Bat Makumba

The brainchild of Brazilian natives Alex Koberle and Emiliano Benevides and Americano bassist Carl Remde, Bat Makumba is the crossroads between the traditional music of their equatorial homeland and the punk, rock and funk influences of the U.S. and UK. Locals to San Francisco, Bat Makumba's show is a hip renegade Carnival party full of tropicalia-tinged ska, punk-influenced forro, and rock-infused samba.

Since forming in 2000 Bat Makumba has garnered critical acclaim and a dedicated fan base throughout the West Coast. Winners of a 2004 California Music Award for Outstanding Latin Alternative Album, Bat Makumba have been hailed by the San Francisco Chronicle as one of Five Latin Bands to Watch, nominated for two SF Weekly Music Awards as Best World Band, and their debut album was named one of the Best Records of 2003 by the East Bay Express.

Incorporating the varied influences of horn player David Gibbs, keyboardist/guitarist Jon Axtell and drummer Aaron Kierbel, Bat Makumba's live show brings together an international palette of musicians and instrumentation (including accordion, zabumba, megaphone, clarinet and alfaia). Named after the '70s classic Tropicalia song by Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil (popularized by Os Mutantes), "Bat Makumba" loosely translates to mean the mixing of Brazilian traditionalism with international pop culture.

Don't miss this kinetic, percussive sound. Join the renegade Carnival party that is Bat Makumba! —Courtesy Calabash Music