This weekend, some of Buffalo's finest musicians will ramble
out to the rolling hills of Ellicottville to bring their spirited music and
dance to the beautiful Griffis Sculpture Park for SlyFest 7, a two day
celebration of art done the way only the Slyboots cats can.
In the spirit of collaboration, education and growth, the
Slyboots School of Music and Art and Ashford Hollow Foundation are presenting
two days of music and art in the most beautiful setting imaginable.
This Friday they will host a series of drumming, dance and
art workshops from 2 pm until sunset for those looking to learn while they
boogie. The main event kicks off Saturday at noon and continues through sunset,
with the Saakumu Dance & Drum Troupe of Ghana headlining an ever-impressive
line-up of local musicians and members of the Slyboots family. At just $10 a day, the experience can't be
beat.
Set to perform are Family Funktion and the Sitar James, Eric
Crittenden, Type Relevant featuring Brownman Ali, Peanut Brittle Satellite,
Effective Resolution, Shapes of States, Stu Fuchs, Andrew Moor, LZ Dillon, and
the amazing amalgamation of talent that has become the Slyboots Circus. And
since Slyboots is about embracing all styles of art, a beautiful assembly of
local artists will feature their work and offer interactive arts experiences.
While there is no camping at the event itself, it's
important to note that camping and after-parties will take place just a few
minutes down the road from Friday night until Sunday morning!
SlyFest 7 begins what will likely be a long and fruitful
artistic collaboration between Slyboots and the Ashford Hollow Foundation, two
organizations dedicated to harnessing the power of cultural arts education to
strengthen our collective community.
“This feel like a remarkably organic collaboration,” said Slyboots founder Griffin Brady, “as if
it was meant to be.”
The collaboration unites one of Western New York's oldest
and most established arts organizations – which oversees the Sculpture Park,
Essex Art Center and decades of educational programming – with one of our
area's newest and most energized – leading workshops, shows, classes and a
national cultural tour featuring Bernard Woma & Saakumu.
SlyFest is the annual fundraiser and celebration for The
Slyboots School of Music & Art, evolving from it's humble roots as a big
backyard jam in Fredonia through it's several year run in Warsaw and onto it's
present day incarnation, firmly rooted in it's place in Buffalo's urban art
community while graciously embracing the beautiful countryside around us.
“We shall evolve. We shall adapt. We will put our best foot
forward and launch the finest event that we have ever hosted,” Brady wrote.
“Learning from our past, forging partnerships for the future and honoring the
beauty of the present through the creation of music and art, Slyfest 7 will
live on.”
The time has finally come for the local festival event of the summer! Slyfest 6 kicks off this weekend, with a full line-up of music starting at noon on Friday and carrying all the way through the magical weekend to Sunday night. So much more than your average music festival, Slyfest will be an exploration of local music, international rhythms, and captivating art... all coming together to build an open, expressive, and exciting community in the beautiful North Fork Music Park in Warsaw, NY.
In addition to the international flavor we hipped you to here– Slyfest will be stocked with some of our favorite local musicians from across Upstate New York. The Slyboots cats have been busy pulling together one hell of a line-up to keep you moving and grooving all weekend long. You can check out the official schedule here – and whether you come for the whole weekend or make the short, beautiful drive down for a day, you'll be so very pleased by what you find.
It's likely you'll pass the weekend with some of your favorite local musicians, and be introduced to some of the best bands Upstate has to offer. Enjoy dancing through the daylight with the sweet sounds of Driftwood, and get hip to some sweet new tunes by local favorites Ramforinkus.
The beat won't stop at night, as the stars come out overhead, and heavy-hitting bands like Peanut Brittle Satelite and The Manhattan Project take over the very special late night stage.
The lush green grounds of Slyfest will be taken over by live art and installations by the very impressive Slyboots team of artists, including epic sculptures by Scotty Bye, life-sized puppets by One World Puppetry, and a burning installation by underground art massive Blind Baby's Holiday. There will be music workshops, yoga, hot air balloon rides, swimming, and a massive array of new friends to keep you busy and smiling throughout the weekend. Take the short and beautiful drive down 20A and join in the fun!
A chord can break down a mental wall, a beat can breach a psychological divide, a melody can shatter an invisible boundary. Music has the power to transcend what divides us and bring the world together in harmony. Locally, no one seems to live for this ethos better than the cats at The Slyboots School of Music and Art. It's their mission to exercise their global consciousness and “utilize world music as a vehicle to unite people from around the world and manifest positive social change in our communities and beyond.”
