FirstWorks Summer Beats Concert: Etienne Charles

FirstWorks Summer Beats Concert

Etienne Charles Gullah Roots

Friday, July 10, 6-8 PM

Roger Williams Park Boathouse Lawn

Internationally renowned jazz trumpet maestro Etienne Charles returns to Providence with his festive big band! High spirits and dancing feet are in the forecast for this free jazz concert inspired by Lowcountry Gullah-Geechee culture and its connections to Afro-Caribbean music traditions.

Over the past two decades, Charles has established himself as one of the most innovative voices in contemporary jazz. Since releasing his debut album in 2007, he has produced eleven critically acclaimed recordings and collaborated with legendary artists including Roberta Flack, Marcus Miller, Monty Alexander and Chucho Valdés, while also touring internationally with the SFJAZZ Collective. A proud musical ambassador for Trinidad and Tobago, Charles is known for weaving Caribbean musical traditions, folklore and history into his compositions, creating a sound that bridges cultures and generations.

This performance transcends the concert stage, integrating big band textures with dancers, masquerade, and spoken word to create a multisensory experience that celebrates the resilience and vibrancy of marginalized communities. Join us for a concert that brings to life the powerful narratives and rhythms of the African diaspora, honoring cultural traditions through the universal language of music.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

This concert coincides with Food Truck Friday, an outdoor food truck festival at the Carousel Village located across from the Boathouse Lawn starting at 5:00 p.m. We invite you to bring a lawn chair or picnic blanket, grab some delicious food – and enjoy an evening outdoors with incredible music and community!

Accessibility info:
• The Boathouse Lawn at Roger Williams Park is accessible to all visitors, including those with disabilities. The area is connected by paved paths. Accessible parking spaces are available nearby, though access isles vary. There are clear pathways leading to the lawn and surrounding attractions. Some seating options are available, including park benches. Concerts take place on the lawn, which is mostly a flat, hard-grass surface. Earplugs will be available on a first come/first served basis.
• Accessible bathrooms nearby (at the Carousel Village)
• For questions about accessibility, contact Rainy Stanford-Cordaro

SPONSORS:

Co-presented by FirstWorks with Roger Williams Park and the Providence Parks Department. Made possible with support from Secretary of State Gregg M. Amore and the Rhode Island Semiquincentennial Commission, Providence Tourism Council, BankNewport, Collette, and Rhode Island State Council on the Arts. Funded in part by the Crossroads: Touring New England program of the New England Foundation for the Arts, made possible with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts and the six New England state arts agencies. Media sponsors: The Boston Globe Rhode Island and Poder.