Lawrence Spirit of Music Potluck Concert
Sept. 22, 2024 3:30-7:00PM
Special Guest: The Timba Messengers

The Timba Messengers promo picture
Down By Riverside, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Medford, invites the people of Lawrence and surrounding communities to join us in a Spirit of Music Potluck Concert on September 22, from 3:30 to 7 PM at the Lawrence United Masonic Lodge. Multi-cultural music performances will include salsa/jazz/pop phenom The Timba Messengers, a six-piece ensemble composed of members from all over the LatinX world! Jonathan Gramling and Toussaint the Liberator will perform their African American drums and voice program highlighting how music connects us. Safiya Leslie will be performing a musical tour of Afro-Caribbean cultures, drawing especially from her Jamaican and Trini roots!

Our guests are encouraged to bring food to share, but feel free to come regardless! The music is curated to build connections between people across the state from all over the world! This event is free to the public, though donations are always appreciated.

The ACLU of MA will be registering people to vote!
This concert is funded in part by the Lawrence Cultural Council and Down By Riverside, Inc.

Jonathan Gramling and Toussaint the Liberator will be performing their healing harmonies and rhythms. They take the audience on a deep examination of history, Black culture and experience in America. Drawing from spirituals, blues, soul and reggae they invoke their upbringing as the sons of preachers in Philadelphia and Indiana. Our spirits become tangible and entwined with this duo.
 

About the Spirit of Music Events:

Spirit of Music Potluck Concerts are organized by Down By Riverside, Inc. a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit based in Medford, MA. We use music and food to create feelings of connectedness and community. The music and performers are curated to engage the spirit, educate participants and to transport the listeners to a safe place. Our goal is to make these events easy to attend and free to anyone who wants to come. If you can afford to help us provide this experience to all, we appreciate your donations!
 
We would love for you to bring a contribution to the Potluck! Previous attendees have said that they love the stories about the recipes as much as the food! We will ask potluck questions during the donation and ticket purchase process. You can also email our founder, Hendrik, with any questions.

 

This concert is free to the public, though we do appreciate your donations! We are part of the Card to Culture program for folks with ConnectorCare, EBT, and WIC programs.

 

The Masonic Lodge is accessible and meets ADA standards. There is free parking around the lodge on the streets, because permit parking is not enforced on Sundays.

 

Please contact us if you need assistance in being able to come to this event! We want you here with us.

 

 

 

 

 




 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spirit of Music Potluck Concert
June 9, 2024 4:00-6:30PM
Special Guest: Kemp Harris

Unitarian Universalist Church of Medford
147 High Street, Medford, MA 02155

“Kemp Harris is a thief, a tease and a heartbreaker. He knows too much. And it’s all right there when he sings. Beautifully there. He’ll take your breath away.”
– Tom Ashbrook, Host of NPR’s On Point

Down By Riverside is incredibly excited to present Kemp Harris to the Spirit of Music community. He is a composer, musician, children’s author, actor and teacher. Born in North Carolina, Kemp taught himself piano and was writing songs at age 14.
As a musician and composer, Kemp has shared the stage with Taj Mahal, Gil Scott-Heron and blues artist, Koko Taylor. He wrote and performed “If Loneliness Was Black” for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Complexions Dance Company. Kemp has also composed for WGBH Public Television/Boston.

Jonathan Gramling and Toussaint the Liberator will be performing their healing harmonies and rhythms. They take the audience on a deep examination of history, Black culture and experience in America. Drawing from spirituals, blues, soul and reggae they invoke their upbringing as the sons of preachers in Philadelphia and Indiana. Our spirits become tangible and entwined with this duo.

About the Spirit of Music Events:

Spirit of Music Potluck Concerts are organized by Down By Riverside, Inc. a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit based in Medford, MA. We use music and food to create feelings of connectedness and community. The music and performers are curated to engage the spirit, educate participants and to transport the listeners to a safe place. Our goal is to make these events easy to attend and free to anyone who wants to come. If you can afford to help us provide this experience to all, we appreciate your donations!

We would love for you to bring a contribution to the Potluck! Previous attendees have said that they love the stories about the recipes as much as the food! We will ask potluck questions during the donation and ticket purchase process. You can also email our founder, Hendrik, with any questions.

There are donation-based tickets for adults, children, elders and donations help support the event. We are part of the Card to Culture program for folks with ConnectorCare, EBT, and WIC programs.

The church is accessible and meets ADA standards. There is limited free parking at the church and attendees can park on the streets, because permit parking is not enforced on Sundays.

Please contact us if you need assistance in being able to come to this event! We want you here with us.