Umoja's Dance Party @ The Atlantic

Photo taken from umojaorchestra.com

Umoja Orchestra, a Gainesville band known for its melding of afrobeat, jazz, funk and South American styles, will play at The Atlantic tonight (3/26) with special guests Milq. Umoja Orchestra has caught the attention of many locals with its danceable beats, offering up songs that are markedly different from those of most other bands out there right now.

With instruments ranging from the keyboard to bongos to the trombone, their live show is an eclectic mixture of funky grooves that will hold the audience’s attention from the opening chords to the encore. “It’s a good opportunity to come out, have fun and listen to a good mix of music,” says Umoja Orchestra singer Sebastián López.

Tonight the band will play a new song that no one has ever heard before, as well as a smattering of old favorites. “It’s a good atmosphere at the Atlantic,” he says. “It’s going to be a fun show with a lot of people out there dancing.”

The show, which is part of the Atlantic’s “House Party Fridays” concert series, starts at 10 pm, with tickets costing between $5 and $7. The show is open to anyone aged 18 or older with a valid ID.

- Morgan Watkins

Umoja Orchestra Reunited

The Gators lost the SEC Championship, but the packed house at the Umoja Orchestra concert didnt seem to realize. The band may have gone on hiatus, but the show seemed like they never missed a beat. The true highlight was the appearance of trumpet player Jason Prover, who flew in from New York City to perform with his fellow band mates and played as if he was possesed. Enjoy this recording of their song "BDD" from the show.

Umoja Reunited- BDD from Joel Mora on Vimeo.

-Joel Mora

The Weekend Roundup: Stuff to Do

Whether you are staying in town or going to Atlanta for the SEC game, there will be nothing dull about this pre-finals weekend. Just to make sure you don't miss out on your much-deserved kicks, we've compiled of a list of the thunderstorm of entertainment taking over Gainesville this weekend.

First thing is first: have you checked out our Kid Cudi and Common show. Popular among the hip-hop and indie communities you can expect a wild, widely ranged crowd and lots of superstar hype. Did we mention it's free?

We hear Rue Bar is proceeding the show with a Winter Wonderland party complete with a sno-cone machine. Yum. Before Rue Bar and after Common, make your way over to Common Grounds to continue on your live music high. With the Shoddy Beatles and Morningbell rocking CGs its sure to be a good old kickback-to-the-60s time.

Make your rounds around the Gator Stompin' venues for some free/super cheap drinks, and a chance to help Toys for Tots. If you don't have your Gator Stompin' pass, make like Santa and lug around a bag of gifts tonight, many of the venues will offer free cover with the donation of a free unwrapped gift.

Ok, now drink lots of water, take a power nap and prepare for Saturday. Wake up early for the Craft Festival 2009 starting at 10am at the O'Connell Center. With over 300 vendors, it's a great chance to get your holiday shopping out of the way.

The game's at 4pm, so you know your friends are going to start gearing up early. Many of the bars around town will be offering drink specials for the game. We recommend Stubbies and Steins for its dense menu of specialty beers.

If you can pull yourself together after an afternoon of game-cheering and beer drinking, check out the Thomas Center for the annual tree lighting ceremony at 7pm. Before and after the tree lighting, Duckpond will be offering up horse-and-wagon tours of the area's luminaries, a super sweet way to precede a romantic date.

Now it's back to Common Grounds for Umoja Orchestra's first show since April, the latin-infused band of unity is reuniting for a widely awaited and much-appreciated show.

Sunday's the day for rest, so go ahead and sleep in. Try to be up by 3pm for the Bela Fleck and the Flecktones show though. The award-winning "blu-pop" band will bring its Holiday Tour special to the Phillips Center.

The day of cultural reckoning continues with the Acrosstown Repertory Theatre's hosting of "An Evening with William Shakespeare: Or I'm in the Mood for Love," a performance of some of Shakespeare's greatest love scenes at 8pm.

To take the energy back up again, the 90s Omaha, Neb., indie-rock band Cursive is making a stop in Gainesville as part of its tour. With its progressive, instrumental arrangements Common Grounds is in for great show Sunday.

Feel like a Sunday showing? Go the the Reitz Cinema for a free screening of "500 Days of Summer," at 8 and 10:30pm. This quirky romance comedy is much better than Zoey Dechanel's earlier attempt this year at a quirky romance comedy with Jim Carrey in "Yes Man." At least in "500 Days of Summer," her character is not asked to ignore the fact she's having a carefree tryst with a man old enough to be her grandfather.

-Stephanie Granada