Music: OkayAfrica & SummerStage present Fantastic Negrito, Young Fathers, and Bombino

by Michael Goldstein

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Written by Michael Goldstein for THE ARTISTS FORUM MAGAZINE
Edited by
Amos White V for THE ARTISTS FORUM, INC
Photos
: Michael Goldstein

REVIEWER RATING:
4.5 out of 5 stars

OKAYAFRICA & SUMMERSTAGE PRESENT FANTASTIC NEGRITO, YOUNG FATHERS, AND BOMBINO

New York, NY (July 27, 2015) Saturday afternoon came in with an explosion of raw emotion and a bridge made out of nothing but James Brown-styled rock as Fantastic Negrito opened a trinity of performances at OkayAfrica – a series of presentations in collaboration with SummerStage in Central Park on July 25, 2015. With his fantastic spin on the blues, onto the stage he came, singing about his personal adventure of rebirth with nothing but full emotion, singing that the Night Has Turned To Day, much in the same way a pastor explains to a blind man that nothing but faith in the Lord can cure his blindness.

Fantastic Negrito performs at SummerStage

If Fantastic Negrito let the sunshine in, then Young Fathers let the day into major sunburn. LOUD will be the first thing that comes to your mind the first time you hear the band. Despite being labeled as a mixture of hip hop and rock, ‘G’ Hastings, Alloysious Massaquoi, and Kayus Bankole instead break down the wall of definition that have been propped up around them. In many ways, it shows a complete disregard for the audience, which is a good thing. These folks are doing what they like, how they like, and whenever they want to do it.

Young Fathers perform at SummerStage

Finally, the concert, as well as the afternoon, came to a smooth climax with the arrival of Bombino. Bringing out with him the essence of Tuareg people, his outfit that made him look like a mediocre Elvis impersonator. But more importantly, the spirits of Hendrix and Garcia, emitted from his guitar, a tool made out of nothing but pure soul, with which he used to draw the concert to a soulful and satisfying conclusion.

Bombino moves the crowd at SummerStage

At the end of the day, the three-part concert turned out to be a successful eye opener of African music. Pay close attention to them, because you could find them playing in your neighborhood soon.

For more information about Fantastic Negrito, visit: fantasticnegrito.com
For more information about Young Fathers, visit: young-fathers.com
For more information about Bombino, visit: bombinomusic.com
For more information about SummerStage, visit: cityparksfoundation.org/summerstage

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