Join us for the 46th Annual Harrison Festival of the Arts. We are excited to welcome everyone back to Harrison this year for a thrilling Festival! For full details on the festival such as Schedule, Artist Lineup, workshops, Children’s Day, the Artisan Market and more… continue on to the Homepage.
African Chamber Music Ensemble
Location: Harrison Beach Stage (right in the centre of town)
Time: Sunday, July 13th @ 1:00pm
Cost: Nothing! This is on our free beach stage, but we do hope you purchase a $2 button at the show to help keep the stage this way!
The African Chamber Music Ensemble is a groundbreaking intercultural collective that reimagines the rich traditions of Zimbabwe and Ghana through a decolonial lens. By placing the mbira, Ewe singing, and percussion in conversation with classical strings, the ensemble challenges the colonial history of chamber music and expands its role to include African storytelling, rhythm, and ancestral connection. The group features internationally acclaimed artists Kurai Mubaiwa (mbira, voice, percussion) from Zimbabwe and Kwashie Kuwor (voice, percussion) from Ghana, each deeply rooted in their respective musical traditions. Their performances highlight the meditative mbira songs of the Shona people and the intricate vocal music of the Ewe community, both of which have endured and thrived despite historical suppression. With arrangements by Curtis Andrews, a musician and ethnomusicologist dedicated to African musical traditions, the ensemble is supported by a dynamic string duo featuring Meredith Bates (viola) and Peggy Lee (cello).
You got questions, we got answers! Have a read of the following to gain an idea of what the show will look like.
On the Beach Stage right in the centre of town at the very end of Hot Springs Road.
Our Beach Performances are typically one 40-45 min set.
The beach is BYONAD (Bring Your Own Non-Alcoholic Drink). This is a public access event free of gates and fencing. We encourage you to bring a water bottle or non-alcoholic drinks. You are welcome to bring food too, but we also recommend checking out all the different restaurants in town too and help support the local economy.
It depends on the artist, but generally, yes. We will have an area set up just for this, but it depends on how comfortable each artist feels about it and if they bring merch to sell. We usually find out about merch the day of, but we will update this when we know more. If merch is available, We are able to accept cash, debit or credit. We prefer card over cash.
Yes, it’s an open area and in the public so you can set up your blanket or chair anywhere you like. We do ask that you be mindful of others around you and not setup chairs right up front and block people behind you.
Yes, bathrooms with either hand sanitizer or soap and water will be available. There is the public bathroom right on the beach by the lagoon as well as the bathroom in the Memorial Hall which will be open on weekends.
We highly recommend parking in the overflow lot by the Village Office at the corner of Hot Springs Road and Miami River Drive. It’s free and not that far of a walk to all our sites(2-4 mins). There is parking along the streets on Harrison, but the ones closest will have paid parking in effect and spots are hard to find.
Not for the beach! Think of it like a day at the beach, but with great live music playing. We encourage people to bring blankets and low-back chairs to sit in.
We recommend everyone bring a chair or blanket, of course, a water bottle, a hat, sunscreen and maybe some snacks! Some change is good, so you can buy your Beach Stage Button easily ($2) but we take card too! And dress for the weather. There is shade at the beach, and we provide a tent for some coverage, but once it’s filled, it’s filled. Pack like you’re spending the day at the beach!
