Afrocuban euphoria; Targhee tickets

Wednesday, April 09, 2008

By Aaron Davis

Jackson Hole, Wyo.-Take a dose of euphoria and apply it to an orchestra. What do you get? Euforquestra - Iowa City’s large ensemble spreading the sounds of Afro-Cuban, Afrobeat, samba, soca and reggae that can only be created through group unity. The philosophy of less-is-more and a dedication to preserving cultural traditions that exist outside of the American box, the band understands the rhythmic necessity that enables a community of individuals to function at their utmost potential.

“The whole approach to playing Afrocentric music in big groups is based around individuals with simple parts, but when you put them together, it’s complex,” said percussionist and vocalist Matt Grundstad. “Bands tend to be larger in Cuba because musicians are on salary, not split among the group at the end of a night.”
The band formed while attending the University of Iowa, which played an influential role in their music study. Grundstad and bassist Adam Grosso traveled to Cuba to study the music, but it was their formal education that planted the seed.

“It’s the only university that has an Afro-Cuban folklore group that combines drumming, dancing and singing,” Grundstad said. “That gave us a great foundation and Iowa City has a good music scene. There are a lot of jam sessions there and bands look at each other as community not competition.”

In order to handle their own booking and publicity, the band formed their own production company. Euforquestra Productions has aided other up-and-coming bands from the region and organizes the annual Camp Euforia, a celebration of music and culture near Iowa City that attracted over 1,000 fans and more than 20 regional and local acts.
Euforquestra describes their music as “Afro-Caribbean-barnyard-funk,” and usually tours as a seven-piece, but will add an additional guitarist for this tour to add another layer of rhythm. Their discography includes two studio releases, ???Explorations in Afrobeat” and “The Adventures of Glen Devey.” The latter album features vocals in Lukumi, a creolized African language that was brought to Cuba.

“The music appeals to a wide range of people because it’s entertaining on many levels,” Grundstad said. “There’s the dancing aspect but also the historical and cultural aspects.”
Euforquestra will deliver world beats at 10 p.m. on Saturday at the Knotty Pine in Victor. Tickets are $5 at the door and the restaurant-bar can be reached at 208-787-2866.

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Grand Targhee announced last week that online ticket sales are available for the 4th Annual Targhee Fest on July 18-20 and the 21st Annual Bluegrass Festival August 8-10. Tickets for both festivals will be $15 for Friday only, $64 for Saturday only, $55 for Sunday only, $150 for a weekend pass that includes camping, or $125 for a non-camping weekend pass. Tickets are available via ticketweb.com.

Along with the announcement came the addition of Martin Sexton, Soul Stew Revival and Storyhill to the Targhee Fest lineup. Headliners include Emmylou Harris, Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi, Lyle Lovett and Taj Mahal Trio.

The Bluegrass Fest will feature Sam Bush Band, Tim O’Brien, Blue Highway, Dan Tyminski Band, Darrell Scott Band, Bill Nershi/Drew Emmitt Band, Tony Trischka’s Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular, Spring Creek, Infamous Stringdusters, and Sparrow Quartet featuring Bela Fleck, Abigail Washburn, Casey Driessen, and Ben Sollee.
And if you’re an aspiring musician or want to take your playing to the next level, look into registering for the 3rd Annual Targhee Bluegrass Music Camp. The camp will precede the fest, August 5-8, and feature top-notch instructors Ben Winship, Darrell Scott, Tony Trischka, Brian Wicklund, Tim Stafford, John Lowell, Jeremy Garrett, Rob Ickes, and Eric Thorin. For more details email Winship at
 bluegrasscamp@benwinship.com.

For all pricing, performance schedules and camp information, visit www.grandtarghee.com.

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The Center for the Arts also announced some additional summer concerts. The season will kick off June 10 with the Neville Brothers, and late summer will bring Blues Traveler, Tony Furtado, MOMIX and Pianafiddle. More details will be available soon; check out JHCenterForTheArts.org frequently.
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Afrocuban euphoria; Targhee tickets | Planet JH News Article: Music Box

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