World Music artist KeruBo plays Waterbury twice this week
June 16-17: Second Concert in the Park, kickoff for Music in the Alley
By Waterbury Roundabout
KeruBo plays Waterbury twice this week: Thursday's Concert in the Park and Friday's first Music in the Alley concert on Stowe Street. Courtesy photo
TURNmusic, Axel's Frame Shop and Gallery, and Blackback Pub have teamed up again to present three free summer Music in the Alley concerts starting this Friday, June 17, from 6 to 9 p.m.
The venue is outdoors in the alley at 5 Stowe Street beside Axel's. The first performance will be KeruBo, a singer/songwriter and Afro-Jazz artist originally from Kenya who now lives in Vermont.
KeruBo sings African folk music, Afro Pop, and Afro jazz from laments to more modern arrangements. Her style is a blend of African traditional music with inflections of Brazilian Samba/Bossanova, jazz and blues.
Her debut album is titled "Hali ya Utu," Swahili for “the state of humanity.” Through her music and performances, KeruBo says she challenges the human condition and the need to reconnect to what "utu," or “brotherhood” really means. Dedicated to social justice, KeruBo’s songs tell life’s stories and offer connections, reflection on life’s struggles, and offer encouraging words of self-acceptance.
And through the magic of Vermont summer concert scheduling, KeruBo performs in Waterbury twice this week. She also will take to the bandstand stage at Rusty Parker Memorial Park for Thursday’s 6 p.m. Rotary Concert in the Park, giving the community two opportunities to hear her music.
The Gabe Jarett Group plays Music in the Alley in July. Courtesy photo
Looking ahead, Music in the Alley has two other performance dates this summer: Friday, July 22, with the Gabe Jarett Group, and Friday, Aug.26, with the band Lovecraft.
Also this Friday inside at Axel’s is an artist reception with painter Kasey Loyer whose work has been on view at the gallery for several weeks. The free event with Loyer is scheduled for 6-8 p.m.
More information online at axelsgallery.com.