GLOBAL DANCE PARTY 13 YEARS RUNNING
As we close out another year Pandemic would like to thank all the performers who joined us this year and everyone who came out to support our events. It was an amazing year of dance parties, live shows and much more.
We are back at Brillobox for the final Pandemic of 2018. 4 hours of non-stop global dancehall featuring Pandemic Pete and DJ SMI (of Afroheat/Beleza). Don’t miss out.
Kicking off the fall with some big events. First I’ll be guest djing at Spirit Hall for Afroheat w/ DJ SMI. Then on to pandemic w/ Super Yamba Band and bringing in guests Lemon Bucket Orkestra. Click images for links
Djs SMI and Pandemic Pete plus special guests bringing the Afrofunk from Benin by way of NYC.
Kaleta and Super Yamba bring the 70s era Afrobeat sounds with this 9 piece funky and dark sound.
Brooklyn afro-funksters Kaleta & Super Yamba Band are fronted by legendary Afrobeat veteran Leon Ligan-Majek a.k.a. Kaleta. The singer, guitarist and percussionist from the West African country of Benin Republic lived his adolescent life in Lagos, Nigeria where Afrobeat was born. Kaleta performed and toured the world with the two most popular musicians from Nigeria, Fela Kuti and King Sunny Ade, along with Majek Fashek and recently Lauryn Hill.
Kaleta got his start in the late 70s performing in church and was soon after picked up by iconic Juju master and world music pioneer King Sunny Ade. A few years later Fela Kuti came calling. Kaleta would go on to tour the world playing guitar for the King of Afrobeat in his band Egypt 80 through the 1980s and into the 1990s.
Now based in New York City, Kaleta was overjoyed to find Super Yamba Band and hear their take on the vintage, psychedelic sounds of his native country. Super Yamba takes its cues from artists like Orchestre Poly-Rythmo, El Rego and The Funkees, all legends in their own right for pioneering the classic styles of Afro-Funk and Afro-Rock in Benin and Nigeria. With regular gigs all over New York City, Super Yamba Band have dialed in the nuances of some of the rarest grooves out there with a timeless sound that will move everyone in the room to dance! Audiences will hear Kaleta sing in several different languages native to West Africa including Fon, Goun, Yoruba and Ewe, along with French and Pidgin English, “the official language of Afrobeat” he says with a grin.
Super Yamba Band’s live performances with Kaleta are absolutely explosive. Afropop Worldwide said “their ace-up-the-sleeve: the singer Kaleta, whose James Brown grunts have got to be some of the best in the business.” With Kaleta at the helm Super Yamba Band have recently erupted onto stages at Paste Magazine’s Emerging Music Festival, World Music Institute’s Masters Of African Music Series, The Untitled Action Bronson Show (Viceland TV), L.E.A.F. Festival, Secret Planet APAP 2018 Showcase and more, giving audiences an unforgettable experience of world-class Afro-Funk dance music.
$10 RSVP
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BALKAN BRASS from Toronto…Tuesday Night Balkan Dance Party
“Lemon Bucket Orkestra is a guerilla-punk-Balkan-brass band massive like no other! Equal parts reckless abandon and exhilarating precision, the 12 strong collective’s legendary live shows are a truly immersive experience, ranging from the ecstatic to the cathartic – and all points in between. Don’t miss the Pittsburgh debut of this Canadian juggernaut, celebrating the worldwide release of their new album If I Had The Strength on Six Degrees Records.”
Special guests : The Gypsy Stringz playing Eastern European and Gypsy Music.
w/ PANDEMIC PETE
ticket info coming soon.
“Amazing, frenetic, gloriously anarchic and ultimately joyous!” Winnipeg Free Press
“Adventurous, multicultural and amazing!” The Wall Street Journal
“Raucous and hot-blooded – a collective triumph!” Exclaim Magazine
“A truly exhilarating performance!” The Guardian
“When LBO ditched the stage and jumped in with the crowd on Saturday night they cemented themselves a place in WOMAD lore” Taranaki Daily News, New Zealand
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Promo Video Link:
Freedom Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Lemon+Bucket+Orkestra+Freedom
Website: http://www.lemonbucket.com/
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We are excited to announce 4 big shows coming up in the next month. We have a lot of great music from around the world coming through Pittsburgh. This is just the first round of shows. Stay tuned.
CLICK THE IMAGES FOR FB LINKS
TICKET LINKS BELOW EACH POSTER
June 8 join us at Brillobox for the return of Lowdown Brass band playing all the brass band hip hop you can handle. Plus Drum Lines Hard Rhymes, Selecta, and more.
Pandemic Presents : ZZK Showcase with
King Coya & Queen Cholas
Dat Garcia
El G
plus Pandemic Pete, dj juan Diego, Jesse Stiles
King Coya & Queen Cholas (Argentina)
King Coya, danceable alter ego of Gaby Kerpel (De La Guarda, Fuerza Bruta) a pioneer of folklore fused with electronic music, brings a powerful live performance together with the dance troupe “Queen Cholas”. Showcasing diverse elements of Latin American folklore (chacareras, carnavalitos and cumbia) in a unique interactive celebration for the global dance floor.
