances and songs to the Baka in Cameroon, through the charity Global Music Exchange. In cooperation with local organizations, the funds help the Baka cope with their changing environment and preserve their culture.
Growing up in Burundi as a refugee from Rwanda, Mighty Popo, then known as Jacques Murigande, learned to play music on anything he could get his hands on. His first instrument was a wrap-around harmonica, or banana harp. Upon immigrating to Canada, Mighty Popo established himself as a versatile guitarist and toured Canada playing reggae and R&B. Now, with solo albums Tamba, Dunia Yote, Ngagara, and most recently Muhazi to his credit, Mighty Popo is renowned for his soulful vocals, fluid guitar lines, and subtle percussion. His music is rich, steeped in traditional African sounds and infused with blues, reggae, folk, and R&B influences. A member of the Juno Award-winning African Guitar Summit, Mighty Popo will be joined by percussionist Kofi Ackah and a guest guitarist from Rwanda for his Banff performance.
Baka Beyond and Mighty Popo are Playbill Series events presented as part of the 2007 Banff Summer Arts Festival. Tickets for all Banff Centre events are available through The Banff Centre Box Office: 1-800-413-8368 or 403-762-6301.
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High resolution downloadable photos of Baka Beyond and Mighty Popo
More information on the Banff Summer Arts Festival
