Exploring the Musical Traditions of Mali, the Middle East and More

This concert features three Bay Area-based musicians with wide-ranging backgrounds in multiple instruments and global sounds. They are Mamadou Sidibe on n'goni & vocals, Eliyahu Sills on bass, ney, bansuri, oud, and vocals, and Kele Nitoto on percussion and vocals. The trio will draw on the musical traditions of Mali, as well as other parts of Africa and the Middle East, for their renditions and their own compositions. In recent years, Meetup members have seen Mamadou perform with different bands at Oakland's Sound Room and Berkeley's Freight, among other venues.

MORE INFO and TICKET LINK:
https://events.humanitix.com/mamadou-sidibe-eliyahu-sills-kele-nitoto

Buy your own tickets.

EVENT COST: Tickets are about $33 per person online via Humanitix (or, if the show doesn't sell out in advance, you can buy a ticket at the door for $35 with either cash or Venmo). I also welcome $1.00 donations to defray the hefty fee that Meetup charges me as lead organizer of the Live Jazz (& Blues) Group.

NOTE that this event is on a Sunday night.

SEATING: General admission, mainly on couches, in a casual, pleasantly funky, coffeehouse-type setting

WHEN/WHERE TO MEET: Unless you're joining me for dinner before the show, let's meet me out front of the Back Room by 6:30 p.m., so we can get seats together. If we miss each other outside, look for each other in the seating area. (The show is scheduled to start at 7:00 p.m. and will likely consist of two sets, ending at about 9:00 p.m.)

HOW TO FIND ME: I'm WF, about 5 feet tall, with short, salt-and-pepper hair, and glasses. (See my photo with my Meetup profile.) I'll send my cellphone number and more info to RSVPers prior to the event. If I get seated before other Meetup RSVPers, I'll post a Comment on the Meetup Event Page saying where I'm located. PLEASE TEXT ME IF YOU DON'T SPOT ME.

OPTIONAL DINNER prior to the concert (at about 5:00 p.m.) at a Nepali-Indian restaurant in downtown Berkeley. (Dinner reservations are limited to six people, with preference given to Meetup members who are good about honoring their RSVPs. I'll gladly accommodate additional people for the concert by itself.)

(NOTE: NO food or drink is sold at the Back Room, but you are free to bring your own snacks or BYOB.)

PHOTOS of the Back Room and more details about the space:
http://backroommusic.com/about-the-back-room/

PARKING: Parking is easier to find as you get away from Shattuck OR as you go north of University. There is also a paid garage a few blocks away, but folks typically find free parking on side streets or main streets. http://backroommusic.com/transportation-parking/

TRANSIT/LOCATION: The Back Room is located just off University, about a block from MLK (and Trader Joe's), on AC Transit bus routes, and less than a half-mile from the downtown Berkeley BART station.