PUTNEY, VT — The Bandwagon Summer Series returns with a powerful opening night on Saturday, May 24 at 6:00pm at the scenic Putney Inn Field (57 Putney Landing Road), featuring two powerhouse bands that promise to get audiences dancing, connecting, and celebrating: Shokazoba and Zikina.
Presented by Next Stage Arts, the Bandwagon Series brings music and community together all summer long at outdoor venues across southern Vermont. This year’s season launches with a global, groove-rich evening that blends afrobeat, funk, East African rhythms, and soul-lifting dance music.
Shokazoba: New World Funk with a Mission
Formed as a tribute to Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, Shokazoba is a nine-piece, horn-driven explosion of rhythm, energy, and message. Their sound—coined “New World Funk”—is a trance-like blend of polyrhythmic beats, searing horns, and socially conscious lyrics that ignite the body and the mind. With roots in activism and community, Shokazoba’s music is both a call to dance and a call to action.
Over the past two decades, the band has received numerous accolades, including five “Best of the Valley” wins and a nomination for “Live Act of the Year” by the New England Music Awards. As they approach their 20th anniversary, their creative fire shows no signs of slowing down—fans can expect new music, new energy, and a stage show that leaves audiences awestruck.
Zikina: East African Roots, Global Vibes
Opening the night is Zikina, a genre-defying band whose music is rooted in East African tradition and shaped by global collaboration. Led by Ugandan multi-instrumentalist and master instrument-maker Gideon Ampeire, Zikina draws on the unique sounds of handcrafted traditional instruments—like the enanga, adungu, and kalimba—paired with modern guitar, bass, and percussion.
Zikina’s sound is rhythmically rich, emotionally charged, and impossible not to move to. The band’s seamless fusion of musical cultures delivers a vibrant, joyful experience that celebrates connection, unity, and shared humanity.
Event Details
When: Saturday, May 24 @ 6:00pm
Where: Putney Inn Field, 57 Putney Landing Road, Putney, VT
Tickets: $22 in advance / $25 at the gate / Children under 12 free
Tickets & Info: nextstagearts.org
This is a family-friendly event, with a dedicated kids’ play area, onsite food from Smokin’ Bowls, and refreshing Barr Hill cocktails. Bring your own picnic, blanket, or lawn chair, and enjoy an unforgettable evening of music under the open sky.