DUMMERSTON — Join the celebration of the longest day of the year, the first day of summer, and Simba's 25th anniversary at the Simba Silver Summer Solstice Dance Party Extravaganza on Saturday, June 21.
The event starts at 8 p.m. at Evening Star Grange in Dummerston Center.
In 1989, the band started by playing a benefit on the Brattleboro Common to shut down Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant. They called themselves the No Nukes Band, and that group became Simba. Twenty-five years later, they've rocked dance floors, lawns, and town gazebos all around southern Vermont and New Hampshire.
They've played weddings, parties, summer concerts, benefits, and the greatest dance parties of all: summer and winter solstice celebrations. The energy and feeling of community at these annual gatherings makes this celebration one of the most special events of the year.
The band will play music to make you move: funk, reggae, Latin, world-beat, soca-calypso, ska, jazz and blues, with blazing horns and scorching percussion.
Rupa Cousins will lead a movement meditation. The band says it dedicates this event to peace, love, and unity in our community “and all across Mother Earth,” and offers thanks to all the dancers who have come out to move to the music over the years.
Band members are Bob Stabach (sax, flute); Dan De Walt (keyboard, steel drum, trombone); Wim Auer (bass); Derrik Jordan (guitar, percussion, violin, vocals); Steve Sonntag (trumpet, percussion); and Johnny Yuma (drums, vocals). Special guest master drummer William Rodriguez, formerly of Cuba, will provide even more firepower throughout the evening on congas and timbales.