FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM JANUARY 9, 2020 • BUZZ • THE QUEENS COURIER 45
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Photo courtesy of Flushing Town Hall
Flushing Town Hall presents new
season of the Global Mashups series
BY JENNA BAGCAL
jbagcal@qns.com
@jenna_bagcal
Over the next few months, Flushing
Town Hall will host its popular Global
Mashups series, which pairs musical traditions
from around the world in a fi vepart
season.
Th e seventh annual concert series continues
to present “global music to a global
community,” combining genres from
bluegrass and Ghanaian brass to klezmer
and music from the Philippines. Since its
inception, the Global Mashup concerts
have garnered community excitement in
Queens where there are more languages
spoken than anywhere else in the world.
Th is year, the Global Mashups lineup
includes Klezmer meets Venezuela,
Hungary meets Ghana, Colombia meets
the Philippines, bluegrass meets Mexico
and Balkans meets tango. Each of the series’
events will involve a separate set of musical
performances from two diff erent regions.
Aft erward, the two groups will participate
in a collaborative set, in which they combine
talents to create a new sound.
“Th e spirit of these mashups is one
of celebration and respect,” said Ellen
Kodadek, Flushing Town Hall’s executive
and artistic director. “We are celebrating
and respecting our diff erences and appreciating
each other’s unique, cultural traditions,
while also coming together for a
one-of-a-kind, shared experience. Th e arts
move us all and bring people together!”
Prior to each show, attendees of all ages
can participate in an engaging dance lesson.
Th ere will also be special food and
drink for purchase. Check below for the
full roster of performances happening
every Saturday starting Feb. 29.
Global Mashup 1: Klezmer
Meets Venezuela
Th is audience favorite returns on
Feb. 29, featuring the musical stylings
of klezmer clarinetist Michael Winograd
& the Honorable Mentshn along with
the Venezuelan Afro-Soul of Betsayda
Machado y Parranda El Clavo.
Global Mashup 2:
Hungary Meets Ghana
On March 14, the Hungarian folk band
Életfa is set to showcase high-energy traditional
music and dance while Kotoko
Brass plays “propulsive, infectious party
music” inspired by traditional Ghanaian
drum rhythms. Audiences are welcome
to come to a 4 p.m. panel discussion
“Birth of the women’s movement &
Austro-Hungarian uprisings: How 1848
changed NYC.”
Global Mashup 3: Colombia
Meets the Philippines
Th e third Global Mashup on April 4 features
the Cumbia River Band, which draws
infl uence from Colombian Cumbia and
Riverside music. Joining them is Sining
Kapuluan, who will present traditional
gong music and dances from Mindanao,
the southern island of the Philippines.
Global Mashup 4:
Bluegrass Meets Mexico
On April 18, Astrograss will perform
a combination of high-energy bluegrass,
old-time Celtic music and dance as Jarana
Beat treats listeners to a blend of Mexican
folk and Afr0-Amerindian musical traditions.
Global Mashup 5:
Balkans Meets Tango
For the fi nale on May 2, Slavic Soul
Party will showcase fi ery Balkan brass,
“irresistible” beats, Roma (Gypsy) accordion
and virtuoso jazz. Th ey will be joined
by Th e Aces of Rhythm who will perform
hardcore tango with an “unstoppable”
rhythm.
Last year, Flushing Town Hall sold out
the Global Mashup series following its
burgeoning popularity.
“What a fun night,” said Jonathan
Goldman, a participating artist in 2019. “It
was a brilliant, musical adventure!”
Every show begins at 8 p.m., prefaced
with a dance lesson at 7:15 p.m. Tickets
for each event is $18 for general admission,
$12 for members and students and
free for teens under Flushing Town Hall’s
Teen Access Program.
Located at 137-35 Northern Blvd. visitors
can access Flushing Town Hall by car,
bus, train and on foot. Th e area is accessible
for wheelchair users and individuals
with limited mobility.
Purchase tickets at fl ushingtownhall.org
or by calling 718-463-7700 ext. 222.
The Global Mashup series begins Saturday, Feb. 29.
/ushingtownhall.org
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