The University of Iowa’s Hancher is collaborating with both Summer of the Arts in Iowa City and Legion Arts in Cedar Rapids to present a full evening of entertainment on Friday, Sept. 19, during the Iowa Soul Festival. The event, which is free to attend, will be held on the Pentacrest on the UI campus.
The evening’s music will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a performance by Kinobe & The Wamu Spirit. Born in Uganda and deeply steeped in the musical traditions of countries throughout the African continent,Kinobe is a multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter dedicated to the unifying power of music.
Want to hear Al Jarreau up close and personal? See this related story, Coming home: Jazz great Al Jarreau to speak at UI College of Education Sept. 18.
At 7 p.m., Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars will take the stage. The band formed in 1997 when its founders came together in the Kalia refugee camp near the border with Sierra Leone, which was at the time in the midst of a horrific war. A Canadian relief agency donated a couple of guitars, a microphone, and a small sound system, which was all it took to launch the band. The musicians all hail from Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone.
Hancher is collaborating with Legion Arts’ Landfall Festival, which takes place the same weekend in Cedar Rapids and features musicians from around the world. Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars replace Conjunto Angola 70 on the bill, as visa difficulties forced the cancellation of the Angolan band’s appearance. More information about the Landfall Festival can be found at www.legionarts.org.
At 8:30 p.m., UI alumnus Al Jarreau will take the stage. Jarreau is a renowned singer equally at home in the worlds of pop, jazz, and soul. His many hits include “After All,” “We’re in This Love Together,” and “Mornin’,” and “Boogie Down.”
The Summer of the Arts Iowa Soul Festival continues through Sunday, Sept. 21. Full details of the festivities can be found at www.summerofthearts.org.
Hancher’s presentations at the Iowa Soul Festival are supported by the Hancher Partners and gifts to the Hancher Circle through the University of Iowa Foundation.
Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all UI-sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, please contact the Hancher Box Office in advance at 319-335-1158.