World Music Festival: Chicago 2011 Program Announced

World Music Festival: Chicago, the largest and longest running world music in the United States returns with eight days of free and low-cost concerts throughout Chicago (Illinois, USA). The festival will run from September 15 to 22, transforming the City of Chicago into a global center for the best of today’s international music.

The festival kicks-off in Grant Park’s Spirit of Music Garden as part of Chicago SummerDance, followed by seven jam-packed days of performances and events in Chicago’s neighborhood parks, clubs, cultural centers and downtown venues, culminating with the “One World Under One Roof” finale featuring multiple concerts held throughout the Chicago Cultural Center from 6:30 to 11:30 p.m.

Highlights include a free concert by Mali’s legendary blues guitarist Boubacar Traoré and Nawal of France and the Comoros Islands in Millennium Park, Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 6:30 p.m.; along with performances throughout the week by The Creole Choir of Cuba (Caribbean); Blitz The Ambassador (Ghana/NYC); Alsarah and the Nubatones (Sudan); Movits! (Sweden); and Mad Professor (UK), among many others.

New this Year

• The first-ever World Music Festival: Chicago Android App. The free App offers an easily accessible
schedule of performances, bios and pictures.
• World Music Festival: Chicago expands to all corners of the city with more than 20 venues this year.
New venues include Margate Park, Lincoln Hall, The Dock at Montrose Beach and Hostelling International, in addition to downtown venues such as Daley Plaza and Millennium Park.
• A new partnership with the Brilliant Corners of Popular Amusements Festival presents Sidi Toure (Mali), Bomba Estereo (Colombia) and more in Eckhart Park, Sept. 16-18.
• Last weekend of Chicago SummerDance kick starts the festival featuring World Music Festival musicians
throughout the weekend including Sergent Garcia (France), Joaquin Diaz (Dominican Republic), Bulgarika
(Bulgaria) and more in Grant Park’s Spirit of Music Garden.
• A free screening of the award-winning Staff Benda Bilili documentary, “Benda Bilili,” takes place, Sunday, Sept. 18 at the Chicago Cultural Center as part of World Music Festival: Chicago.

Returning favorites

• Special live “Continental Drift” international programs offered each week during the festival on
WNUR and online at wnur.org. The public is invited to be a live audience member at the Chicago Cultural
Center’s Claudia Cassidy Theater for this informative series of live radio broadcasts of interviews and
performances.
• Annual free concert at Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park returns, this year featuring Boubacar
Traoré (Mali) and Nawal Quartet (Comoros Islands), Wednesday, September 21 at 6:30 p.m.
• Concerts highlighting many Chicago-based international music groups return this year.
• Free, low-cost and family-friendly events throughout Chicago’s neighborhoods, parks, and museums.
Since its inception, World Music Festival: Chicago has attracted more than a half million concertgoers and has presented more than 500 artists and ensembles from over 75 countries, making it the largest international music festival in the United States.

World Music Festival: Chicago 2011 Schedule

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15
7:30 PM: FREE (All Ages)
Chicago SummerDance: Grant Park Spirit of Music Garden, 601 S. Michigan Ave.
Occidental Brothers Dance Band International (USA, Chicago)
*African dance lessons at 6PM

Presented by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, in partnership with the Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture, the city-wide, multi-venue, eight-day festival features acclaimed musicians from more than 40 countries. Featuring traditional and contemporary music from diverse cultures, the performances and events include a combination of free and low-cost ticketed concerts, many of which are family friendly.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16

12:00 PM – 2:00 PM: FREE (All Ages)
Sidi Toure (Mali) 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM
House of Waters (USA, NYC) 12:45 PM – 1:15 PM
Chamber Music: Ballaké Sissoko and Vincent Segal (France/Mali) 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM

5:30 PM: FREE (All Ages)
Navy Pier
Café Antarsia (USA, Chicago/NYC)

6:30 PM: FREE (All Ages)
National Mexican Museum of Art, 1852 West 19th St.
Citlalli Castellano & Mariachi Nuevo Jalisco (Chicago/Mexico)

7:00 PM: $20. (All Ages)
Brilliant Corners of Popular Amusements Festival
Eckhart Park, Chicago Ave. & Noble St.
Bomba Estereo (Colombia)

7:30 PM: FREE (All Ages)
Chicago SummerDance: Grant Park’s Spirit of Music Garden
Joaquin Diaz (Dominican Republic)
*Bachata dance lessons at 6PM

8:00 PM: $20 (All Ages)
Brilliant Corners of Popular Amusements Festival
Eckhart Park, Chicago Ave. & Noble St.
Sidi Toure (Mali)

8:00 PM: $10 Suggested Donation (All Ages)
Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N. Lincoln Ave.
Dikanda (Poland)
House of Waters (USA, NYC)

