Fredericks Brown will play at Nightfall at Miller Plaza Friday at 8 p.m.
The 2014 Nightfall free concert series continues its schedule of summer musical programming Friday at Miller Plaza with a headline show by Fredericks Brown at 8 p.m. Opening at 7 p.m. will be local band Carlos and His Tropical Swing.
Review for Fredericks Brown:
Vocalist Deva Mahal and keys player Stephanie Brown create compositions with a startling blend of strength and intimacy, drawn from their wide-ranging cultural heritage.
As the daughter of legendary blues musician Taj Mahal, Deva Mahal reveals her rich organic soul and blues roots. Growing up in what Deva calls a creative household always inspired her towards artistic pursuits. An astonishingly powerful vocalist, Deva’s songs have a neo-soul feel, with bluesy moans over funk harmony and reggae beats. Growing up in Kauai, Deva admits to the influence it has had on her sound. New Zealander Steph Brown on keyboards also contributes to the island acoustics, with slow, sublime, rhythmic grooves.
Overall, the music of Fredericks Brown is a musical hybrid, mixing rich harmonies with electrifying blues and R&B grounded in the 60s-era southern-soul tradition. Their influences range from Nina Simone and Sly and the Family Stone to more contemporary groove-based ensembles, yet with their own unique sound. Their newest release is an E.P. entitled “Glass House Mountains.”
Now internationally renown, the band has toured around the world, working with the likes of Kanye West and Common. Overall, Fredericks Brown is an unquestionable force, offering music that is truly unique.
Review for Carlos and His Tropical Swing:
Carlos and His Tropical Swing will open the Nightfall show with Caribbean music and Salsa dancing. Led by local musician Carlos Colon, the band will feature Carlos Santana and other crowd-pleasing songs. They will also plan to invite audience participation by providing musical “shakers” to distribute for percussive accompaniment. Their opening set from 7-7:40 p.m. promises to be uplifting and entertaining for all ages.
Presented and produced by Chattanooga Presents, Nightfall brings an eclectic mix of music to downtown Chattanooga. Nightfall showcases Chattanooga’s local arts community by featuring Chattanooga musicians for each opening act, followed by headline performances by national and international talent. Food, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drink concessions are available on site. No outside food or beverages are allowed.
Nightfall is hosted each Friday at Miller Plaza through Aug. 29.
For more information on the Nightfall Series, call 265-0771 or visit NightfallChattanooga.com for a complete, interactive website that includes music samples by each headliner, as well as other information for first-time attendees.