On Friday, September 29th we celebrate the release of Shadowlands, a stunning, genre-bending collection of songs that combines the warmth and beauty of S. Carey’s aesthetic with the improvisational, spontaneous nature of John Raymond’s. The music ranges from intimate and meditative to soaring and anthemic, with electric moments of musical interplay throughout. It’s the kind of collaboration that feels as if it were years in the making. Opening the night of great friendship and musical collaboration, is the stunning Hemma.

Night three of Global Roots Festival will close out with La Perla and Waahli! La Perla is a trio of Colombian women creating bombastic, percussive music with tight vocal harmonies by weaving gaitas, hand-drums and folk singing together. To wrap our festival, Montreal-based Waahli will take the stage, mixing Haitian influences from his early years into his tri-lingual hip-hop, rapping in French, English, and Creole. Come dance to their irresistible grooves and celebrate a lovely finale to this year’s festival!

Night two of Global Roots Festival features Madalitso Band and Ethiocolor! Originally Malawi street buskers, Madalitso Band blends Chichewa and Ngoni ceremonial music into irresistible bliss, getting audiences moving and grooving to the guitar, suitcase bass drum, and babatoni. Hailing from Addis Ababa, Ethiocolor (led by the legendary Melaku Belay) share ground-shaking Ethiopian Azmari culture through song and dance. Though we’ve had Fendika and Melaku before, we’re excited to welcome the full Ethiocolor ensemble for the first time! It’s impossible to tear yourself away once Belay leaps into motion, with Ethiocolor laying down intoxicating funk grooves on traditional instruments; it’s palpable joy in every second, when it’s clear everyone on stage and around it are exactly where they want to be.

Night one of Global Roots Festival kicks off with Ana Everling and House of Waters! Originally from Moldova, but now Chicago-based, Ana Everling will open the festival with her haunting singing, sharing music inspired by Romanian folklore. To close the night, House of Waters takes the stage with a wildly indescribable fusion of genres and musical traditions the world over. With Max ZT revolutionizing the hammer dulcimer and Moto Fukushima constantly innovating on bass, don’t miss night one as they share songs from their new album due out this fall via Snarky Puppy’s GroundUP label.

Live and direct from Burkina Faso on their first ever tour of the USA, The Cedar Presents Baba Commandant and The Mandingo Band! 

Touring on the success of their latest LP, Sonbonbela (Sublime Frequencies), Baba’s voice impresses with its gravel and grit, showcasing a range that is ancient and defiant in equal measure. The Mandingo Band brings a non-stop hit parade of afro-beat bangers destined to light our dance floor ablaze!

An old-time West Bank dance with an orquesta típica, Lone Piñon! 

A New Mexican string band whose music celebrates the integrity and diversity of their region's cultural roots. With fiddles, upright bass, guitars, accordions, vihuela, and bilingual vocals, they play a wide spectrum of the traditional music that is at home in New Mexico and along the border. 

"They make the music of the border into something living, breathing and absolutely enticing." - fROOTS Magazine

Summer Cypher and The Cedar are excited to welcome you to the second annual final outdoor celebration of hip-hop culture in all its facets of music, dance, graffiti, DJing, and MCing. Returning to the neighborhood where the genesis of Summer Cypher took place, there will be music flowing throughout the day, breakers and hip-hop dancers, as well as live spray painting, and a variety of vendors to check out. Come on out to The Cedar plaza for a low-key, easy time and catch artist performances and live painting; grab some merch, food, and drinks from local small businesses; and connect with each other around a love for hip-hop.

The Cedar, TAMU Events, KFAI, and Carbon Sound Present MINNEAPOLIS AFROBEATS DANCE PARTY! The welcome-back-to-school FALL EDITION!

Considered the best afrobeats dance party in the city, featuring the contemporary African sound taking over the world.

This season's edition features: local djs, SALIF KEITA of KFAI FM and KING SWANK + performances by beloved host, FANAKA NATION and special guests TBA!