Sounds of Africa: Ghana Soundz

One of the easiest things to do when one lives in the city is to get so overwhelmed by all the options of things to do that instead of actually going out and doing them, you get caught in a rot of the routine. As any urbanite can easily tell you, the first week of each month usually has some special event happening in the city. D.C., in a flex-my-medium-city-muscle move, has First Thursdays at the Phillips Collection. In addition to wonderful lectures about current exhibits, cruising the rooms of a major gallery "after hours," and being trusted to sip wine while looking at an El Greco, first Thursdays features great music and last night was my lucky night as both the live music and the DJ were jamming African beats.

In the auditorium, the D.C. based group Chopteeth were on stage jamming their hearts out. This 14-member band focuses on Afrofunk music coming out of 1970s West Africa. Needless to say they were awesome! While there were a few conservatives actually sitting down in the auditorium seats, people were dancing in the aisles and having a great time.

After dancing with Chopteeth for a while, I had to dash to catch the rest of the art work. While its feels very counterintuitive to pay for a museum in Washington, D.C., this museum is oh-so-worthy so I wanted to see as much as I could. I eventually ended up in the music room with DJ Todd Threats was mixing up the Ghana Soundz album (yeah…a real live album, not iPod). Mingling around sipping wine with beats like this in the foreground….I’m sooo all for this! Can’t wait to see what they bring in December.

Are there any great music events happening in your city/town/village this weekend??

Thanks so much for joining me here this week!! Hope you have a great weekend!