With two singular Bay Area bands this double bill delivers a one-two punch of rambunctious rhythm. Led by shapeshifter vocalist Zakiya Harris, Elephantine is a seven-piece Afro-eclectic combo that fuses soul, house, and hip-hop with electronic sensibilities. Featuring singers, dancers and instrumentalists, the band boasts a huge, stomping sound. Bells Atlas is a dynamic group out of Oakland that draws on highlife, hip-hop, samba, and R&B. What unites these two bands is their ability to grab ears and inspire relentless body movement.
Will Magid & Alligator Spacewalk
A wildly charismatic trumpeter with a global musical vision, Will Magid has earned a devoted following with his Bay Area concert series World Wide Dance Party, a moveable musical feast serving up celebratory sounds from around the world. More than a horn player, Magid is a multi-instrumentalist, producer and DJ who laces his live performances with electronic loops and samples, seamlessly blending original music with an international sonic palette. He debuts Alligator Spacewalk at the YBG Festival, a singular ensemble including Adam Theis on horns, Shaina Evoniuk on violin, Kevin Wong on B3 organ and synths, Zebuel Early on guitar, Paul Oliphant on drums, Enrique “Quique” Padilla on percussion, and vocalist Ezekiel McCarter. Together they form what Will describes as “a sonic journey through time and space blending 1920s jazz, French Impressionism, funk, and global sounds.”
André Thierry + Chelle! & Friends
If there’s one thing that unites the many styles of music that hail from New Orleans it’s an insistence that the present moment is the best time to celebrate life’s pleasures. Case in point is this double bill, which features two Bay Area treasures with deep Gulf Coast roots. Richmond-raised accordion virtuoso André Thierry lays down dance-inducing zydeco laced with soul and R&B. And New Orleans native Michelle Jacques, a soul-steeped vocalist, leads the talent-packed Bay Area band Chelle! and Friends. Join the party and laissez les bon temps rouler!
Valerie Troutt & MoonCandy
The brainchild of singer-songwriter Valerie Troutt, MoonCandy is a soulful house ensemble that features the inspirational voices of some of the East Bay’s leading lights of jazz, soul, blues and gospel. MoonCandy is a church without walls . . . soulful, uplifting and fabulous!
Visit the artist’s website at: www.valerietrouttprojects.com
Tiffany Austin Quintet
Tiffany Austin is a sublime vocalist, songwriter, and lyricist (& U.C. Berkeley law graduate!), whose musical interests fuse elements of blues, swing, soul, hip-hop, and contemporary music. She has worked with many eminent artists, including Roy Ayers, Marcus Shelby, Howard Wiley, and Tomoyasu Hotei of Kill Bill fame. Joining Tiffany Austin is Howard Wiley (tenor sax), Grant Levin (piano), Ron Belcher (bass), and Sly Randolph (drums).
Visit the artist’s website at: www.tiffanyaustinmusic.com