BLUE HILL and BROOKS — Bagaduce Music will present two special concerts to unite accomplished and innovative traditional musicians. Ugandan folk singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Giovanni Kiyingi will join Celtic pianist, mandolinist, and step-dancer Neil Pearlman in a wide-ranging musical evening blending new and old music from Uganda to Scotland. The musicians will blend their cultural influences in this unique collaboration.

The first concert will take place Friday, May 2, at 7 p.m., at Bagaduce Music, 49 South St, Blue Hill, ME 04614. The second event will be Saturday, May 3, at 7 p.m., at Marsh River Theater, 24 Monroe Highway, Brooks, ME 04921.

"A finalist on NPR’s Tiny Desk competition, Giovanni Kiyingi captivates audiences worldwide with his extraordinary skills as a multi-instrumentalist," said Badaduce, in a news release. "He blends soulful vocals and mastery of diverse African instruments into thrilling musical sets. Neil Pearlman is a vital and distinctive voice in the world of contemporary Celtic music best known for his groundbreaking approach to the piano in Scottish music.

Pearlman’s solo piano album Refractions features regularly on BBC Radio nan Gàidheal and BBC Radio Scotland and he tours the world regularly with New England band Pine Tree Flyers and Shetland fiddler Kevin Henderson. 

Kiyingi and Pearlman met in June 2024 at a music festival in California and hit it off, deciding by the end of that event to organize some concerts together and explore their musical connection.

Tickets and information are available at www.bagaducemusic.org, lydia@bagaducemusic.org or 207-374-5454.

Bagaduce Music is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization fostering musical experiences throughout Maine's coastline. The organization offers classes, ensembles, concerts, dances, and community singing for individuals of all ages and abilities, with tuition assistance available.