Dat Garcia (Argentina)
Mixing trip hop with folklore, drum and bass with cumbia, Dat Garcia is ZZK Records 1st female beatmaker. Captivating audiences with her powerful stage presence, innovative songwriting and eclectic demeanor, she proves the Buenos Aires digital folk scene isn’t just a men’s club anymore.
EL G
Mastermind behind the Buenos Aires label ZZK Records and ZZK Films.
plus Pandemic Pete & More
We are excited to announce the 6th season of Weather Permitting at the Shadyside Nursery. This is a kid friendly evening event. Big things coming for Weather Permitting this summer.
And of course the monthly dance party at the Brillobox.
Excited to be back at Brillobox first friday of February. We have some exciting things lined up for early March including March 2nd performance by Boogat and a performance by West Philadelphia Orchestra at Ryan Arts Center in McKees Rocks.
RSVP to February event https://www.facebook.com/events/1520904894674570/
4 hours of non stop global dancehall and the return of Boogat. His music blends elements of Hip Hop, Cumbia, Salsa and Reggaeton.
plus Pandemic Pete playing Bhangra, Balkan, Cumbia, Afrobeats and more.
more about Boogat below and Facebook EVENT LINK ticket link below
Boogát is a Canadian-Mexican musician from Montreal, blending hip-hop with Latin Music styles such as Cumbia, Salsa and Reggaeton. His album ”Neo-Reconquista” won the Juno and Félix award for ”World Music Album of the Year” at the 2016 Juno Awards and the ADISQ gala, , respectively.
The son of immigrant parents from Paraguay and Mexico, he was born in the city of Québec and raised in the Beauport borough of the city. In 2001, he moved to Montréal where his career started.
Singing first in French, Boogát moved to Spanish after playing with the electronic music producer Poirier and the Latin music group Roberto Lopez Project; discovering a new world of possibilities that opened the way to collaborate with artists such as La Yegros, Uproot Andy, El Hijo De La Cumbia, El Dusty, Lido Pimienta, G-Flux, Super San, Mati Zundel, Kid Koala, Poirier, Pierre Kwenders, Radio Radio and El Remolon, amongst others.
He released his first full-length Spanish album ”El Dorado Sunset” in 2013. The album won two ”Félix Awards” for ”Best World Music Album” and ”Producer of the Year” at ”ADISQ 2013”. He has been touring Canada, USA, México, Argentina, UK, Germany, Netherlands, France, Czech Republic and Spain ever since.
”San Cristóbal Baile Inn”, which includes collaborations with Andrés Oddone, Frikstailers, Miss Bolivia, Niña Dioz and Lemon Bucket Orchestra, was just released in 2017.
$10 advance / $15 at the door
Plus BLAK RAPP MADUSA (1Hood)
Born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania- Mel box Carter, Also known as Blak Rapp M.A.D.U.S.A., emerges from those humble streets to take the conscious music movement by storm. Through spoken word and melodic lyricism this rapper, poet, activist and historian paints a vivid picture of her culture via social and political justice interwoven with spiritual inspiration.With a degree in Africana Studies from the University of Pittsburgh, M.A.D.U.S.A., whose name is an acronym for “Making A Difference Using Skills and Activism”, uses her vast knowledge and experiences to relate to the masses.
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THIS SHOW WILL COST MORE THAN $7000 to put together. Why?
The band is flying from Peru to Pittsburgh.
We have hotels, food, equipment rentals, sound, venue, and more to pay for.
You can pay $15 to enter. But I’m asking that if you can donate more please do. We don’t want to make a profit on this show. We don’t want to lose money either.
Any proceeds will go to Puerto Rican relief funds. Please contribute more than $15 if you can.
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/los-wemblers-de-iquitos-in-pittsburgh-music-community#/
MORE INFO BELOW
Formed in 1968 in Iquitos, Peru, Los Wembler’s pioneered a unique style of music that combined cumbia rhythms, electric guitars, and psychedelic sounds. Their 1971 LP, Al Ritmo de Los Wembler’s, pushed the regional sound of chicha (cumbia rhythms combined with Andean folk melodies) to new levels. This new sound took the name cumbia amazonicá, after the first track on Al Ritmos, and it shaped andean popular music for decades. Even at their height of popularity, Los Wembler’s performed only in their hometown of Iquitos and neighboring areas, with rare performances in neighboring Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, and Ecuador. By the early 1980s, Los Wembler’s faded into the background as the popularity cumbia amazonicá gave way to newer electronic cumbia sounds. Los Wemblers never stopped playing, but stayed in Iquitos playing the occasional party, wedding, or community events. In the early 2000s, cumbia amazonicá was rediscovered as a missing link between traditional cumbia and a new generation of musicians in Argentina, Mexico and Colombia. In 2007, Barbès Records released Roots of Chicha: Psychedelic Cumbias from Peru and Los Wembler’s were rediscovered. In 2011, they performed in Lima for the first time in twenty-five years. A new generation of tropical electronic musicians looked to them for inspiration and the Peruvian group Dengue Dengue Dengue collaborated with them. In 2015, the Smithsonian invited Los Wembler’s to perform at the Folklife Festival in Washington DC.
