LET’S DANCE AKRON!!
DOWNTOWN AKRON HIGH ARTS FESTIVAL
OUTDOOR DANCE PARTY
In the parking lot between the Akron Art Museum and Summit Art Space
Friday, September 15, 2017 – 5:30-10:00pm
Featuring Live Performances by
Umojah Nation - Northeast Ohio's most inspired reggae band
https://www.facebook.com/umojahnation/
Women like Marcia Griffiths, Phillis Dillon, and Tanya Stephens have provided some of reggae music’s brightest moments over the years. Yet too often women involved in the genre are delegated to singing back-up or otherwise providing a minor supplementary role to a dominant male front man. Few realize that quite often the best results are dependent on an equally collaborative effort. Certainly the husband and wife team of Tracey and Stefano Nguma would concur. Together they lead Northeast Ohio’s most inspired new reggae band, Umojah Nation.
The group adopts its moniker from the Swahili word for unity, and while seeded in Jamaican roots and dancehall, Umojah Nation possesses an original style of reggae all its own. Both Tracey and Stefano are gifted singers and crafty songwriters. Intelligent lyrics adore intricate musical arrangements that recall the great British reggae bands Steel Pulse and Aswad from their late 70’s heyday. But Umojah Nation refuses to be pigeonholed. The group is just as likely to punch its way through a dancehall rave up that could give Cecile a run for her money. Stefano’stasty bass lines provide the perfect complimentary foundation to his wife’s thoughtful material. Umojah Nation is fleshed out by a sturdy seven-piece cast of expert musicians and a heaven-sent chorus of back-up singers.
Umojah Nation naturally plays a varied stockpile of popular cover songs from the likes of Bob Marley and Freddie McGregor to Tanya Stephens and Buju Banton. Umojah has opened for popular acts like Beres Hammond, Mighty Diamonds, The Itals, Culture, Collie Buddz, Midnite, Dub Is a Weapon, as well as Cleveland’s beloved Carlos Jones and the PLUS Band. Umojah Nation live performances are exceedingly vibrant, while the band is capable of entertaining a most diverse crowd of any age or demographic. Which makes perfect sense; after all, Umojah is unity.
Ozone - Music That DOESN'T Come from a Can
https://www.facebook.com/notfromacan/
OZONE is a totally unique vibe – a brilliant 9 ensemble band based in Akron, Ohio. Powerful music: funk and roll, rock and soul.
Everyone who loves music will agree, there are at least three fundamental elements that truly great music will always have in common.
First: Songs that begin in the hearts of the artists but end up in the hearts of the listeners.
Second: Lyrics that resonate everyday truths about widely known joys and rarely spoken of disillusionment and pain.
And finally: If you can’t do it LIVE, don’t do it at all.
OZONE is a band that has mastered these three factors to the delight of their fans for nearly a decade now. OZONE represents new R&B energy while weaving a gritty reminiscent Rock Sensibility, not heard of since Sly and the Family Stone. They spin tales of love, unity and romance gone bad in ways that will make you feel like dancing and singing along. And the only thing funkier than the OZONE Sound, is the OZONE Sound Live. They Play Long. They Play Hard. And They Come Highly Recommended to your Heart.
Umojah Nation - Northeast Ohio's most inspired reggae band
https://www.facebook.com/umojahnation/
Women like Marcia Griffiths, Phillis Dillon, and Tanya Stephens have provided some of reggae music’s brightest moments over the years. Yet too often women involved in the genre are delegated to singing back-up or otherwise providing a minor supplementary role to a dominant male front man. Few realize that quite often the best results are dependent on an equally collaborative effort. Certainly the husband and wife team of Tracey and Stefano Nguma would concur. Together they lead Northeast Ohio’s most inspired new reggae band, Umojah Nation.
The group adopts its moniker from the Swahili word for unity, and while seeded in Jamaican roots and dancehall, Umojah Nation possesses an original style of reggae all its own. Both Tracey and Stefano are gifted singers and crafty songwriters. Intelligent lyrics adore intricate musical arrangements that recall the great British reggae bands Steel Pulse and Aswad from their late 70’s heyday. But Umojah Nation refuses to be pigeonholed. The group is just as likely to punch its way through a dancehall rave up that could give Cecile a run for her money. Stefano’stasty bass lines provide the perfect complimentary foundation to his wife’s thoughtful material. Umojah Nation is fleshed out by a sturdy seven-piece cast of expert musicians and a heaven-sent chorus of back-up singers.
Umojah Nation naturally plays a varied stockpile of popular cover songs from the likes of Bob Marley and Freddie McGregor to Tanya Stephens and Buju Banton. Umojah has opened for popular acts like Beres Hammond, Mighty Diamonds, The Itals, Culture, Collie Buddz, Midnite, Dub Is a Weapon, as well as Cleveland’s beloved Carlos Jones and the PLUS Band. Umojah Nation live performances are exceedingly vibrant, while the band is capable of entertaining a most diverse crowd of any age or demographic. Which makes perfect sense; after all, Umojah is unity.
Ozone - Music That DOESN'T Come from a Can
https://www.facebook.com/notfromacan/
OZONE is a totally unique vibe – a brilliant 9 ensemble band based in Akron, Ohio. Powerful music: funk and roll, rock and soul.
Everyone who loves music will agree, there are at least three fundamental elements that truly great music will always have in common.
First: Songs that begin in the hearts of the artists but end up in the hearts of the listeners.
Second: Lyrics that resonate everyday truths about widely known joys and rarely spoken of disillusionment and pain.
And finally: If you can’t do it LIVE, don’t do it at all.
OZONE is a band that has mastered these three factors to the delight of their fans for nearly a decade now. OZONE represents new R&B energy while weaving a gritty reminiscent Rock Sensibility, not heard of since Sly and the Family Stone. They spin tales of love, unity and romance gone bad in ways that will make you feel like dancing and singing along. And the only thing funkier than the OZONE Sound, is the OZONE Sound Live. They Play Long. They Play Hard. And They Come Highly Recommended to your Heart.