So you better believe that Slyfest 6, the Slyboots School's annual fundraiser and music festival - held Aug. 26-28 at Warsaw's North Fork Music Park - will be featuring a truly inspirational line-up of musicians from around the world. Their conscious embrace of world music has attracted highly-acclaimed and specialized musicians like Bernard Woma of Ghana and Cyro Baptista of Brazil, as well as Taini Asili and One World Tribe, regional heavy-hitters spreading the message of peace and unity. If you've never heard of these music makers, don't despair, and definitely don't scroll away... the time has come to educate yourself and open up to the rhythms of the world.
Bernard Woma
Bernard Woma was born in Ghana, West Africa with tightly clenched fists; upon visiting the village elder, his father was informed this destined young Bernard to play the gyil, the region's traditional xylophone. Realizing this destiny, Bernard began playing the gyil at just two years old, and has progressed throughout his life to become widely known as the best gyil player in the world. He is the a principal member of the National Dance Company of Ghana, and the ceremonial drummer for State functions. He now spends his time between the United States, Europe and Africa, teaching, performing and running his music school, the Dagara Music Center, in Ghana.
Woma spends winters on the road touring U.S. universities with his traditional Bewaa ensemble, the Saakumu Dance Troupe, managed by Slyboots founder Griffin Brady. It was one of Woma's performances that inspired Brady to become a percussionist, and the two have worked together since, Brady studying under Woma at SUNY Fredonia. Slyboots was born as the sister school of the Dagara Music Center, and the Saakumu tours support both cultural institutions. Bernard Woma will perform with some members of the Saakumu Dance Troupe, alongside Brady's On The Sly at Slyfest 6. You won't be able to avoid the inspiring energy and powerful beats this man brings to a room.
Cyro Baptista
In the 20 years since he arrived in the United State from his native Brazil, Cyro Baptista has emerged as one of the most sought after percussionists in the country. His electrifying energy, theatrical stage presence and awe-inspiring skills on world percussion instruments have drawn him to the attention of many huge names on the international stage. He has toured extensively with many acclaimed musicians, from Yo-Yo Ma to Trey Anastasio, from Herbie Hancock to Sting and Paul Simon. His versatility has enabled him to play on a huge variety of recordings with many names fans of Slyfest likely hold near and dear, including David Byrne, Dr. John, Brian Eno, MMW, Santana.... even Snoop Dogg.
His own creative project, Beat The Donkey, is a high-energy, theatrical performance with draws on his incredible technical skills, an army of like-minded musicians, and his beautiful senses of theater and humor. The group creates inspiring and dance-enticing music with instruments from Brazil, the Middle East, Indonesia and Africa. He will perform at Slyfest with a cadre of special guests in a performance that we all will be incredibly honored to see. Scope out his skills on display in this breathtaking video with the beautiful performer Maia Barouh.
Taína Asili y la Banda Rebelda is a powerful world music group, based in Albany, whose sound is a fusion of Afro-Caribbean, reggae, rock and hip hop, born from the collective origins of the bands many members, who hail from Puerto Rico, Sicily, Greece, Spain Brazil and Ghana. The group is led by the powerful and uplifting Taina Asili, a Puerto Rican vocalist who writes and sings in the spirit of her ancestors, carrying on the eternal feelings of of resistance, love and remembrance through her dynamic and inspiring music.
“If you look at our history,” Asili says, “you see over and over that music has played a central role in changing how people think, for the good and bad. How we make change in the larger political landscape starts with how we affect one another individually, and music brings message in a way that opens people—their heart, mind, spirit.”
One World Tribe
Founded by Kennedy Thompson on the premise of bringing a diverse group of musicians together in unity to break down social and racial barriers, One World Tribe stands at the top among our region's world music ensembles. Their sound is influenced by the exotic rhythms of the world, and they often perform with a cadre of dancers on stage, moving to afro-beat, funk, reggae, latin and world beats. Like the whole Slyboots crew, theirs is a message of love and unity, bringing the world together through an exploration of sound and movement. Their high-energy, inclusive dance music will have you up on your feet joining the celebration of life and oneness. “They make a statement just by being on stage making great music together. There's no division in their camp, they embrace both what makes the different as well as what makes them alike.”
If you're interested in learning more about Slyfest and its mission, check out this article from our friends at The Good Neighborhood. Pre-sale tickets for Slyfest 6 are on sale now for just $40, or are available at the gate for $60. Pick them up at OnTheSly, Terrapin Station, and the Slyboots School of Music & Arts in Buffalo, or at Funk n Waffles in Syracuse. And because Slyboots is about inclusion, community and collective growth, they've got a number of special deals that may be right for you... check out today! There's only 15 DAYS left before the local festival event of the summer begins!!
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