The Motet, Afrobeatniks to play KSUT Parties in the Park Instead of holding just one of its signature Party in the Park in 2021, KSUT will hold two such events - on Friday, July 30 in Durango's Buckley Park, and on Saturday, July 31 in Pagosa Springs Town Park. Both concerts are sponsored by Bank of the San Juans and feature The Motet and Afrobeatniks.

Tickets are on sale at KSUTPresents.org and cost $30 per day, or $50 for two days. Tickets will also be available at the front gate at each concert. Gates will open at 4 p.m. each day, with live music starting at 5:30. Children 12 and younger are free with a paying adult. Pets are not allowed at either event.

"We invite music fans to celebrate public radio and our diverse blend of music at each of these events," said KSUT Executive Director Tami Graham. "It's our way of giving back to the Four Corners and thanking our listeners and members for being part of the KSUT family, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic when we were unable to present live music."

The two events mark KSUT's 17th annual Party in the Park, which usually celebrates world music, jazz, funk and New Orleans genres with acts meant to get the crowd dancing. Past performers have included The Iguanas, Shinyribs, Crash Test Dummies, The Subdudes, The Greencards, The New Orleans Suspects, Todo Mundo, The Big Takeover, Baracutanga, The Stooges Brass Band, Jarabe Mexicano and others.

The Parties in the Park will also include food vendors and beer, cider and wine booths. Ska Brewing, Fenceline Cider and wines courtesy of Wagon Wheel Liquors will be sold in Durango. Riff Raff Brewing and Fenceline Cider will be sold in Pagosa Springs. Customers must be 21 years of age or older with a valid ID showing proof of age to purchase alcoholic beverages.

The Motet is a Denver-based band that has blended funk, soul, jazz and world music influences ever since drummer and bandleader Dave Watts founded the group in 1998.

The group is a musical collective with a rotating cast of musicians - hence the name "Motet" as opposed to quartet, quintet, sextet and so on. The current incarnation of the group includes Watts, guitarist Ryan Jalbert, bassist Garrett Sayers, keyboardist Joey Porter and saxophonist Drew Sayers.

Afrobeatniks are a jazz, Latin and world music group with members based in Mancos and Durango. They draw their inspiration from popular, folkloric and spiritual music of West Africa, with Brazilian, Afro-Cuban and Latin jazz, reggae, funk and rock influences adding to the musical roux. In particular, the music of Nigerian Afro-pop in the style of Fela Kuti and Tony Allen and the traditional folkloric rhythm structures of Guinea are evident in both original music and spirited covers.

Tickets for both shows are available here:
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