8:00 PM: $12. (18+)
Reggie’s Music Room, 2105 South State St.
Toubab Krewe (USA, Asheville, NC)
L’Orchestre Super Vitesse (USA, Chicago)
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8:30 PM: FREE (All Ages)
Navy Pier
Primitive (Chicago)
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9:00 PM: $15 (18+)
Mayne Stage, 1328 Morse Ave.
Sound Culture Presents,
Malika Zarra (Morocco/USA, NYC)
Natural Information Society (USA, Chicago)

World Music Festival: Chicago 2011/Page 4
9:00 PM: $12 (21+)
Martrys’ 3855 N. Lincoln Ave.
Kultur Shock (Sarajevo/Sofia/Seattle/NYC)
Andreas Kapsalis & Goran Ivanovic Duo (USA, Chicago)

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17
12:00 PM: FREE (All Ages)
The Dock at Montrose Harbor, 200 W. Montrose Harbor Dr.
Joaquin Diaz (Dominican Republic)

1:00 PM: FREE (All Ages)
Navy Pier
House of Waters (USA, NYC)

1:00 PM: FREE (All Ages)
South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 S. South Shore Dr.
Blitz The Ambassador (Ghana/USA, NYC)

3:00 PM: FREE (All Ages)
Navy Pier
Kutumba (Nepal)

3:00 PM: FREE (All Ages)
Margate Park, 4921 N. Marine Dr.
Tsukasa Taiko Students Recital (Japan/USA, Chicago)
TSUNAMI Fundraiser
Donations accepted by Japan American Society of Chicago

3:15 PM: $10 (All Ages)
Edgewater GRalley Festival, 1400 West Granville Ave.
Dikanda (Poland)

5:45 PM: $10 (All Ages)
Edgewater GRalley Festival, 1400 West Granville Ave.
Malika Zarra (Morocco/USA, NYC)

6:00 PM: FREE (All Ages)
Navy Pier
Chai Found Music Workshop (Taiwan)

7:00 PM: $8 general / $5 students (All Ages)
International House at University of Chicago, 1414 E.
59th St.
IMAN Community Cafe Presents,
Wust El Balad (Egypt)
Alsarah and the Nubatones (Sudan)
Arooj Aftab (Pakistan/USA, NYC)

7:30 PM: FREE (All Ages)
Chicago SummerDance: Grant Park Spirit of Music
Garden
Bulgarika featuring Nikolay Kolev (Bulgaria)
*Ethnic Folk dance lessons at 6PM
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8:00 PM: $10 General Public/$9 Old Town School
Members/$10 Seniors & Children (All Ages)
Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N. Lincoln Ave.
Chamber Music: Ballaké Sissoko and Vincent Segal
(France/Mali)
Sidi Toure (Mali)
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8:00 PM: FREE (All Ages)
Navy Pier
Blitz The Ambassador (Ghana/USA, NYC)

8:00 PM: $20 (All Ages)
Brilliant Corners of Popular Amusements Festival
Eckhart Park, Chicago Ave. & Noble St.
A Hawk And A Hacksaw (USA, Albuquerque, NM)

10:00 PM: $15 (21+)
Martyrs’ 3855 N. Lincoln Ave.
Toubab Krewe (USA, Asheville, NC)
Mad Professor (United Kingdom)

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18

1:00 PM: FREE (All Ages)
Chicago Cultural Center’s Claudia Cassidy Theater
‘Benda Bilili’ (90 min, rated PG13)
A Documentary about Staff Benda Bilili film
By Renaud Barret & Florent De La Tullaye
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1:00 PM: FREE (All Ages)
Navy Pier
Opposition Party (USA, Chicago)

3:00 PM: FREE (All Ages)
Chicago Cultural Center’s Preston Bradley Hall
Friends of the Gamelan (USA, Chicago)

2:00 PM: FREE (All Ages)
South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 S. South Shore Dr.
Chamber Music: Ballaké Sissoko
and Vincent Segal (France/Mali)

4:00 PM: FREE (All Ages)
Navy Pier
Bulgarika featuring Nikolay Kolev (Bulgaria)

5:00 PM: FREE (All Ages)
Chicago SummerDance, Grant Park Spirit of Music Garden
Sergent Garcia (France)
*Salsa dance lessons at 4PM
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6:00 PM: $5 general (All Ages)
International House at University of Chicago, 1414 E. 59th St.
Chai Found Music Workshop (Taiwan)
Kutumba (Nepal)

6:00 PM: $20 (All Ages)
Brilliant Corners of Popular Amusements
Festival
Eckhart Park, Chicago Ave. & Noble St.
Fool’s Gold (USA, Los Angeles)

7:00 PM: $15 (All Ages)
Mayne Stage, 1328 Morse Ave.
KFAR Jewish Arts Center & Global Groove
Chicago Present,
Nuriya (Mexico)
Gerard Edery Ensemble (Morocco/NYC)

