Music on the Seven Hills Park Stage

ArtBeat: Sat., July 21st

11:30PM — Beastly Parade led by Revolutionary Snake Ensemble
This monstrous parade will wind its way down Elm Street and end in 7 Hills Park. Expect to see strange beasts, cute critters, a giant dragon, children donning handmade animal masks, and stilt walkers. The parade will be led by the Revolutionary Snake Ensemble, who have recently performed at Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and aboard the Amtrak Crescent train. The Snakes will end on stage and play a set of their New Orleans infused, raucous funk and street jazz numbers.

12:45PM — Grupo Chévere
Grupo Chévere is made up of members from Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Curaçao, who specialize in the Dominican style of bachata, combining guitar and percussion. The group also plays merengue (also from Dominican Republic), cumbia (Colombia), and salsa (Cuba) music. There’s no way you won’t be dancing.

1:30PM — Balla Kouyaté & World Vision
Balla Kouyaté is one of the greatest balafon players from the Djeli or “griot” tradition in Mali. Balla, who began playing the instrument at age 6, has played with many African artists touring in the United States and his musicianship has been featured on at least 35 albums. Currently he works with kora master Mamadou Diabaté playing events such as Lincoln Center Outdoor Festival and festivals around the country.

2:30PM — Hallelujah the Hills
The band’s line-up of bass, drums, cello, Moog, trumpet, melodica, sampler and plenty of guitars grants them the space to expand and contract as their melodies and arrangements see fit. Think of them as the sonic equivalent to Willy Wonka’s ferry ride, seemingly random yet utterly precise, first drifting along a chocolate river with a lulling sound then hurtling you into the unknown with a thundering danger until you arrive somewhere entirely new, a fantastic destination full of wonder.

3:30PM — Mariachi Estampa de America
Estampa de America features musicians from Texas, Mexico and El Salvador. Playing their traditional Mariachi music on the button accordian, trumpets, the guittaron (large 6-string guitar) and the vihuela (small 5-string guitar), Estampa de America also plays norteño and conjunto music from the Texas border and cumbia from Columbia.

4:30PM — Everyday Visuals
This quintet mix waves of noisy rock experimentation and alt-country flair. Add harmonies that call to mind The Beach Boys, and a penchant for electronic beats reminiscent of Bjork, and you begin to get a picture. The band was named “Best New Band of 2006” by The Noise and their record “Media Crush” was praised by critics, including The Boston Metro, who called the record “One of the top local releases of the year.” The band has toured nationally, sold out the Paradise, and shared the stage with national acts like Matt Pond, PA.