“This Fall marks the 10th anniversary of OneBeat, the series of revolutionary international collaborations led by our Found Sound Nation team. This is some of the most noble work we know of – using music to build bridges across geographies and nationalities and cultures, redefining and expanding our artistic family, giving deep and meaningful opportunities to musicians coming from a wide spectrum of disciplines and traditions, underlining the recognition that our communities need to be central to how we all make music together. In honor of these 10 years, we are excited to showcase some of this groundbreaking work in a 4-hour long live streaming marathon concert. Please join us!“
— David Lang, co-founder and co-artistic director
Bang on a Can is excited to present the OneBeat Marathon – Live Online – on Sunday, November 15, 2020 from 12-4pm EST, curated by Found Sound Nation, its social engagement wing and co-hosted by the Montalvo Arts Center. Over four hours the OneBeat Marathon will feature live-streamed multimedia performances by musicians from 14 countries stretching over five continents to transport audiences to a paradigm-bending sonic universe.
OneBeat, an initiative of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and produced by Found Sound Nation, is redefining music diplomacy. For the past decade, OneBeat residency programs have convened young pioneering musicians from across the world to dive into the musical unknown together and build a global network of artists committed to civic discourse. The OneBeat Marathon will begin a year-long celebration of online events and programs to commemorate OneBeat’s 10th anniversary in 2021.
On November 15, former OneBeat fellows will perform 18 sets of surprising, soulful music in solo, duo and trio acts. Opening from the mountainous Lake Baikal region of Siberia, mohin huur player Alexander Arkhincheev will give a stirring performance at 12 pm ET, followed by a kaleidoscopic array of musicians and spoken word artists in Accra, Beijing, Beirut, Berlin, Bogota, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Mumbai, New York City, Sacramento, Seoul, Sulaymaniyah and more. Hear everything from electronic pop sets to microtonal accordion tunes to improvised experimental trios playing together across continents and timezones. The Marathon closes with a festive duo between longtime Bang on a Can All-Star Mark Stewart and Nigerian guitarist Biodun Kuti, a 2013 OneBeat fellow who went on to play alongside Mark in Paul Simon’s band. Other featured acts include composer, trumpeter and santur player Amir ElSaffar, Indonesian sinden vocalist Peni Candra Rini, South African future folk performer Dumama, superstar pan- Latin group LADAMA, poet, musician, writer and performer Dahlak Brathwaite.
Featured artists include:
Alexander Arkincheev, Amir ElSaffar, Peni Candra Rini, LADAMA, Kyungso Park, Samah Boulmona, Dahlak Brathwaite, Meng Xi, Jess Tsang, Amy Garapic, Jinda Kanjo, Dumama, Kechou, Dylan Greene, Shruti Bhave, Ng Chor Guan, Jay Afrisando, Daniel de Mendoza, Asantewa, Anna RG, Aurora Nealand, Mustelide, Johanna Amayo Conejo, Biodun Kuti, Mark Stewart.
Learn more about the participating artists in the press release below.