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'ri’*' P o rtla n d OObseruer
June 30. 2010
ISIIIIÁISHIM
Beats from the Congo and Carolinas
‘Zoo Tunes’
show kicks
off season
With new spins on traditional
music from the Congo and the Caro
linas, the Oregon Zoo kicks off an
other globetrotting season o f “Zoo
Tunes” shows Wednesday, July 7,
with the Carolina Chocolate Drops
and Konono N°1.
The zoo’s summer concert se
ries, presented by Northwest Natu
ral, features 19 shows running
through September. “ZooTunes”
shows focus on an eclectic variety
o f acts from around the world.
The Carolina Chocolate Drops -
-- Don Flemons, Rhiannon Giddens
K on o n o N°1 uses m a kesh ift in stru m en ts a n d m icro p h o n es fr o m re c y c le d c a r p a rts to
and Justin Robinson — met at North
transform tra d itio n a l B a zom bo trance m usic.
Carolina’s esteemed Black Banjo
Gathering in 2005 and have been
exploring the beautiful music o f the
Carolinas’ Piedmont region ever
since.
Using everything from fiddles,
banjos and snares to kazoos, jugs
and bones, the Chocolate Drops
bring old-time American string-
band music up to date to produce a
sound brimming with history and
smarts.
Konono N° 1, from the suburbs of
Kinshasa, Congo, are described lo
cally as a “tradi-modeme” band.
With a distinct repertoire o f muj
sical instruments, including three
electric likembés, makeshift percus
sion instruments such as car parts,
handmade microphones built from
magnets, and a megaphone sound
___________________
system, Konono N°1 has put its The C a ro lin a C h o c o la te D ro p s, w h o p e r fo r m w ith e v e r y th in g f r o m b a n jo s to b o n es,
own spin on Bazombo trance music w ill a p p e a r a t th e O re g o n Z o o , W ed n e sd a y , J u ly 7 a s p a r t o f th e z o o ’s s u m m e r c o n c e r t
by seamlessly integrating once-un- s e r ie s p r e s e n te d b y N W N a tu ra l.
wanted sound distortions into their
hypnotic performances.
Advance tickets for the Carolina
Chocolate Drops and Konono N° 1
are available online or at the zoo for
$14.50. Ticket price includes zoo
admission. Remaining tickets will
be available at the zoo after 4 p.m. on
the day o f the performance.
Zoo’s Discount
Prices Change
Samudra the elephant
enjoys playing in his water
ing hole at the Oregon Zoo.
The admission price for the
Oregon Z oo’s popular Second
Tuesday discount program will
go from $2 to $4, beginning Tues
day, July 13. Children under 3 will
continue to be admitted free.
The zoo began its reduced-
admission program in 2004, of
fering discounted tickets on the
second Tuesday o f each month
to make the zoo accessible to as
many people as possible. The
nominal increase will help relieve
budgetary pressures brought
about by a slow economy.
“We remain committed to pro
viding a reduced admission pro
gram,” said Kim Smith, Oregon
Zoo director. “Unfortunately, the
economic times we live in are
having an unprecedented impact
on our budget.”
Smith encourages visitors to
use public transportation on Sec
ond Tuesday and thereby take
advantage o f the zoo’s additional
discount program.
“If people take a TriMet bus or
MAX to the zoo, they can take an
additional $ 1.50 o ff their $4 ad
mission. Getting into the zoo for
$2.50, while helping the environ
ment is a win-win.”