7:00 PM: $12 advance, $15 at door
Reggie’s Rock Club & Music Room,2105 South
State St.
Rock Club: (17+)/ Reggie’s Music Room: (21+)
Mad Professor (United Kingdom)
Twilight Dub Circus (Netherlands)

8:00 PM: $10 Suggested Donation (All Ages)
Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N.
Lincoln Ave.
Marco Calliari (Canada/Italy)
Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino (Italy)

8:00 PM: $15 (21+)
Lincoln Hall, 2424 N. Lincoln Ave.
Yuri Yunakov (Bulgaria/NYC)
Steve Gibons Gypsy Rhythm Project with Nicolae Feraru (USA, Chicago/Romania)
Black Bear Combo (USA, Chicago)

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19

Marco Calliari (Canada/Italy) 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM
Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino (Italy) 12:45 PM – 1:15 PM
Megitza Quartet (USA, Chicago/Poland) 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM

7:00 PM: FREE (All Ages)
Chicago Cultural Center: Claudia Cassidy Theater, 78 E. Washington St.
Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino (Italy)

8:00 PM: $10 (21+)
Martyrs’ 3855 N. Lincoln Ave.
Marco Calliari (Canada/Italy)
Megitza Quartet (USA, Chicago/Poland)

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20

12:00 PM – 2:00 PM: FREE (All Ages)
Abigail Washburn (USA, Nashville, TN) 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM
DePedro (Spain) 12:45– 1:15 PM
Luisa Maita (Brazil) 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM
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7:00 PM: $15 general / $10 for Members (All Ages)
Instituto Cervantes Chicago, 31 W. Ohio St.
DePedro (Spain)
Free Pre & post-concert wine reception*
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8:00 PM: $15 (21+)
Lincoln Hall, 2424 N. Lincoln Ave.
Bomba Estero (Colombia)
Luisa Maita (Brazil)

8:00 PM: $15. (21+)
Martyrs’ 3855 N. Lincoln Ave.
Abigail Washburn (USA, Nashville, TN)
Mar Caribe (USA, Chicago)
Alana Amram and the Rough Gems (USA, NYC)
–
9:00 PM: $10. (21+)
Hideout Inn, 1354 W. Wabansia Ave.
Movits! (Sweden)

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21

8:00 PM: $15 (All Ages)
Mayne Stage, 1328 Morse Ave.
Sound Culture Presents,
Creole Choir of Cuba (Cuba/Caribbean)
Calypso Caravan featuring Calypso Rose, Lord
Superior and Clyde “Lightning” George”
—-
8:30 PM: $5 Suggested Donation (All Ages)
Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N. Lincoln Ave.
Te Vaka (Australia/New Zealand)
—-
9:30 PM: $12 (21+)
Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western Ave.
Movits (Sweden)
Frigg (Finland)
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8:00 PM: $7 suggested donation (All Ages)
Chief O’Neill’s, 3471 North Elston Ave.
Brock McGuire Band (Ireland)
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22

12:00 PM – 2:00 PM: FREE (All Ages)
Kaumakaiwa Kanaka’ole with Shawn Pimental (USA, Hawaii) 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM
Creole Choir of Cuba (Cuba/Caribbean) 12:45 – 1:15 PM
Middle East Music Ensemble of Chicago 1:30 – 2:00 PM
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12:00 PM: FREE (All Ages)
Daley Plaza: Mali’s Independence Celebration
Sidi Toure (Mali)
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6:30 PM – 11:30 PM: FREE (All Ages)
Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St.
Open House Finale:
“One World Under One Roof”
Randolph Café:
6:30 PM: Kaumakaiwa Kanaka’ole with Shawn Pimental (USA, Hawaii)
9:00 PM: Brock McGuire Band (Ireland)
Claudia Cassidy Theater:
7:30 PM: Frigg (Finland)
9:00 PM: Nawal (France/Comoros Islands)
10:15 PM: Bill O’Connell Triple Play with Dave Valentin
& Richie Flores (USA, NYC/Puerto Rico)
Preston Bradley Hall:
7:00 PM: Boubacar Traore Trio (Mali)
8:30 PM: Middle East Music Ensemble of Chicago
9:45 PM: Creole Choir of Cuba (Cuba/Caribbean)

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21

12:00 PM – 2:00 PM: FREE (All Ages)
Te Vaka (Australia/New Zealand) 12:00 – 12:30 PM
Movits (Sweden) 12:45 PM – 1:15 PM
Boubacar Traoré (Mali) 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
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5:30 PM: FREE (All Ages)
Hostelling International, 24 E Congress Parkway
Frigg (Finland)
DJ Sound Culture (USA, Chicago)
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6:30 PM: FREE (All Ages)
Millennium Park: Jay Pritzker Pavilion
Nawal (France/Comoros Islands)
Boubacar Traoré (Mali)