Credit: Ryan Collerd / Ars Nova Workshop

Thursday, April 8
7pm CT
Streaming on Twitch
FREE, $5+ suggested donation

Please join Ars Nova Workshop, in conjunction with ESS’s Quarantine Concerts, for this one-night-only premiere presentation of the Sun Ra Arkestra’s legendary 2016 Halloween performance. Taped from Philadelphia’s Johnny Brenda’s in glorious black and white, the Arkestra reminds us why they’re one of the greatest big bands in history.

Though the iconic Sun Ra left the planet in 1993, his cosmic legacy is proudly maintained by the interstellar sounds of the Arkestra, which operates under the direction of alto saxophonist Marshall Allen, who celebrates his 97th Arrival Day (or birthday, for the more Earthbound among you) this year. With a massive, joyous songbook and the kind of well-organized chaos that sees their legendary two-hour sets move deftly between rolling grooves, sing-along chants, and atonal blasts of mischievous brass, the Arkestra remain one of the most unmissable live acts today. In 2018, the 83rd Downbeat Readers Poll saw the Arkestra ranked eighth in the “Big Band” category. In the last few years alone, the Arkestra has backed Solange and U2, inspired Lady Gaga to include “Rocket Number Nine” as part of her stage show, and welcomed artists like Kamasi Washington and Shabaka Hutchings to join in the fun, opening up the ears of new music audiences globally to a challenging and uniquely defined sound.