Multiflora Music Festival 2017 Full Schedule
Make a contribution Multiflora Productions first annual DIY multicultural festival HERE
Multiflora Productions is launching an annual DIY multicultural festival this October that will be spread across multiple venues throughout the district. It is a celebration of the history, culture and the artistic expressions of the international, immigrant and global community in DC and from faraway lands.
This year’s theme “search for sanctuary” is not just a motif but an ongoing humanitarian crisis within the boundaries of Washington, DC, the greater metropolitan area, and across the country. We want to showcase musicians in the area with immigrant roots, documented or documented, workers and students. We want to welcome migrant musicians coming to play the festival from faraway lands. We want to celebrate our diversity together as one with music as the medium. But also we would be remiss to not advocate for basic human rights that the DC Sanctuary Movement activists are tirelessly working on. Below the schedule of the festival you will find links to local organizations who are taking active steps to protect the most vulnerable and targeted communities, including those who are immigrants, undocumented, indigenous, Black, Muslim, Latinx, women, and LGBTQ+.
Multiflora Music Festival 2017 - Search for Sanctuary Schedule
Sunday October 1:
Mdou Moctar from Niger at Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center (Electrifying Tuareg music from the Sahara desert) 6PM FREE AND ALL AGES
Flamenco Passion featuring Alma y Cuerpo at Bossa Bistro (Flamenco is an active culture in Washington, DC and this event features some of the finest dancers, singers, and musicians in the area) 7PM $10 ALL AGES BEFORE 9:30PM
Monday October 2:
The Drunken Foreigner Band, Time Is Fire, Floom at Rhizome (File under “weird world music”. You’ll hear sprawling psychedelicized iteration of the Akha and Molam musics of Thailand and Laos, Sufi poetry set to psych-rock, and doom metal flute) 8PM $5-$10 SUGGESTED DONATION ALL AGES. More info here
Tuesday October 3:
DC Music Download and Multiflora present at panel discussion on presenting multiculturalism in the DC music scene in Washington, DC at the Mexican Cultural Institute 7PM FREE AND ALL AGES
Thursday October 5:
Ethiopian jazz and funk with Feedel Band at Bossa Bistro 9:30PM $10
Friday October 6:
Los Gaiteros de Sanguashington at Market SW (Popular and roots music from Colombia with heavy doses of cumbia and gaita) 6-9PM FREE AND ALL AGES OUTDOORS
Sublime Frequencies presents Oulaya’s Wedding at Suns Cinema (A rare glimpse into the music and culture of people of the Sahara) 6PM $10
Group Doueh from the western Sahara at Tropicalia (raw and unfiltered Saharawi music from the former colonial Spanish outpost of the Western Sahara that’s as much Jimi hendrix as it is traditional) 9PM $15-$20 advance tickets here
Saturday October 7:
Little Red & The Renegades at New Deal Cafe (Zydeco, Cajun, and New Orleans Piano Music in the mold of the great Professor Longhair. Great food, easy to park, good crowd.) 8:30PM donations only
Sunday October 8:
Joe Keyes and the Late Bloomer Band and Bushmeat Sound System at Bossa Bistro (Joe Keyes is placed at the crossroads of Gil Scott-Heron, Sun Ra, and George Clinton. Dr. Thomas Stanley makes music in the infectious electro-Bush style: A necessary music that offers no safe quarter for the war mongers and money mongers who have distorted our beautiful planet (almost) beyond recognition) 9PM $5
Wednesday October 11:
Betsayda Machado y Parranda el Clavo from Venezuela at Bossa Bistro (Internationally renowned singer Betsayda Machado presents a high-energy, roots dancing concert with Afro-Venezuelan percussion and vocal ensemble La Parranda El Clavo) 7PM $15-$20 ALL AGES Tickets available here
Gypsy Soul Party featuring Orchester Prazevica at Bossa Bistro (The spirit of the Danube will speak to you with a raucous Romani influence and deadpan humor) 10PM NO COVER 21+
Thursday October 12:
Grupo Tembembe from Mexico at the Millennium Stage at The Kennedy Center (Classical baroque with folkloric elements intersect with this group from the port city of Veracruz. Made possible by a special collaboration with Celebrate Mexico Now Festival and the Mexican Cultural Institute) 6PM FREE AND ALL AGES.
