A new concert series from Gorinto Productions and 3 Dots Downtown is bringing international and globally inspired music to State College.
“Secret Planet: International Sounds in Rural Spaces,” is “connecting curators, musicians and producers presenting international performances across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.” according to a news release.
Upcoming concerts will feature artists from Burkina Faso and Israel. The series’ goal is to present artists “from countries and neighborhoods where English is not always understood and their culture is not always represented elsewhere” in the United States, offering an opportunity for open ears to explore new musical landscapes.
“3 Dots and Gorinto Productions are thrilled to bring Secret Planet to Central Pennsylvania, building on a rich history of our diverse and inclusive approach to collaborative programming between 3 Dots and Gorinto Productions,” Erica Quinn, 3 Dots executive director, said in a release. “As a Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Folk and Traditional Arts Partner, 3 Dots is excited to welcome this landmark series celebrating cultural heritage and the experience of being human.”
Corey Elbin, Gorinto Productions director, said he is excited to bring dedicated Central Pennsylvania support to the Secret Planet network.
“Our involvement in the series takes the expansive programming that is fundamental to Gorinto events and exponentially widens access while hosting diverse, life-affirming performances in Central PA,” Elbin said
The concert series opened on Sept. 14th, with Geneva, Switzerland-based Orchestre Tout Puissant Marcel Duchamp performing a backyard concert at the Boalsburg residence of 3 Dots Trustee Phil Bucher.
Upcoming Secret Planet concerts will be held at 3 Dots, 137 E. Beaver Ave. in State College.. Tickets for each Secret Planet concert are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Beer, wine and non-alcoholic options from SoBar will be available for purchase on site.
Each show starts at 7 p.m.:
• Friday, Oct. 20 – Baba Commandant and the Mandingo Band will perform. From Mandink Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, the group reimagines ancient Mandé musical traditions for the 21st century. They use the unique fusion of traditional Burkinabé instruments, Afrobeat-inspired horns and raw guitar power to create an unstoppable groove.
• Tuesday, Nov. 14 – El Khat will take the stage. From Tel Aviv, Israel, the group features musicians from many diverse backgrounds, including Iraq, Poland, Morocco and Yemen. El Khat is an orchestra of percussion, horns, strings, electricity and leader Eyal el Wahab’s own DIY instruments for retro-futurist sounds.
• Saturday, Nov. 18 – The duo of Zoh Amba and Chris Corsano will perform. From Tennessee, Zoh Amba is a composer, saxophonist and flutist who blends avant-garde, noise and devotional hymns. New York-based Chris Corsano is a drummer, improviser and composer who has performed collective improvisation, free jazz, avant-rock and noise music since the 1990s.
To purchase tickets for any of the Secret Planet concerts, visit 3 Dots online calendar.
