(NORTH ADAMS, Mass.) — Reggae legend Everton Blender brings his signature fusion of classic roots and dancehall rhythms to Courtyard C at MASS MoCA on Saturday, September 3, at 8pm. Blender’s spiritually uplifting themes infuse deeply rooted cultural pride into his music, making him a powerful presence in the world of Jamaican culture.

Blender’s brand of reggae merges earnest lyrics with a tender sound that Rootsworld describes as “a friendly, expressive purr, skipping sure-footedly through and around melodies, supported by varied, bouncy instrumentation rooted in signature booming reggae bass, kept lively by percussion and bright background vocals.” The New York Times calls his voice “an instrument of seduction.”

Blender’s musical career was launched after he won an amateur musicians contest at the Bohemia Club in Kingston, Jamaica. After releasing a few singles, he withdrew from the scene for nearly a decade. He was introduced to record producer Richard Bell in the mid-1990s, who was impressed enough to sign Blender to his label Star Trail. Blender’s first album, “Lift Up Your Head,” reached number four on the Black Echo music chart in England in 1996, and the title track was nominated for a Jamaican music award. Since creating his own label, Blend Dem Productions, Blender has released eight studio albums.

Concert attendees will have one last chance to see Richard Nonas’ “The Man in the Empty Space” in the Building 5 gallery before the show. The exhibition is on view at MASS MoCA only through September 5. Galleries will remain open until 8pm the night of the concert.

Dinner is available from Lickety Split before and during the show. A full bar serves Bright Ideas Brewing beers and Berkshire Mountain Distillery spirits. Tickets are $5 for students + members, $10 in advance, and $16 day of. Tickets for all events are available through the MASS MoCA box office located on Marshall Street in North Adams. The box office is open 10am to 6pm every day, with extended evening hours to 7pm on Thursdays through Saturdays. Tickets can also be charged by phone by calling 413.662.2111 during box office hours or purchased online at MASS MoCA. In the case of rain, the event will be moved inside to the Hunter Center.

 

About MASS MoCA

MASS MoCA is one of the world’s liveliest (and largest) centers for making and enjoying today’s most important art, music, dance, theater, film, and video. Hundreds of works of visual and performing art have been created on its 19th-century factory campus during fabrication and rehearsal residencies, making MASS MoCA among the most productive sites in the country for the creation and presentation of new art. More platform than box, MASS MoCA strives to bring to its audiences art experiences that are fresh, engaging, and transformative.

Hours

Summer (June 25–September 5)

Sundays through Wednesdays, 10am–6pm

Thursdays through Saturdays, 10am–7pm

 

After September 5

11am-5pm, six days a week (closed Tuesdays)