Africa Unplugged

Africa Unplugged is a dynamic group, led by djembe master, guitarist and songwriter, Atiba Rorie. The band uses traditional percussion instruments from West Africa in combination with guitars and bass to play traditional rhythms while drawing from influences across the world. Their creativity results in a funky, soulful blues and dance music that keeps you moving as they tell stories from the old world and the new! 

Learn more at https://africaunpluggedmusic.com/

The Wildwoods

"Every note we play is a chapter in our story, a journey through the heart of American roots music. We're The Wildwoods, where each lyric is a leaf in the vast forest of our sound."

In the heart of Lincoln, Nebraska, The Wildwoods emerge as a folk/Americana trio, a musical tapestry woven by husband-and-wife, Noah (guitar) and Chloe Gose (violin), alongside bassist Andrew Vaggalis. Their story is a symphony of exploration and connection, a journey that has taken them from the Midwest to international stages, carving out a unique place in the folk landscape. Their presence has graced stages alongside artists such as Mighty Poplar, Sierra Ferrell, Aiofe O’ Donovan, Melissa Carper, Jamie Wyatt and Joe Nichols at concerts and festivals like Summerfest, FreshGrass and the Oyster Ridge Music Festival.

The Wildwoods have become a force in the folk scene, boasting accolades like being finalists at the FreshGrass Music Festival Band competition and Gems on VHS "Gems in the Rough" competition in 2023. Their songwriting prowess is underscored by semi-final placements in the International Songwriting competition, with tracks like "Untitled" and "Way of Train." Recognized consistently at the Omaha Arts and Entertainment Awards, they were crowned "Best Band" by the Lincoln Journal Star’s Lincoln Choice Awards in 2022.

Their sonic journey unfolds through albums like the debut "Sweet Nostalgia" (2017), followed by "Birdie & Goose" (2017), "Across A Midwest Sky" (2019), and their latest masterpiece, "Foxfield Saint John" (2023). The band's evolution is evident in each track, a testament to their commitment to pushing musical boundaries.

United by a passion for folk/Americana, the trio’s influences range from Watchhouse and Nickel Creek, to Gillian Welch & David Rawlings. Their music, though comfortably under the folk/Americana umbrella, weaves intricate chord structures and emotional textures that defy genre boundaries. Together, their harmonies resonate with artful sincerity, drawing inspiration from nature, their shared experiences of growing up in Nebraska and life on the road.

Learn more at https://www.thewildwoodsband.com/

Jason McKinney

Originally from Milwaukee WI, USA, Mr. McKinney graduated from the University Of North Carolina School of the Arts, where he studied voice with soprano Marilyn Taylor and tenor Glenn Siebert, Conducting with Maestro James Allbritten, and composing with Kenneth Frazelle. Whilst in school Mr. McKinney was the recipient of the Helen Odom scholarship, the Music Dean’s Talent scholarship, and the Chancellor’s Grant for Excellence. Jason was the winner of the 2001 and 2002 Civic Music Association of Milwaukee’s Harold Levin scholarship competition and was awarded the Judges Choice award at the 2001 Metropolitan Opera’s district competition.

In 2004 Jason won that competition in the South Carolina District and continued on to place second in the Southeastern Regional Finals. Jason has had the opportunity to premier new works by Kenneth Frazelle, Shelley Olson, Daniel Sonnenberg, Chandler Carter and Lawrence Dillon. Jason has gone on to perform at such prestigious venues as The Kennedy Center, The White House, The Semper Opera House in Dresden Germany, The Hamburgische Staatsoper, The Festspielhaus in Baden-Baden, Germany, Opera Kommische in Berlin Germany, Teatro Massimo Bellini in Catania, Sicily, and The Theatre Carre in Amsterdam Netherlands.

As a young person Jason was educated in Judaica at the Hillel Academy in Fox Point, WI. There he was first introduced to Jewish music, and that exposure influenced his love of music spurring him to learn a musical instrument. As a member of a Boy Scout explorer post Jason learned to play the Albert System clarinet in the New Orleans style and eventually was invited to play with the prestigious Preservation Hall Jazz Band in the French quarter. Jason spent many hours with the Milwaukee area Boys & Girls club, playing football, singing in choirs and performing for sporting events. He eventually earned a scholarship for university, and helped to train younger children how to play new Orleans Jazz.

On the stage Mr. McKinney has performed with numerous opera companies in the US and in Europe. Some of his favorite roles are the title role in Porgy & Bess, Don Giovanni, and Le Nozze di Figaro, Colline in Puccini’s La bohème, Olin Blitch in Carlisle Floyd’s Susannah, and Crown in the Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess. Mr. McKinney is well known as a quick study and has been called upon to be a last-minute replacement on many occasions, sometimes being required to perform, on as little as eight hours’ notice, a role he did not know before.

As a concert soloist Mr. McKinney has been featured with the North Carolina Symphony, the Eugene Symphony and has performed to critical acclaim in Europe, Mexico the U.S. and Australia. When not on the stage Mr. McKinney sings as the cantor in his synagogue in Spartanburg, SC, and composes Jewish liturgical music for Temple Emmanuel in Winston-Salem.

Learn more at https://www.facebook.com/jason.mckinney.397/