Corazón de Granada: Flamenco Joven y Jondo at Bossa Bistro (dazzling world class flamenco song and dance from Spain) 7PM $15 ALL AGES tickets here
Mdou Moctar from Niger and The Messthetics at Comet Ping Pong (blistering Tuareg electric guitar music from Niger. The Messthetics are a molten hot trio composed of Fugazi’s rhythm section and guitarist Anthony Pirog. 9PM $13 adv / $15 dos tickets here
La Colombopercutiva at Bossa Bistro (Super fun cumbia dance group from DC populated by local Colombians from the DC area) 9:30PM $5 (21+)
Friday October 13:
Mdou Moctar from Niger at Georgetown University at McNeir Auditorium (Last of 3 DC appearances at the festival of this legendary Taureg guitarist from Niger) 1:15PM FREE AND ALL AGES
Los Wembler’s from Peru and Leon City Sounds at Tropicalia (The legendary Los Wembler’s from Iquitos, Peru had the biggest impact on the development of Amazonian and Psychedelic music which sounds like a combination of surf rock and high-energy cumbia) 8:30PM $15 adv / $20 dos (18+) tickets here
Official Los Wembler’s After Party at Bossa Bistro (DJs Andujar and Studebaker Hawk, of the Peace & Rhythm record label, will be spinning jams from their label, as well as classic and contemporary eclectic sounds, including tropical, cumbia, Afro, salsa, funk, disco, Caribbean, dub, and boogie) 10:30PM $5
Saturday October 14:
Cigarette, Dougie Poole, Bong Wish, Lisa Mezzacappa at Safari Lounge (Eclectic rock bill with a wide variety of influences from English psychedelic folk, indie Roy Orbinson, 3-part harmonies, and avant-garde jazz) 8PM $10 ALL AGES
Crêpúsculo: a minimal afterhours fairytale at WAPA Cafe DC by way of Kosovo, Besnick Hyseni leads this after hours party through a global journey of sounds featuring roots folk music from around the world) 11:30PM (21+)
Sunday October 15:
Orfeia Balkan women’s choir at Hill Center (Folkloric presentation of traditional music and dance from the Balkans with a brief Q&A with performers in a beautiful historic building) 4PM $12 ALL AGES tickets here
Mashriq Maghrib monthly improvisational session that delves into the repertoire of the Arab region and neighboring cultures with Huda Asfour. Bossa Bistro 8PM $5-$10 suggested donation (21+)
Wednesday October 18:
Cilantro Boombox at Bossa Bistro (Cilantro Boombox’s explosive sound merges elements of Latin, Pan-African, brass bands, and electronic musics in a unique flavor as bold as its namesake) 9:30PM $10 (21+)
Thursday October 19:
Shab-e-Mehregan شب مهرگان”. A night celebrating Persian culture and heritage at Hill Center 7PM $12 More info and tickets here (21+)
DC Highlife All Stars at Bossa Bistro (Five world-class groove masters from Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana and the US play infectious blend of hip-shaking Highlife music from West Africa) 7-9PM $10 ALL AGES
Sahel’s Sounds of the Diaspora at Bossa Bistro (local musicians steeped in songs under the influence of all things Africa from highlife to Afro-Cuban) 10PM $10 (21+)
Friday October 20:
Cheick Hamala Diabate and Feedel Band at Market SW (East meets West Africa where local Ethiopian Feedel Band share the stage with Cheick Hamala Diabate from Mali who now calls DC home) 6-9PM FREE AND ALL AGES. More info HERE
Combo Chimbita and Los Gaiteros de Sanguashington at Atlas Performing Arts Center (futuristic Afro-Latinx fantasy vibes with this New York band fusing the indigenous art of storytelling with musical styles from Latin America and the Caribbean) 8PM $28-$30 tickets here
Elena & Los Fulanos with Kino Musica at Tropicalia (Join bilingual folk rock band Elena & Los Fulanos for the release of their anticipated second bilingual album, “Volcán.” They will be joined by special guests and will also share the stage with the world music band, Kino Musica who play instrumental music under the influence of Ethiopia and Latin America) 8PM $15 advance $18 at the door (18+) tickets here
Saturday October 21:
Flamenco with Marija Temo at Bossa Bistro second floor. 8PM $14 advance / $17 at the door
Saturday October 21:
Weird World showcase featuring Time Is Fire, Yeni Nostalji, Quattracenta at Safari Lounge (Time Is Fire play music from a country that doesn’t exist. Quattracenta from Baltimore are steeped in rock and sort of sound like a down temp PJ Harvy and Yeni Nostalji play original Turkish pop and soul) 8PM $5-$10 suggested donation (18+)
Analog Soul Club at Safari Lounge (all global vinyl dance party) 10:30PM No cover (21+)
Sunday October 22:
Levon Mikaelian’s Armenian Jazz Trio at Bossa Bistro (Armenian native Levon Mikaelian incorporates tradition Armenian folk music into his compositions with dazzling musical proficiency) 7PM $10 ALL AGES
Fourth Stream at Bossa Bistro Fourth Stream at Bossa Bistro (Fourth Stream often incorporates elements from D.C.’s finest hip-hop artists and jazzers, to poets, to Indian classical musicians led by Sriram Gopal. This Fourth Stream performance at the Multiflora music festival offers a bit of a twist. Sriram has assembled a quartet that will play material from The Fourth Stream, and will also pay tribute to the legendary guitarist, Jeff Beck. 8:30PM FREE (21+)