Los Wembler’s haven’t lost any of their creative edge. Watching them perform or record is to witness musicians at the height of their powers. Their happy first experiments with cumbia and indigenous rhythms were not the product of chance. These are accomplished musicians in tune with their environment but also infinitely curious about the world. They may have a fondness for 1970’s production values, but after all, so do Jack White and Daptone. The style Los Wembler’s created more than forty years ago has finally found an audience around the world, and Los Wembler’s intend to keep it relevant by finding new ways to experiment.
Catch them in Pittsburgh for the first show on their first world tour.
DATE: Oct 12 2017
TIME: Doors at 7pm show at 8pm
PLACE: Salems Event Center
We have a huge run a shows coming up. Everything from Taureg guitar mastery to the originators of Chicha a peruvian psychedelic style from the amazon, as well as national touring cumbia bands and a hip hop brass band.
As Pandemic enters its 13th year we are producing a lot of bigger events. Here is the 2nd of two summer mixes I just put together.
Sept 30 Pandemic presents: Group Doueh
Western Saharan Taureg Group Doueh
Buy tickets for Pandemic presents: Group Doueh
EVENT PAGEhttps://www.facebook.com/events/182262038980090/
Big news fans of Sublime Frequencies and Taureg music..
ADVANCE TIX avail now.
Buy tickets for Pandemic presents: Group Doueh
https://www.facebook.com/events/182262038980090
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This month is maybe one of the craziest of my life. In sept I’m heading to eastern europe for three weeks then back to host 2 of my favorite bands. Its unlike anything else. Both @Group Doueh and @Los Wemblers have been huge inspirations.
Los Wemblers —- Cumbia amazonicá pioneers from Peru for the first US show of their first-ever world tour.
Formed in 1968 in Iquitos, Peru, Los Wembler’s pioneered a unique style of music that combined cumbia rhythms, electric guitars, and psychedelic sounds. Their 1971 LP, Al Ritmo de Los Wembler’s, pushed the regional sound of chicha (cumbia rhythms combined with Andean folk melodies) to new levels. This new sound took the name cumbia amazonicá, after the first track on Al Ritmos, and it shaped andean popular music for decades. Even at their height of popularity, Los Wembler’s performed only in their hometown of Iquitos and neighboring areas, with rare performances in neighboring Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, and Ecuador. By the early 1980s, Los Wembler’s faded into the background as the popularity cumbia amazonicá gave way to newer electronic cumbia sounds. Los Wemblers never stopped playing, but stayed in Iquitos playing the occasional party, wedding, or community events. In the early 2000s, cumbia amazonicá was rediscovered as a missing link between traditional cumbia and a new generation of musicians in Argentina, Mexico and Colombia. In 2007, Barbès Records released Roots of Chicha: Psychedelic Cumbias from Peru and Los Wembler’s were rediscovered. In 2011, they performed in Lima for the first time in twenty-five years. A new generation of tropical electronic musicians looked to them for inspiration and the Peruvian group Dengue Dengue Dengue collaborated with them. In 2015, the Smithsonian invited Los Wembler’s to perform at the Folklife Festival in Washington DC.
Los Wembler’s haven’t lost any of their creative edge. Watching them perform or record is to witness musicians at the height of their powers. Their happy first experiments with cumbia and indigenous rhythms were not the product of chance. These are accomplished musicians in tune with their environment but also infinitely curious about the world. They may have a fondness for 1970’s production values, but after all, so do Jack White and Daptone. The style Los Wembler’s created more than forty years ago has finally found an audience around the world, and Los Wembler’s intend to keep it relevant by finding new ways to experiment.
Catch them in Pittsburgh for the first show on their first world tour.
DATE: Oct 12 2017
TIME: Doors at 7pm show at 8pm
PLACE: Salems Event Center
NOV 3rd
Thats right we turn 12 on Nov 3 and are inviting our friend LowDown Brass Band out to join us for the celebration.
Here is a video of Lowdown at Pittonkatonk 2017
Friday March 3 Pandemic is back with guest Dj Juan Diego for another night of global dancehall. Pandemic Pete will be serving up more balkan dancehall, gypsy punk rock, cumbia, afrobeat, azonto, kwaito, global house, and more.
10pm-2am
Also the return of Black Bear Combo 3/9
We are still putting together the details and confirming the show. But looks like Black Bear Combo the fiery balkan group from Chicago will be playing here on Thursday 3/9 w/ local Homing. More to come. Stay tuned.
