Huntertones in Bermuda – presented by U.S. Consulate
The U.S. Consulate in Hamilton is pleased to announce that Huntertones, a Brooklyn-based band, will be in Bermuda as part of their 2016 international music tour sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. The group will be performing at several venues in Bermuda from January 16-19.
Huntertones is a high energy band founded in Columbus, Ohio, and currently based in New York. The band’s signature sound comes from adventurous original compositions and arrangements that meld jazz, funk, soul, hip hop, R&B, and rock. In addition to covering a wide range of genres, the group is known for its ability to shift from a dynamic five or six piece ensemble to an unconventional trio featuring saxophone, sousaphone, and beat-boxing.
The program in Bermuda will include two free events at The Chewstick Culture Hub at 81 Front St.. The first, a free concert on Sunday, January 17 at 7 p.m. will give attendees the chance to experience Huntertones live with the incredible talents that earned the band an international tour. Musicians are encouraged to bring their instruments and jam with the band during a portion of the concert. The second event at Chewstick will take place Tuesday, January 19 at 6 p.m., featuring the Huntertones artists in an informal talk, where the band will share stories and answer questions on making music, honing their craft and building their careers. Both these gatherings will be held at The Chewstick Foundation’s new facility, The Chewstick Culture Hub on Front Street. The Chewstick Foundation is a Bermuda registered charity (#857) that empowers storytelling, creative expression and social justice to enrich youth, arts, culture and community through diverse programming and partnerships.
Chewstick Executive Director, Gavin Djata Smith, commented, “The Chewstick Foundation is grateful that the U.S. Consulate will include events at our Culture Hub facility as part of its cultural diplomacy program. While renovations at the facility are not yet complete, the invitation to connect Bermuda’s musicians with the Huntertones was too fantastic to pass up. We hope this is the first of many opportunities for visiting and local artists to share their talents, learn from one another, and build bridges to strengthen the global creative network.”
In addition, the group will conduct musical programs for students at The Berkeley Institute and Warwick Academy. This cultural diplomacy program is facilitated by an American non-profit organization, –American Music Abroad (AMA), through a grant from the U.S. Department of State. AMA facilitates people-to-people cultural exchange programs designed to communicate America’s rich musical contributions and diverse culture to the global music scene.
Cultural envoys are selected on the basis of artistic quality and commitment to education and cultural engagement. Huntertones is one of ten American musical groups which will conduct month-long international tours for the Department of State in 2016. Bermuda is the first leg of their tour, with additional stops in Ecuador, Togo, and Zimbabwe.
AMA bands represent a wide variety of American musical genres and reached more than 45 countries around the world during 2014 and 2015. This program also builds on the historic legacy of the Department of State’s Jazz Ambassadors, who first traveled the world in the 1950s to connect people through music. Jazz Ambassador alumni included Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong and Dave Brubeck.
U.S. Consul General Mary Ellen Koenig is looking forward to welcoming these cultural envoys to Bermuda. “We are delighted to share this energetic and creative group of American musicians with Bermuda through this cultural diplomacy program. Their engagement with the young people of Bermuda will showcase our ongoing creative ties and provide an opportunity for all the participants, including the Huntertone musicians, to explore the musical and cultural diversity both here in Bermuda and in the United States.” For more information, please contact Gemma Newton at newtongv@state.gov or 295-1342.
The Chewstick Movement Celebrates 13 Years
The Chewstick Foundation will celebrate its 13th Anniversary Weekend at The Chewstick Culture Hub Friday, January 1st through Sunday, January 3rd, 2016. Celebration of this important milestone for The Chewstick Foundation, will begin a Friday performance by two amazing young women, Raven Baksh and Hannah Eggen, whose sultry, lilting voices and original lyrics are sure to satisfy. Show will start 7pm and entry for this event is $15, $10 for Chewstick Members. Festivities will continue on Saturday with an Anniversary showcase lineup, featuring international poet mc Mahogany Jones alongside legendary local talents, Live Wires, Rebecca Faulkenberry, Septimus, Tiffany Paynter, Imari, Kassie Caines and more. Show will start at 8pm, entry is $50 General, $30 for members, $20 for students and $100 for Patrons (includes Chewstick membership for one year). At this celebration, they will also present the Annual Mary Prince Award, an honor awarded to a Bermudian talent, in recognition of artistic and creative expression, this award is made possible through a generous contribution from PRS, the Performing Rights Society. .
Then Sunday, January 3rd The Chewstick Foundation will hold an Anniversary Open Mic, inviting all their supporters to try out the space, reconnect with each other and help to celebrate over a decade of The Chewstick Foundation’s work, cultivating a distinctly Bermudian story that can serve to increase Bermuda’s global awareness, local pride and focus on breaking down the social barriers that only serve to stifle collective growth. Doors will open 8pm, entry is free for Chewstick members and for performers, $10 for spectators. A spokesperson for The Chewstick Foundation shared, “It is an honor to feature each of the entertainers that will make up this weekend’s entertainment,during our years of service many artists have come through our programs and facility and we are grateful that they are now coming through to assist with raising funds toward the completion of The Chewstick Culture Hub, a much needed resource for individual artists, bands and storytellers of every medium to connect socially, creatively and artistically in order to grow.”
