Bemba Beat: Jamaica

DiverseArts Culture Works and Bemba Entertainment announce the fifth installment of Bemba Beat featuring Jamaican reggae...

Bemba Beat: Jamaica

What: DiverseArts Culture Works and Bemba Entertainment present Bemba Beat: Latin America and Cuba
Where: Kenny Dorham’s Backyard, 1106 East 11th Street, Austin, TX 78702
When: Saturday, August 22, 2009; Doors open at 8:00 p.m.
Cost: $5 at the door
Contact: Harold McMillan (512) 477.9438
              Brandon Badillo (512) 577.4460

DiverseArts and Bemba Entertainment bring the music and culture of Jamaica straight to the heart of East Austin. Bemba Beat, a summer-long concert series, benefits DiverseArts Culture Works while providing international and world music and culture to the East Austin community. Every 2nd and 4th Saturday this summer, DiverseArts and Bemba Entertainment will showcase music styles from around the world at Kenny Dorham's Backyard in the heart of the East Austin Cultural Heritage District.

This installment of Bemba Beat will feature performances by Vida Deluxe  at 9:00 p.m. and Root Dimension Reggae at 10:30 p.m. Food, beverages, and beer will be available for sale to guests.

Vida Deluxe is an up and coming local Austin reggae band that performs many of Jamaica's top hits as well as some original reggae  music. After three years of playing in the Austin scene, they have recently regrouped. With Naddy Ramcharitar playing percussion, Miguel Machado playing bass, Ali Latiyf for guitar, Austin Kimble performing on keyboards, Mark Wilson playing saxophone, flute, and  percussion, and Nick Conte on saxophone. Vocals are performed by Naddy, Ali, and Nick.

Root Dimension Reggae is a positive 5-piece band with a new set of rastafarian people united by the love of reggae music. Their music is full of the root features and lingering melodies of traditional reggae as well as fire dancing rhythms. Each member is an experienced musician and well known in the Austin music community, featuring members of 7Seals and The Wingless Angels. Percussions are played by Kingsley and Rooster, trumpet by rasta Eku, drums by rasta Jahmajih, bass by rasta Jorge. Vocals are performed by rasta Jahmajih and Rooster.

Bring a blanket, bring your friends, and join us under the stars for uplifting performances by Vida Deluxe and Root Dimension Reggae!