Tuesday October 24:
Mourning [A] BLKstar with Adron at Bossa Bistro (Formed in 2015 by RA Washington, M[A]B looks to forage new pathways toward heart music by melding soul, blues, electronics, avant-poetics w/ futurist beats. Adron playfully blends Brazilian samba, bossa nova and Tropicália with the sincerity and thoughtfulness of singer-songwriters like Joni Mitchell and Harry Nilsson, and the full-bodied rhythms of 1970’s pop and r&b) 7:30PM $5-$10 suggested donation ALL AGES
Wednesday October 25:
District of Raga presents Brooklyn Raga Massive at Bossa Bistro (District of Raga performances are rooted in or inspired by the tradition of Indian Classical Music but boldly go into experimental spaces buttressed by high level musicianship. Special guest from NYC with Brooklyn Raga massive make this a very unique one of a kind affair) 8:30PM $10 (18+)
Thursday October 26:
Heather Maxwell at Bossa Bistro (Heather Maxwell’s day job is special African correspondent for Voice of America but she’s also a very adept and soulful musician. With a deep love of traditional West African music, Heather plays ngoni and sings her original songs) 7PM $10 ALL AGES
Cissa Paz and Friends host a monthly Brazilian music residency at Bossa Bistro 10PM $10 (21+)
Friday October 27:
Innov Gnawa at Tropicalia (Innov Gnawa is a traditional Moroccan gnawa band based in New York City. Simply put, Gnawa is the music of formerly enslaved black Africans who integrated into the Moroccan cultural and social landscape, and founded a model to preserve the traditions and folkloric music of their ancestors) 9PM $10 (18+) tickets here
Saturday October 28:
Amplify Peace Tour: Saving Syrian Lives at Tropicalia (Amplify Peace: Saving Syrian Lives is a multi-genre tour featuring Arab American artists. The artists selected for the tour are deeply committed to the cause, and represent a diverse array of American artists, both in background and music styles ranging from Hip Hop and Spoken Word to Soul and Traditional Middle Eastern Music. The tour, spearheaded by the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS), aims to increase awareness of the critical medical relief work being done in and around Syria for those impacted by war. Specifically,) 7PM $20 (18+) tickets here
Sunday October 29:
Just Vibe Ensemble at Bossa Bistro (Just Vibe Ensemble is a multi-talented group that plays Latin jazz, jazz, R&B, and funk. Harkening back to the classic era of Latin jazz pioneers like Cal Tjader and Tito Puente who incorporated vibraphones, Just Vibe play Latin jazz you can dance to) 7PM $10 ALL AGES
DC Hafla presents an evening of Culture and Cocktails with a film viewing of “Oum Kalthoum: A Voice Like Egypt” and illuminating presentation with post film discussion by the distinguished Dr. Laurel Gray, artistic director of the Silk Road Dance Company and professor at George Washington University at Local 16 5:30PM (ALL AGES)
Los Gaiteros de Sanguashington at Bossa Bistro (Colombian music band in Washington DC, Virginia and Maryland. Cumbia, vallenato and more) 9:30PM $5 (21+)
Monday October 30:
Joe Lally, Tashi Dorji, Insect Factory, Welch & Oshima at Rhizome (Asheville-via-Bhutan guitarist Tashi Dorji has made a handful of diverse releases in the past decade. Experimental for sure. Each song sounds like it comes from its own planet. Local experimentalists Joe Lally of Fugazi, Insect Factory, and Welch & Oshima round out the bill) 8PM $5-$10 suggested donation ALL AGES
Tuesday October 31:
The Sandcatchers at Bossa Bistro ( Sandcatchers make a fresh sound blending the middle eastern trope of the oud with the dreamy, americana infused textures of the steel guitar) 7:30PM $10 suggested donation ALL AGES
Cheick Hamala Diabate’s Griot Street at Bossa Bistro (Washington DC’s resident griot, Cheick Hamala Diabate is the real deal: a storyteller, poet, historian, and – dare we say – rock ‘n’ roll star straight from Mali. With the griot tradition firmly nestled in his family tree – his cousin is kora virtuoso Toumani Diabate; and his uncle is Djelimady Tounkara, legendary guitarist for the Super Rail Band – his music evokes wisdom from the elders while maintaining an infectious beat, ideal for dancing) 9:30PM NO COVER CLOSING NIGHT (21+)
Venue addresses:
Tropicalia, 2001 14TH NW, Washington, DC 20001
Bossa Bistro, 2463 18TH ST, NW, Washington, DC 20009
Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital, 921 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20003
Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St NE, Washington, DC 20002
Safari Lounge, 4306 Georgia Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20011
Local 16, 1601 U ST, NW. Washington, DC 20009
Market SW, 425 M St SW, Washington, DC 20024
McNeir Auditorium at Georgetown University, 37&O ST, NW, Washington DC 20007
Wapa Cafe 6230 Georgia Ave NW, Washington
Suns Cinema 3107 Mt Pleasant St NW, Washington, DC 20010
New Deal Cafe: 113 Centerway, Roosevelt Center, Greenbelt, MD 20770
How to help DC Sanctuary movement:
