November 19, 2009 12:15 am In the mood for a cultural explosion of music? No need to travel the globe. Greater Newburyport has put together a medley of music this weekend that will get everyone tapping their feet. If you're into African rhythms, you'll want to check out Ugandan artist Kinobe or the West African beat courtesy of Mamadou Diop, both of whom are performing Saturday night in Newburyport. If you prefer your music more warm and intimate, snag a seat at one of two local coffeehouses tomorrow night. You can also celebrate the female voice — with Grammy Award-winning contemporary favorite Shawn Colvin at Tupelo Music Hall in Salisbury tomorrow night and WomenSong revisiting the music of the baroque period Saturday night in West Newbury. The holiday season begins in earnest next week. Before it does, take five and let the sounds transport you away. The cooking, cleaning and shopping will be waiting when you return from your musical journey. — Sonya Vartabedian, features editor STILL CRAZY FOR THE BLUES Justin Quinn is still all about the blues. But these days, the former Roll & Tumble harmonica player and singer from Newburyport is focusing his attention on the post-war blues and rhythm and blues from the 1950s and '60s. Quinn celebrates the music he's passionate about as this month's featured performer at FINCH (Fridays in Newburyport Coffeehouse) tomorrow night at the First Religious Society, Unitarian Universalist, Parish Hall, 26 Pleasant St., Newburyport. He and his band will serve up an intimate and at times unplugged program of blues with stories and history thrown in for added kicks. Quinn has made several CDs, including with the Blue Hornets, George McCann of the James Montgomery Blues Band and Roll & Tumble. His latest recording, "Crazy Mixed-Up World," which he released last year, features several of the musicians who will accompany him tomorrow night — Jon Ross on bass, drums, mandolin and dobro, drummer Per Hanson, Dave Sag on bass and vocals and Mark Hayden on harmonica. Doors open at 7 p.m. for coffee, tea and light fare; the music starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 and available in advance at Dyno Records on Middle Street in Newburyport or at the door. Visit www.finchcoffeehouse.org or call 978-465-5767. FAMILIAR FACES AT CAT IN THE CRADLE Cat in the Cradle Coffeehouse at Byfield Community Arts Center opens its third season tomorrow with the return of two past favorites — Boston folk-pop singer-songwriter Michelle Lewis and acoustic singer Ian Fitzgerald. Lewis recorded her debut album, "This Time Around," in 2004, and is celebrating the release of her new EP, "Broken." She is known for writing what she describes as intensely visual songs rich with melodic texture and emotional depth. Her music has been described as too refined to be folk and too personal to be pop, falling somewhere in between. Fitzgerald has been performing throughout New England for the past five years. He was selected for the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival's 2008 emerging Artists Showcase, and his song, "Lillian," won first place in the 2009 Boston Folk Festival Songwriting Contest. His fourth CD, "Empty Like the Lion Den," was released on Dirt Floor Records. Doors at the arts center at 7 Central St. in Byfield open at 7:30 p.m. The show starts at 8. Admission is $5. Refreshments will be available. Call 978-463-3335 or visit www.byfieldcac.org. GRAMMY WINNER ON SALISBURY'S SHORES Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Shawn Colvin comes to Tupelo Music Hall at Salisbury Beach tomorrow night at 8. In the 19 years since the release of her debut album, Colvin has won three Grammy Awards, released eight albums, maintained a national and international touring schedule, appeared on countless television and radio programs and had her songs featured in major motion pictures. Her newest release, "Shawn Colvin Live (2009)," was recorded in 2008 during a special three-night solo engagement at San Francisco's famous jazz club, Yoshi's, It includes 12 songs written or co-written by Colvin, as well as covers of songs by Robbie Robertson, Gnarls Barkley and the Talking Heads. Tickets for tomorrow's show are $55. The music hall is located at 4 Oceanfront North. Call 603-437-5100 or visit www.tupelosalisbury.com. AFRICAN TRADITION WITH A MODERN BEAT Rising Ugandan performer Kinobe — who has transformed the ethnic folk music of his homeland into a modern, abstract genre of music for today — brings his first major North American tour to Newburyport Saturday night. He and his Soul Beat Africa crew will perform at 8 p.m. at Mission Oak Grill at 26 Green St. The 21-year-old Kinobe Herbert, who has been performing internationally since age 10, is considered one of the leading figures in African traditional and contemporary world music. A multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter, he combines Ugandan roots music and original compositions that reflect a wealth of African and world influences with modern instrumentation. Kinobe and Soul Beat Africa perform traditional handmade acoustic instruments as they share the songs and stories of their homeland, offering listeners a window into the soul of African music. Saturday's concert is presented by Drinkwater Productions. Tickets are $22.50; reservations are requested. Visit www.drinkwaterproductions.com for more. WEST AFRICAN FUSION WITH MAMADOU Mamadou Diop and his high-energy West African fusion band deliver the power of the African drum and rhythm guitar to Port Tavern at 84 State St. in downtown Newburyport Saturday night at 9. Their music is a guitar- and drum-led groove that includes the rhythms of high-life, juju, rumba, samba, salsa and reggae blended with authentic Senegalese ethnic rhythms. While Diop sings in several languages, his music is intended as universal. The concert is a benefit for the Pendulum Project, Malawi, which empowers grassroots organizations that support children in AIDS-affected regions of sub-Saharan Africa. Established by a group of Boston-area women in 2001, the nonprofit project believes in creating a culture where everyone is given a voice in the fight against AIDS and poverty. Diop has worked to aid schools in both his community of Salem and in Senegal. His organization, A3D (African Development Through Drum and Dance), has received the 2007 and 2008 Community Service Awards from the Salem Chamber of Commerce and the 2007 Humanitarian of The Year honorable award from the Boston Chapter of the International Art of Living Foundation and the state. Tickets for Saturday's 21-plus show are $30. For more, call Port Tavern at 978-465-1006 or visit www.theporttavern.com, www.mamadou.com, www.myspace.com/jolole or www.pendulumproject.org. FEMALE VOICES REJOICE IN BAROQUE WomenSong and A Joyful Noyse are teaming up for a fall concert of baroque music Saturday at 8 p.m. at All Saints Episcopal Church Parish Hall on Route 113 in West Newbury. The concert will offer a chance to hear both choral and early instrumental works in the same program. Frances Burmeister, the music director of WomenSong, built the program after researching music from the baroque period of 1600 to 1750. She says she ended up finding more than the sacred pieces she expected, resulting in a program that incorporates what she says is the best of sacred and secular music from Germany, Italy, France, England and Iberia. WomenSong was founded in 2008 to bring women on the North Shore together to perform pieces composed for all-women ensembles. The current group includes women from Amesbury, Andover, Beverly, Andover, Georgetown, Haverhill, Ipswich, Newburyport, North Andover, Wenham and West Newbury. This is its third concert. Another is planned for April 2010. A Joyful Noyse is an early music ensemble in residence at Hancock Church in Lexington that is dedicated to the research and performance of 16th through 18th liturgical music. Under the direction of Martins Aldins, the ensemble will present several solo works as well as collaborate with WomenSong on early instruments such as the recorder, baroque violin and viola da gamba. Burmeister will perform the double harpsichord with the group. A $10 donation is suggested. The concert will be repeated Sunday at 4 p.m. at Payson Park Church UCC in Belmont. A free will donation is requested. Visit www.womensong.org for more.
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