The Cedar Presents
CANCELLED: An Evening with BATO BATO!
This show has been cancelled due to inclement weather. Ticket buyers will be automatically refunded.
LISTEN
“Breck School Marimba Ensemble - Topic” Video courtesy BATO BATO!’s official YouTube channel.
ABOUT THIS SHOW
This show has been cancelled due to inclement weather. Ticket buyers will be automatically refunded.
BATO BATO!
BATO BATO! is a high school marimba ensemble from Breck School, located in Golden Valley, Minnesota. The group consists of a couple dozen high school students, a bunch of marimbas, and a plethora of percussion. The name is Swahili for "dancing place"- and that's just what they do! Although their style is deeply rooted in Latin rhythms and the Shona music of Zimbabwe, they also love to play marimbafied renditions of their favorite pop, alternative, rock, rap, and soul songs. Bato Bato will pound, shake, sing, and romp their way into your heart.
BATO BATO! released their most recent album, Knock on Wood, in April of 2023. Featuring eight songs ranging from Harry Styles to Bob Marley to traditional Zimbabwean mbira pieces, the album pays tribute to the history of BATO BATO! while giving a taste of what is to come.
Founded by musician Carey Sirianni in 2009, BATO BATO! has enjoyed playing routinely at venues like Orchestra Hall, The Cedar Cultural Center, the Midtown Global Market, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum and the Minnesota State Fair, opening for international acts like Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Sierra Leone's Refugee All-Stars, and Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni ba.
In February 2011, BATO BATO! recorded their self-titled debut album at the Institute of Production and Recording in Minneapolis. BATO BATO! recorded a second album (recorded at Urban Ventures), entitled Havana Good Time. It was released in May of 2013.
To learn more about BATO BATO!: