Krannert Center for the Performing Arts

OUTSIDE at the Research Park: Occidental Brothers Dance Band International with Samba Mapangala

Friday, August 13, 2010, at 7:30pm; PBS featuring Robb Patton, Jack Brighton, and Lori Simon at 6:15pm; green fair at 5:30pm | UI Research Park (1816 South Oak Street, Champaign)

Chicago’s Occidental Brothers Dance Band International weaves high-energy soukous, Ghanaian Highlife, and African jazz and has captured the admiration of audiences at the Ottawa Blues Festival, Lincoln Center, the Chicago Folk and Roots Festival, and the Montreal Jazz Festival. Greg Kot of the Chicago Tribune hailed the group as “one of ten must-sees at the Pitchfork festival.”

OBDBI is led by guitarist Nathaniel Braddock, an instructor at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music, who has twice been profiled in Guitar Player magazine. Braddock is joined by Greg Ward on alto saxophone, Joshua Ramos on bass, and Makaya McCraven on drums. They first joined forces with Congolese singer Samba Mapangala in 2009 for “Obama Ubarikiwe,” an acclaimed tribute to a well-known presidential candidate. Since then, Mapangala’s mellifluous, East African-rooted, rhythmically complex style has continued to serve as the perfect dance floor companion for OBDBI and its audiences.

PBS—a high-energy, CU-based trio—warms things up at 6:15pm with a vocally rich, acoustic guitar-driven mix of classic covers.

Before the music begins, tour Gable Home, a solar house built by students from the U of I that won second place in the 2009 Solar Decathlon, from 5pm to 7:30pm.

Starting at 5:30pm, these organizations will be spreading the word about their green initiatives:

B. Lime—A Green Store
Campus Recreation
Champaign County Bikes
CU Green Business Association
Do Good Consulting
Eco-Lawn
Fox/Atkins Development, LLC
Green Yoga Spa
Habitat for Humanity ReStore
Mervis Industries
MTD/Zipcar
North First Street Farmers Market
Office of Sustainability
Orpheum Children's Science Museum
Prairie Rivers Network
Rapid Refill
Recycled Rhythms
Red Bison
Students for Environmental Concerns
Student Sustainability Committee
Common Ground Food Co-op

Houlihan’s will be on hand with food and beverages to purchase that will hit the spot as you enjoy your night under the sky.

These concerts will be held just southwest of Assembly Hall on First Street in the Research Park. Parking is available in the lot south of the Caterpillar and SAIC building at 1901 South First Street.


Presented by Krannert Center, in association with Fox/Atkins Development, LLC

Community Partner:
Don Moyer Boys and Girls Club

Corporate Sponsors:
Mervis Industries—Marco Recycling and Advantage Recycling, Divisions of Mervis Industries Inc.
State Farm Insurance
With thanks to the Illinois Natural History Survey