Through attending any of these events, you will contribute toward the completion of The Chewstick Culture Hub, a purpose-built facility dedicated to the growth and strengthening of the creative industry in Bermuda. The Chewstick Foundation is happy to have the support of title sponsor, Performance Rights Society (PRS) to help make the events happen and to support the fundraising efforts of this venture.
Tickets for the 13th Anniversary Celebrations will available at the door or daily at The Chewstick Culture Hub. Prices are as follows, for $50 (General), $30 (Members) and $100 (Patron), for more information call 292 2439, email info@chewstick.org or visit www.chewstick.org
Chewstick Community Art Program Creates Bermuda Flag Mural
Chewstick has organized the painting of a mural on Front Street, bringing national pride to life with a large example of Bermuda’s flag.
As The Chewstick Foundation completes upgrades to the new Chewstick Culture Hub, currently under renovation at 81 Front Street, they have remained committed to uplifting the public consciousness through their off-site programming, most recently demonstrated through the completion of a large Bermuda Flag mural at the No.1 Car Park on Sunday, November 15, 2015.
A group of more than 20 volunteers completed the mural overnight, as the latest installation produced as part of the Chewstick Community Art Program, which has consistently delivered murals throughout the island since its inception in 2011.
Over the course of the year, while transitioning into their new headquarters, The Chewstick Culture Hub at 81 Front Street, The Chewstick Foundation has produced small and large scale cultural events and completed several community murals throughout Bermuda.
In addition to the Bermuda Flag Mural at No. 1 Car Park and the Chancery Lane Poetry Steps, completed through the Corporation of Hamilton, two murals were completed at the Union Street Headquarters of the Bermuda Industrial Union, depicting Dr. E.F. Gordon and Dr. Barbara Ball, icons in the history of the B.I.U. and the evolution of Bermuda’s political and social growth.
The Chewstick Community Art program also unveiled an installation at the Bacardi Limited headquarters, as part of Bacardi’s 50 Year Anniversary in Bermuda. Clearwater Middle School’s Art Teacher, Angela Ming-Bean served as lead artist for a CCAP mural portrait in honour of Dr. Charlotte Ming at the Clearwater Middle School.
Chewstick also presented two 4ft x 8ft plywood paintings, one depicting a Bermudiana Flower and the other musician and entertainment icon, Gene Steede, completed along the route at the Bermuda Heritage Day Parade as The Chewstick Foundation presented their art cart to showcase community art in motion.
Chewstick Foundation Operations Manager Deidra-Lee Bean said, “Each mural has been a pleasure to create and has demonstrated the power of art, to not only beautify an area but also to spark conversations on history, culture and the story of Bermuda.”
The Chewstick Community Art Program is one of the many initiatives that The Chewstick Foundation delivers with the mission to empower storytelling, creative expression and social justice to enrich youth arts culture and community.
It is only with the support of the community that these programs can continue, as The Chewstick Foundation approaches the completion of the Chewstick Culture Hub, the general public are being invited and encouraged to lend a helping hand to bring friends, family and talents to share and to participate in activities happening at the Chewstick Culture Hub over the holiday season, starting Wednesday, December 16th, 2015 and continuing until January 3rd, 2016, to help raise the funds needed to complete The Chewstick Culture Hub.
The Chewstick Foundation is committed to reintroducing their hub based programming at the new Chewstick Culture Hub and actively collaborating with other charities and organization to break down social barriers. By supporting them you enable The Chewstick Foundation to continue to focus on enriching our island home through community art installations, cultural enrichment events and delivering artist and industry development programming.
New and innovative ideas for how to help Chewstick thrive are welcome, those interested in volunteering for the Chewstick Foundation to help complete the hub, get involved with community art, share ideas and strengthen existing initiatives can call The Chewstick Foundation office at 292-2439, email info@chewstick.org or visit www.chewstick.org for more information.
Uncover the Arts featuring : The Unit | Fridays, December 4, 11, & 18 | FREE
Fridays in December enjoy the musical mastery of The Unit, a local quartet, previously awarded “Best Jazz Band in Bermuda”. The Unit represented Bermuda in the 25th Annual Havana Jazz Festival in Cuba in 2009. Covering all styles of music including rock, reggae, soca, Latin, jazz, blues, pop, and R&B.
The Unit will perform dynamic covers and original tunes in 3 special December performances as part of The Department of Community and Cultural Affairs’ Uncover the Arts series of events at The Chewstick Culture Hub, 81 Front Street.
Doors will open at 5:30 p.m, The Unit will perform between 6:30 and 8:30p.m. attendees are encouraged to stick around for music and relaxed vibes following the band’s performance.
Pop by after work and sip a festive beverage while listening to authentic Bermuda sounds and supporting culture and art in Bermuda. sound
Entry: FREE
Date: Fridays, December 4, 11, & 18, 2015
Time: 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Venue: The Chewstick Foundation, 81 Front Street (next to Onion Jacks)
