TOO MUCH GOOD STUFF!

First of all, we're please to announce that we'll be playing globalFEST, the world music night of the the APAP festival in New York City.  The night of the show is January 11th, and it's at Webster Hall.  We'll be playing many dates on the East Coast around this date--please check back for those as we are in the process of finalizing the details!
Click here for the globalFEST Press Release
Click here for the Webster Hall site

Next, as many of you are aware Occidental Brothers Nathaniel Braddock (guitar) and Greg Ward (saxophone) went into the studio with Congolese legend Samba Mapangala and his band.  Many Africans have an affection for President Elect Barack Obama, and Samba had a unique interest having spent twenty years living the in the Kenyan city of Nairobi.  The combined forces recorded a praise song "Obama Ubarikiwe" at a time when we were all hopefully awaiting the results of the election.  Joy of joys, we have a new president to look forward to!  Occidental's Braddock played guitar and produced the recording, and several remixes and a video are floating around the internet.  
: Click here to download Obama Ubarikiwe
: Click here for Samba's MySpace Page and to hear alternate mixes
Our friends at KEXP in Seattle have posted several videos from our in studio session with them filmed as part of the Pitchfork Festival.  The videos are available on YouTube, and we offer them here, too.  That's Marcus Evans on drums for this session!

Our busy summer continues

First a couple items of note in the press.  We've done a number of video and audio interview for blogs and podcasts recently where we talk a lot about what we do and why.  Here are some links to a couple of the really good ones...
: Crain's Chicago Business Videocast--look for 7/18
: TimeOut Chicago's "Infinite Loop" Interview and acoustic performance
: The Art Institute of Chicago's Musecast featuring OBDBI
: KEXP Seattle's Interview and Webcast of the OBDBI

Furthermore!  We have a couple great shows this week, including SummerDance on Thursday and the Art Institute of Chicago on Saturday afternoon.  We're about to announce two exciting shows in September, so check back in soon!

Podcasts, Ahoy!

We have three podcast appearances coming up in the next month. All podcasts are available through iTunes or other serving platforms.

KEXP, the great independent radio station out of Seattle is podcasting our new song "Circle! Circle! Circle!" tomorrow, Tuesday 08JULY08 on their "Song of the Day" podcast. Also, we'll be doing a live broadcast on KEXP on Friday July 18th, too, as part of the Pitchfork Festival. The broadcast is from Chicago's own Engine Studio, and is open to the public--just RSVP!

: Click here to subscribe to KEXP's song of the day using iTunes

: Click here to subscribe using a different platform

: Click here to reserve your spot at Engine Studio to see the Occidental Brothers play live on Friday 7/18, on air in one of the best-sounding rooms in the city.

Time OutThis Friday the band will play a live, stripped-down set at the offices of TimeOut Chicago for their new podcast. We follow in the footsteps of Alla and many other great bands. We're not sure of the date when it'll be shot out, but sign up now to check us out, and a bunch of other great groups.

: Click here to learn more about Time Out's podcast

The Art Institute of Chicago has a podcast, and we're a featured artist in their next episode. The band is playing at Fullerton Hall (right by the print gallery) on August 16th. The concert is free with admission to the museum, and is at 1:00p.

: Click here to check out the Art Institute of Chicago MuseCast

This just in... we're delighted to be named the Best World Music Band by culture mavens Chicago Reader.  Thanks to writer Peter Margasak for the thoughtful write up.  

: Click here for the Reader's "Best World Music Group" write up

Earlier this month we celebrated the release of the new record "Es Tiempo" from our friends Alla.  The record is great, and they're working with the fantastic Crammed label out of Belgium.  O'Bro's Kofi Cromwell, Nathaniel Braddock, and Greg Ward joined them on stage at the party, and you can check it out on this video.

We were able to get the group together in time, and were delighted to share the stage with Mayor Richard Daley and with our Illinois Senator, Barack Obama.  

Check out our gigs page for lots of shows this summer.