The New Bedford Symphony Orchestra (NBSO) and Cape Verdean Association (CVA) will be holding Junta Mon: Together in Music, a collaborative musical event on Saturday, June 5, 2021 from 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm at Island Park at 1157 Acushnet Avenue in the North End of New Bedford. This no-charge musical event for the whole family will feature songs by Cape Verdean musicians, a second set by several NBSO musicians, and then culminate as the two groups play together in partnership.
Musicians for the CVA include Carlos (Kalu) Lopes on the bass guitar and José (Josca) Lopes and Vicente Brito on acoustic guitar. Musicians for the NBSO include Peter Zay on the cello, EmmaLee Holmes-Hicks on the violin, and Piero Guimaraes on percussion. This fun and informal concert will include a wide range of styles including Cape Verdean, popular, classic, and fiddling. This project is funded in part by Wicked Cool Places, financed by the City of New Bedford’s Arts, Culture, and Tourism Fund. This concert will follow all applicable state and local safety measures.
The event will celebrate the park construction scheduled to start in July. Plans for the park’s renewal include transforming the empty lot into an area with an amphitheater, open lawn seating, lawn oval, paved walkways, and plantings. Island Park is located alongside the former Strand Theatre at 1157 Acushnet Avenue and features a multi-panel mural painted by local artist Eden Soares. The theater is currently undergoing renovation into a multi-purpose Cape Verdean Community Cultural Center, which will reflect the City’s diversity and inclusivity.