BRATTLEBORO — The Next Stage "Bandwagon Summer Series" presents Afrobeat ensemble Armo on Friday, Aug. 18, at 6 p.m., at the Retreat Farm, 45 Farmhouse Square.
Armo's sound focuses on classic and contemporary Afrobeat. Founded by longtime Antibalas bandmates Amayo (vocals, keyboards), Jordan McLean (trumpet, percussion), Marcus Farrar (percussion, vocals), Nikhil P. Yerawadekar (guitar, keyboards), Kevin Raczka (drums), and Justin Kimmel (bass), Armo creates spontaneous arrangements of the music of Fela Anikulapo Kuti, The Daktaris, Ebo Taylor, William Onyeabor, The Art Ensemble of Chicago and original rhythm-based music.
This band features a revolving cast from the Daptone Records family and the New York City Afrobeat scene. Members of the band now include Dave "Smoota" Smith on trombone and keyboards, Binky Griptite and Timothy James on guitars and bass, Tony Jarvis on saxophone and keyboards, and drummer Dylan Fusillo.
Collectively the members of Armo have performed thousands of concerts around the world working with such performers as David Byrne, Angelique Kidjo, Public Enemy, TV on The Radio, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, Ornette Coleman, and in the band for the Tony Award winning musical Fela!
Their first recording, a self-titled EP, was released on System Dialing Records in 2018 and is available on 10-inch 45 rpm record, as downloads, and streaming on all major platforms. Their 2020 single "New Beginning" is available on Bandcamp.
The band holds a monthly jam session at the legendary Bitter End in the West Village. Most recently they served as the house band for the City Winery-Carnegie Hall afterparty tribute to Paul McCartney, and have restarted their years-long residency at Brooklyn's famed Bar Lunatico.
Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the gate. Children under 12 are admitted free. Next Stage will provide a cash bar. Advance tickets are available at nextstagearts.org. For information, call 802-387-0102.
This The Arts item was submitted to The Commons.