Hailu Mergia with DJ sets by Awesome Tapes, Nickodemus, and Madame Vacile

Sunday, October 9, 2022
Doors and Show: 7 PM

Elsewhere – 599 Johnson Avenue, Brooklyn

Tickets: $30 Advance | $35 Day of Show

Standing Room Only

Legendary Ethiopian jazz keyboardist and arranger Hailu Mergia led the popular 1970’s Addis Ababa “Walias Band” in sweaty all-night sets. A reissued record on the Awesome Tapes From Africa label over 40 years later brought Mergia renewed attention. His new album Yene Mircha (“My Choice” in Amharic) expertly captures intimate and explosive live experimentation. Whilst on a Fulbright scholarship in Ghana, ethnomusicologist Brian Shimkovitz (Awesome Tapes) got hooked on collecting highlife, African disco, and curious local pop cassette tapes from street vendors, and eventually shared his discoveries on the blog and label Awesome Tapes From Africa. Tonight he plays a full set using only these cassette tapes. Nickodemus is a traveler at heart—a connector of worlds, scenes, and people since the mid-90s. Over his extensive career as a touring DJ and producer he’s helped pave the way for an inimitable mix of global fusion and the heavy beats we yearn for in the club.

The LET’S DANCE series brings us all together on the dance floor moving our bodies to the infectious beats of DJs and live bands from around the world.