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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.”