Free July concert series at Roger Williams Park Bandstand features GRAMMY Award-winning Afropop vocalist Dobet Gnahoré, tropical Afro-Latin combo QUITAPENAS and Salsa Dura greats La Excelencia
Providence, RI—FirstWorks, a nonprofit dedicated to connecting art with audiences, announced their 2024 Summer Beats Concert Series lineup today, presented in partnership with Roger Williams Park Conservancy and Providence Parks Department. The free outdoor concerts at the Roger Williams Park Bandstand feature a global journey of danceable headliners to include the Ivory Coast’s queen of modern Afropop Dobet Gnahoré on Thursday, July 11, 2024, tropical Afro-Latin combo QUITAPENAS on Sunday, July 14, 2024 and Salsa Dura greats La Excelencia on Sunday, July 21, 2024. For details visit https://firstworks.org.
“FirstWorks is thrilled to bring this welcoming concert series back to the park for a fifth year, expanding our partnership with Roger Williams Park Conservancy,” said Kathleen Pletcher, Executive Artistic Director of FirstWorks. “Our Global Journeys lineup invites all to dance their way from the Ivory Coast through the Southern Hemisphere and back up the East Coast corridor, all without leaving Providence! There is so much joy to experience through our artists this summer. Bring your dancing shoes, bring a picnic, bring a friend. All are welcome to join in the fun!”
“We’re thrilled to expand our partnership with FirstWorks to bring dynamic, world-class talent to Providence’s backyard for the entire community to enjoy this summer, no passports needed!” said Bonnie Nickerson, Executive Director of Roger Williams Park Conservancy.
The virtuosic singer, dancer, percussionist and songwriter Dobet Gnahoré kicks off the summer series at the Roger Williams Park Bandstand on Thursday, July 11, 2024 at 6 p.m. The Ivory Coast’s Dobet Gnahoré has taken the modern Afropop sounds of her home country in exciting new directions and is a 2010 GRAMMY Award-winner for Best Urban/Alternative Performance. She is known for her jaw-dropping dance moves, powerful stage presence and richly emotional vocal style. Gnahoré sings in multiple languages, including the diverse indigenous languages of her native land, as well as French and English, to better convey her optimistic message and reach broader audiences. Through her music she pays tribute to the women of today and tomorrow and aims to use her words and image to empower a new generation of daring, strong and independent African women.
Coming up next is the six-piece, tropical Afro-Latin combo QUITAPENAS, hitting the Roger Williams Park Bandstand stage on Sunday, July 14, 2024 at 6 p.m. with a smile-inducing rhythmic contagion borrowing aesthetics from the radical 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s. The Spanish name QUITAPENAS means “to remove worries.” Everybody has a “pena” (worry) and the mission of the band is simple: to make audiences dance and leave them without a worry. Each song echoes a remix of history and invites audiences to engage in the liberating evenings of Angola, Peru, Colombia, Brazil and beyond. QUITAPENAS was founded in 2011 around the members’ shared love of dance rhythms from the tropical, Afro-Latin diaspora. The group is made up of first-generation sons of immigrant parents from Guatemala and Mexico.
The third concert of this year’s Summer Beats global journey transports audiences to the dance floors of New York City’s Salsa scene with an electrifying performance by La Excelencia at the Roger Williams Park Bandstand on Sunday, July 21, 2024 at 6 p.m. The 12-piece Salsa Dura band is inspired by the salsa sounds of the 1970’s and the sociopolitical landscape of today. La Excelencia’s in-your-face sound and energetic live performances reach outside of the salsa norm and have propelled the band to mainstream audiences around the world. Their music combines traditional salsa elements with a modern and unapologetic sound to invigorate social mindedness amidst a powerful and danceable soundtrack.
For more information about free FirstWorks Summer Beats Concerts at the Roger Williams Park Bandstand visit https://firstworks.org.
This year’s FirstWorks Summer Beats Concert series is made possible with support from BankNewport, Collette, Providence Tourism Council, Rhode Island Commerce, Rhode Island Foundation and Rhode Island State Council for the Arts, with media support from Poder 1110 WPMZ Radio and The Public’s Radio. Funded, in part, by the New England States Touring program of the New England Foundation for the Arts, made possible with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts Regional Touring Program and the six New England state arts agencies.
About FirstWorks
FirstWorks is a non-profit based in Providence, Rhode Island whose purpose is to build the cultural, educational and economic vitality of its community by engaging diverse audiences with world-class performing arts and education programs. Now celebrating its 20th year, FirstWorks festivals, performances and programs have attracted more than 925,000 participants since its founding in 2004. During its 2022-23 season, FirstWorks produced over 40 arts education events reaching over 2,400 Rhode Island youth. Virtual Learning online platforms furthered FirstWorks educational reach and have engaged over 100,000 views from students, educators, and families. FirstWorks is the founding partner of PVDFest and has collaborated with the City of Providence to curate and produce the City’s free, signature arts celebration since 2015. Embracing collaboration, FirstWorks has fostered over 90 community partnerships across business, social service, government, arts and education sectors. Visit https://firstworks.org to learn more.
About Roger Williams Park Conservancy
The mission of the Roger Williams Park Conservancy is to sustain and enhance Roger Williams Park as a vibrant public space for all. An independent nonprofit organization, the Conservancy works in partnership with the City of Providence Parks Department to steward the Park, offer community programs, raise resources, coordinate marketing efforts, and plan for its long-term sustainability and enjoyment by the community. Visit https://rwpconservancy.org to learn more.
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