Peace Village Proudly Presents:
Chris Berry & Esme Olivia
Ashland Concert & Dance
Fri, Oct 3
7:30pm Doors / 8pm-10pm Show
Jackson Wellsprings Casbah Pavilion
2253 Hwy 99N, Ashland, OR

"[Chris Berry] possesses a unique and reedy voice like Sting, a stage presence like James Brown, and lyrical content reminiscent of Bob Marley."
~ New York Press

Grammy award winner Chris Berry is an eclectic singer and songwriter, multi-instrumentalist virtuoso, and high-energy performer and teacher. From his humble beginning in Zimbabwe, he has blasted his powerful Afro-infused sound around the World for over twenty years; rocking audiences from NYC’s Irving Plaza to sold out stadiums in South Africa and Sydney Australia’s famous Opera House. He has released over a dozen albums; scored the soundtrack for three films; and has been collaborating and performing with some of the World’s best performers like Eminem, Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann, and Senegalese Afro-Pop sensation Yousoou N’dour.

Chris was born and raised in California where at 15 he began his apprenticeship with Master Drummer Titos Sompa. This relationship led him into a ten year journey to Africa. Eight of these years were spent in Zimbabwe during the Mugabe Regime.

Immersed in the culture of all-night Mbira Ceremonies, Chris found his voice singing among the polyrhythmic harmonies commonly found throughout Zimbabwe and most of South Africa. Encouraged by his teachers to create his own compositions, he formed the band Panjea which fused Funk with elements of Hip-Hop, Afro-Pop, and traditional African music. The band quickly had No. 1 hits on the radio, toured all over Africa, and reached Platinum Record Sales on an album they recorded with Zimbabwean-based Gramma Records.

In the last few years Chris has collaborated with Steve Kimock, members of the Brazilian Girls, Baaba Maal, Xavier Rudd, String Cheese Incident, and many others.

Carrying the torch for tomorrow
~ Harry Belafonte

"This sh-t is f-ckin crazy!"
~ Eminem

ChrisBerryMusic.org


• ESME OLIVIA

Esme Olivia grew up in traditional Tiwa lands known as Albuquerque, NM. Her's is a weaving of lineages from Mexico, Holland, the Jewish diaspora, & the Great Mystery.

She is a movement, theatre, music & teaching artist with Dancing Earth Creations & independent projects.

Esme is especially keen on vocal harmonies, & how music, dance & storytelling may seed new culture & offer fresh water for the thirsty, which she is devoted to in many ways with her main collaborator: musician, dancer & educator Chris Berry.

Singer. Instrumentalist. Composer. Dancer. Poet. Actor. Educator. Prayerformer. Voicing the marriage of sky & earth, angels & dirt.

EsmeOlivia.com


• GENERAL EVENT INFO:

• Children under 12 are free when accompanied by an adult.
• Teens 12 - 17 are half price at the door when accompanied by an adult.
• Please: No Alcohol, Dogs, or Drugs