Enjoy a live performance by Orchestre Moto on Friday\, August 14 starting at 7:00 PM. Join us for eclectic live musi c outside on the lawn behind Brand Library &\; Art Center. Visitors are welcome to bring a chair or blanket and picnic on the grassy hillsides in Brand Park. Seats are not provided. Performances run 60 - 90 minutes with out intermission. Performances may be experienced by children and families .
\nOrchestre Moto is a Los Angeles and New York-ba sed ensemble with a constellation of roots stretching from Kinshasa to Bra zzaville to Lubumbashi to Pointe-Noire\, dedicated to the Congolese sound. Moto means &ldquo\;fire&rdquo\; in Lingala: a name that reflects the expl osive\, high-energy guitar and drum heavy African dance music they bring t o the stage. They were recently mentioned in the New York Times and featur ed in the April edition of Brooklyn Rail Magazine.
\nThe ensemble pe rforms a rich tapestry of genres\, including Congolese rumba\, sebene\, mu tuashi\, and ndombolo&mdash\;styles that blend traditional rhythms with el ectric guitar and Afro-Cuban influences. Since Summer 2024\, Orchestre Mot o has performed at premier venues and festivals nationwide\, including the International African Arts Festival\, Wakanda Celebration Festival\, BRIC Brooklyn\, and LA's own Motherland Music.
\nBeyond the stage\, the band serves as the flagship for the nonprofit Congo Culture Connection. Th is mission-driven organization facilitates creative exchange between the U .S. and both Congos\, aiming to bridge Anglophone and Francophone worlds w hile ensuring large format bands and dance troupes earn the dignified\, li vable wages their cultural labor deserves. The ensemble also seeks to reba lance the lens of crisis through which Congo is often seen\, building a la sting community across the Atlantic.
\n&ldquo\;NYC&rsquo\;s own Congolese music powerhouse&rdquo\; &mdash\; Afropop Worldwide
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\nThe series began in 2014 and is supported by the&nbs p\;Glendale Arts and Culture Commission\, through funding from the \;U rban Art Program\, with support from \;Glendale Library\, Arts &\; Culture\, \;Glendale Community Services and Parks\, and the \;Bran d Associates.
\nFor additional information about this event\, please contact Brand Library &\; Art Center at (818) 548-2051 or send an emai l at \;Info@BrandLib rary.org. Visit \;BrandLibrary.org/Summer-Music-Series \;to learn more.
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\nFree\, limited parking is ava ilable in Brand Park. An accessible entrance and accessible parking for ca rs with a disabled parking placard or license plate is located on the East side of Brand Library.
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