B.E. Farrow, Kafari, and Michael Kebede in Concert

Three skillful musicians combine their craft for a resonant night of strings and percussion in the Mechanics' Hall Ballroom.
About this Event

In their debut show together, B.E. Farrow, Kafari, and Michael Kebede blend fiddle, bones, and banjo to create a succulent soundscape rooted in the folk and jazz traditions these three talented musicians separately pursue.

ABOUT THE MUSICIANS

“Howdy Y'all! I’m B.E. Farrow out of Omaha, NE. I've been doin' the fiddling thing for awhile with folks like Dom Flemons - founding member of The Chocolate Drops - , Gangstagrass, and the Hackensaw Boys. From the Opry in Nashville, to Town Hall in NYC, and up and down the west I've been playin' fiddle with some of the best guesting with folks like Old Crow Medicine Show, Brother Comatose, and Leyla McCalla. I've been nominated for an America award and I'm moving to Maine to do even more of my fiddlin' thang.” - B.E. Farrow (@BEFarrow).

‘Kafari' is the alias of Cincinnati-born, Portland, Maine-based pianist and rhythm bones-wielding beatmaker Ahmad Muhammad. His warm, soulful sound synthesizes his love of ambient piano music, spiritual jazz, experimental hip-hop, and dreamlike electronic textures. The Ohio native and twenty-year Maine resident walks in the footsteps of harpist Dorothy Ashby, beatmaker J Dilla, and the Carolina Chocolate Drops, who in a 2014 performance sparked Kafari's interest in folk music and the rhythm bones - a percussion instrument popularized in America in the 1800's through Blackface Minstrelsy. Kafari often distributes and teaches the rhythm bones at his performances, inviting his audiences to workshop basic rhythmic techniques, to share in the joy of bones playing, and to learn and think about the history of minstrelsy. (@ahmadkafari)

Raised in Ethiopia, Michael Kebede draws from American banjo traditions and East African music to create a sound and style uniquely his own. To Michael, the banjo is the most resonant link between Black life in the Western hemisphere and the African continent. He has played his interpretations of folk songs and his own instrumental compositions in music halls, churches, cafes, gazebos, street corners, farmers’ markets, carceral facilities, and various porches and dooryards throughout Maine. (@kebede_michael)

Wednesday, October 7 at 7:30 PM (doors 7:00 PM). Tickets are $15 for Mechanics' Hall Members, $20 for General Admission, and $35 for Reserved Seating. There is a $5 surcharge the day of the show. No one turned away for lack of funds at the door.

PARKING & TRANSPORTATION

The Greater Portland Metro’s Congress & Casco Street Stop is directly in front of our building, served by routes 1, 7, 8, and 9B.

Street Parking: Available on Congress, Casco, Cumberland, Free Street, and nearby streets. Pay by meter or the Passport Parking App. Free after 6 PM, on Sundays, and between Parris and Alder Street. Some blocks may vary — look for posted signs.

Garages: The Arts District Garage (41 Brown St) has 250+ spaces, is open 24/7, and accepts credit card only, with entrances on Brown, Cumberland, and Casco. The Elm Street Garage (21 Elm St) is conveniently near the Portland Library. The Spring Street Garage is three blocks away at 45 Spring St.

ACCESSIBILITY

To enter our building, patrons will need to navigate a single step or use a modular ramp. Please note that the wheelchair ramp has a steep incline.

A wheelchair-accessible elevator is available. The elevator is 60" deep, 48" wide, with a 32" door opening. There are four wheelchair-accessible bathrooms on the third-floor level, adjacent to the Ballroom.

If you have a wheelchair or need accessibility accommodations/questions, please contact us at [email protected] or 207-773-8396.