May 20 Boston – House of Blues
May 21 NYC – Pier 17
Bayo to Feature 25 Artists Including
Anie Alerte, Baky, DJ Bullet, DJ Superduke, Dro X Yani, J Perry, Jeff Pierre, Kanis, Kes, Kolo, Mikaben, Shirazee, Troubleboy in Boston
Anie Alere, Baky, DJ Bullet, DJ Magic Kenny, J Perry, Jeff Pierre, Ir Sais, Kanis, Kes, Kolo, Lastmonday, Mikaben, Naïka, Paul Beaubrun, Shirazee, Troubleboy in NYC
Michael Brun first debuted his Bayo live concept in the US in 2017. Since then he’s gone on to win a Latin Grammy, write multiple records with J Balvin including a World Cup anthem and a collaboration with Ed Sheeran, and release his acclaimed debut album. Through his work with Masego, Mr Eazi, Arcade Fire, Balvin and others, Brun has helped rewrite perceptions of his homeland and bring the sounds of the contemporary Afro-Caribbean diaspora to an ever widening audience.
Brun has made it his mission to showcase the roots and rhythms of Haitian culture through his Bayo series, presenting more than 30 Haitian artists as part of one-off events and tours in North America, selling out Brooklyn Steel, U Street Music Hall, Paradise Rock Club, Miami’s Little Haiti, and even pioneering a live geo-fenced digital tour during the pandemic.
This Spring, Michael Brun’s Bayo will return, with two shows, Boston’s House of Blues on May 20th and NYC’s Pier 17 on May 21, before Brun curates an afternoon for Afropunk in Miami. At each event Brun’s sonic vision and hand picked-guests will transport audiences to the streets of his homeland and showcase like minded peers from across the globe.
Bayo means “to give” in Haitian Creole, and is based on the impromptu street parties, typically soundtracked by mobile sound-systems, and the traditional rhythms of RaRa that are popular across his homeland. These parties are essential to Haitian culture, providing an infrastructure that allows music to be heard and bubble up, artists a platform to DJ and perform, and a traditional gathering point for communities to come together and dance.
A true representation of traditional Haitian culture and modern Afro-Carribean sounds, the next editions of Bayo will host more than 20 acts.
Among the lineup are traditional Haitian artists known for popularizing the country’s unique musical subgenres including Grammy-nominated Rasin legends Boukman Eksperyans. Other highlights include J. Perry, who combines zumba and Konpa with elements of dancehall and house, and Mikaben, known for blending Konpa with Reggae and hip-hop music. There will also be live performances by Haitian multi-instrumentalist Paul Beaubrun, the newest member of Arcade Fire, and vocalist Anie Alerte, who tours with Haiti’s international Konpa band, the jazz-based music that originated in Haiti, Tabou Combo.
Shining a light on the next generation of Haitian artists, Bayo will feature socially conscious rapper Baky, rising star singer-songwriter KANIS, urban Afro-pop duo DroXYani, Raboday pioneer Bullet and rap Kreyol star Trouble Boy, all of whom are pushing the future of Haitian music.
While showcasing the traditional and rising talent from his homeland, Michael Brun’s Bayo will also highlight a range of contemporary global collaborators from the larger Afro-Carribean diaspora. International performers include Beninese Afro-pop artist Shirazee, whose songwriting credits include Ty Dolla $ign, Sting and Twista, Trinidadian soca star Kes, who collaborated with Brun on ‘Liki Tiki’, and papiamento icon Ir Sais, who’s multi-platinum song “Dream Girl” took the world by storm. Nigerian singer Joeboy, who has a forthcoming collaboration ‘Game Over’ with Brun due out on Mr Eazi’s label emPawa on May 13th, is also set to make an appearance.
New York will see special performances from Haitian songstress Naïka, Bronx rapper Lastmonday, who collaborated with Brun on the tracks ‘Sammy Sosa’ and ‘Ocho’, as well as congo drummer extraordinaire Jean Pierre, who will be providing intermissions. Between live performances, the nonstop music will continue with DJ sets from Kolo, Magic Kenny, and DJ Super Duke.
An eclectic sonic showing of all that Haiti has to offer, Bayo will explore the breadth and depth of Haitian creativity and shine a light on both the history and future of Afro-Caribbean music.
Connect with Michael Brun
Apple Music l Spotify l SoundCloud l Facebook l Twitter l Instagram