Lowertown Guitar Festival presented with Music Mission announces 2021 Edition supported by MRAC
Friday 6:30 Mayyadda Neo Soul voice/guitar
Mayyadda is a singer-songwriter from Minneapolis who aspires to use her music to make people slow down, find themselves in another perspective, and feel their way towards individual and collective healing. With an eclectic mix of neo-soul vocals, folksy guitar, pop-style piano with the occasional trap beat sprinkled in for flavor, she likes to refer to her genre as, “BlackGirlMagic.” She has been active as a recording artist since 2015, releasing three projects since then: most recently, Holding Space, released in 2018. New music will be coming in late 2021.
7:30 Due to the ongoing challenges with covid and international travel, Klezmerson has to cancel Klezmerson
BUT!
7:30 Siama's Congo Roots; Feel-good music from the Heart of Africa
Friday Aug 20th 7:30- Promenade Stage
Siama's Congo Roots - We are so thrilled to have a Lowertown Guitar Festival favorite to return, Siama's Congo Roots; Feel-good music from the Heart of Africa
Back in Africa, Congolese musician Siama Matuzungidi (see-AHH-maw maw-too-zoon-GHEE-dee) recorded hundreds of songs and toured the world with many popular soukous artists. (Soukous is a genre of dance music known as "the sound of happiness). The primary instrument in soukous music is the rhythm guitar and Siama's masterful approach earned him the titles "Soukous Legend" and "Mualimu" (meaning teacher or master). Along with his contemporaries, Siama helped fuel the popularization of soukous music from the 1970s-early 1990s.
Back in Africa, Siama Matuzungidi (see-AHH-maw) became a soukous legend, recording his intricate guitar on hundreds or songs and touring the world with popular artists. Now in Minneapolis, his catchy, upbeat songs and musicianship have earned him a McKnight Fellowship and numerous grants and a Parents' Choice Parent Approved award. He and his wife Dallas Johnson (singer/narrator) love performing special concerts and events and sharing his happy music with kids and families. In addition to singing and guitar, Siama plays traditional African instruments like Mbira (thumb piano), Lokole (tone drum) and Balafon (marimba) and he's a mean beatboxer.
20 performers on 3 stages at the historic Como Lakeside Pavilion August 20 & 21
Lowertown Guitar Festival, presented by Music Mission, St. Paul’s outdoor music festival with a six string slant, announces our 2021 edition featuring a lineup of local and international artists and community activities. LGF will take place at St. Paul’s Como Lakeside Pavilion and be set out over 3 stages and 2 days, with the Promenade Stage hosting acts from indie-folk artist Humbird to fingerstyle guitar master Pat Donohue on Saturday after opening with and neo soul artist Mayyadda and Siama's Congo Roots; Feel-good music from the Heart of Africa , Friday night. A waterfall-side performance site will host the worldwide debut of Jeremy Ylvisaker’s “Echoes 1 & 2” sound installation after the festival kicks off with a mood set and guided meditation by Marc Anderson “The Urban Monk” accompanied by improviser/instrument maker Paul Metzger out of Saint Paul, MN.
Community activities are highlighted by the “Strum a Song/Sing Along” led by Chris Koza & Lucy Michelle, inviting all to bring a guitar and play simple songs alongside your strumming neighbors! (ukes and air guitars accepted!) Young Jazz Guitarist and future neurologist Elijah Johnson will make his festival debut and LGF mainstays Mike Michel and Terrell X will bring their explosive improv-heavy guitar and vocals duo. A new dance music project led by Al Sparhawk of Low and Al Church called ”Derecho” will drop the funk during the ever popular pedal swap led by festival sponsor El Diablo. Other highlights include Miss Myra & Fitzgerald Palmer performing guitars duets from the 20’s, Cathy and Abel with a Spanish/English set of songs in the cafe and a Violin/Classical guitar duets by Shank-Hagedorn Duo.
Pat Donohue will be leading a workshop entitled “Blues Guitar Turnarounds of the Legends”. For more information and fees/sign up : musicmissionmusic@gmail.comLowertown Guitar Festival History
Lowertown Guitar Festival 2021 is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
2021 LGF Lineup and Schedule
Friday Aug 20
Promenade Stage
6:30-7:15 Mayyadda
7:30-8:45 Siama's Congo Roots
Saturday Aug 21
Promenade Stage
11:15-11:45 “Strum Along/Sing a Song” led by Lucy Michelle & Chris Koza
12:00-12:50 Derecho ( the pedal swap will also be happening with the Chase Bliss pedal raffle at 12:50 )
1:00-1:30 Elijah Johnson
1:30-1:50 Mike Michel and Terrell X
2:00-2:50 Humbird
3:00-4:00 Pat Donohue
4:15-6:00 Promenade closed
6:00-9:00 MN “The Last Waltz” Purchase tickets here for MN "The Last Waltz"
Waterfall Stage
11:00-11:45 Paul Metzger - Improvised on Modified Banjo accompanies a guided meditation with the Urban Monk.
12:15-4:00 Jeremy Ylvisaker and Friends present “Echoes 1 & 2”.
Cafe Duet Stage ( inside Dock and Paddle )
1:15-2:00 Miss Myra and Fitzgerald Palmer
2:15-3:00 Cathy and Abel
3:15-4:00 Shank-Hagedorn Duo
Waterfall Room ( 3rd Floor inside pavilion)
12:00-1:00 Pat Donohue’s Master Class “Blues Guitar Turnarounds of the Legends”
( $25 cash preferred or c/c payment day of workshop)
Email name & phone number to: musicmissionmusic@gmail.com
Como Lakeside Pavilion
1360 Lexington Parkway N.
St. Paul, MN., 55105
please note Siama’s Congo Roots are now playing at 7:30 on Friday.