This month, Haiti’s Lakou Mizik will travel 3,500 miles, from one island to another, to perform for the first time ever on Vashon.
The group’s positive messages and roots revival music have become one of Haiti’s hottest exports and the band has gained an international following through their mystical, soulful, dance party-inducing live shows. Now, Vashon islanders will have the chance to experience their music at 8 p.m. Thursday, March 31, at Open Space for Arts & Community.
The show will be jointly presented by Open Space and Scarlet Productions.
“Their music is so full of energy, I can’t wait for this event to shake us out of winter and usher in the warm months to come,” said David Godsey, Open Space for Arts & Community’s director of programming. “This is a seated event spaced for safety, but we’ll make sure there is plenty of room so you can get up and dance.”
Lakou Mizik formed in the aftermath of the devastating 2010 earthquake as a multigenerational collective of Haitian musicians. The group includes elder legends and rising young talents, united in a mission to honor the healing spirit of their culture and communicate a message of pride, strength, and hope to their countrymen and the world.
Music is at the core of Haiti’s sense of identity, and musicians have always played an important role in society, both in documenting the country’s history and helping to shape its path forward. Today, a young generation of artists is keeping this tradition alive, narrating the world they live in through music that is made in their neighborhoods, villages, and post-earthquake camps.
Lakou Mizik brings together these musical generations in celebration of the cultural continuum while using Haiti’s deep well of creative strength to shine a positive light on this tragically misrepresented country.
Lakou Mizik’s albums have taken them from recording at the Artists Institute of Haiti on their debut, “Wa Di Yo,” to working with some of New Orleans’s top stars on “HaitiaNola.” Praising Lakou Mizik’s newest album, “Leave the Bones,” made with EDM producer Joseph Ray, National Public Radio’s Bruce Warren said “through Vodou chants, Rara dance tunes and contemporary protest songs, the album is a mesmerizing, haunting and uplifting journey into the heart of Haitian culture.”
Tickets are $24 online and $27 at the door. Additionally, $40 stage-side tickets are available individually and in pairs, with seating at tables for two. A limited number of free tickets for youth ages 18 and younger are also available online, while supplies last. To learn more and purchase tickets, visit openspacevashon.com.
Masks and proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test are required for all guests. Please stay home if you are experiencing COVID symptoms or if you have been exposed to someone who is.
Expand your experience with dinner with Lakou Mizik
In addition to the Lakou Mizik concert, there is another exciting way to experience a taste of Haiti this month. Gravy Executive Chef Dre Neely is preparing an exclusive, limited-time Haitian feast at 7 p.m. Wednesay, March 30, at Gravy. The menu will include crispy pork griot (pork marinated in citrus and chilis), poul nas sos (chicken stewed with orange, red, and yellow bell peppers), diri kole (Haitian beans and rice) and more.
Band members of Lakou Mizik will be in attendance to talk about the importance of food in the culture of Haiti. Tickets are $100, with a portion of proceeds going in support of the people of Haiti. Seating is limited to 30 guests.
Find out more and get tickets to the meal at OpenSpaceVashon.com/event/a-taste-of-haiti.
