Harlem based band Kwame and the Uptown Shakedown are performing live for Removing the Bars, Columbia’s criminal justice conference and concert on March 23rd and March 24th . Kwame Binea, the lead vocalist of the multi-cultural, multi-generational rock and soul band, is joined by guitarist/songwriter Justin Wilcox, bassist Art Vanterpool, drummer Medley, and saxophonist Quigley. Kwame, formerly of Blues/Rock band The Kause, took his aspirations to launch his own lyrical message.
The interdisciplinary concert is a two day event produced by award winning music and theater producer and the head of The New Heritage Theater Group Voza Rivers and award winning writer, director, documentary filmmaker, head of Columbia’s film division and Executive Artistic Director of The New Heritage Theater Group Jamal Joseph.
Kwame clarifies his love for purpose and art, “To us music isn’t just dancing and having a good time but most importantly it’s about inspiring people to live a better life…to see life as a whole rather than a one sided view”. The band wanted people to know what is still going on in the criminal justice system and “inspire people to look at life and the struggle that others are going through even today, not just 60 years ago, but right now.”
K.U.S. maintains an interest in using music as a vehicle for positive social change such as their recent intimate performance for Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center’s survivors and offering free music before their official iTunes launch. The band has recently performed for 32 Degrees Weatherproof, Technology Fusion, Fine Print NYC and Radeberger Gruppe.
