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Zulu Spear The Best of World Music

Halloween Show featuring

Zulu Spear -- The Best of African and World Beat Music

Celebrate Halloween with award-winning band Zulu Spear and their inspired, uplifting African and World Beat dance music blending African rhythms with soulful harmonies and mesmerizing dance steps in an energetic performance.

Zulu Spear has a long, vibrant and storied history. A pioneer and leader in the Bay Areas World Beat scene of the 80s, a movement that quickly spread across the country, the band consisting of African and American musicians combined South African rhythms and songs with American rock and blues, using electric guitars and drums, resulting in South African pop music before Paul Simons 1986 Graceland album popularized the style. Additionally, members presented traditional South African dancing along with the music. The group was created by the late South African expatriate singer-composer-dancer Sechaba Mokeoena and Soweto-born singer Gideon Bendile.

After a lengthy break from regular performances Zulu Spear have reformed with many original members and some exciting new additions in 2012 when Bendile, who was featured in the Walt Disney animated film The Lion King, issued a new CD, Come Over to Our House that included tracks from the original bands unreleased Capitol sessions as well as new music.

Featuring most of the original band lineup along with a couple of new recruits, the current Zulu Spear includes singer-dancers Bendile and Morgan Nhlapo, guitarists Ron van Leeuwaarde and Matthew Lacques, drummer Jerome Leonard, bassist Patrick Owens, keyboardist Jennifer Jolly, percussionist Pope Flyne, and the horns: trumpeter Scott Sven Vento and saxophonist/keyboardist Zack Pitt-Smith.

The band's latest CD releases, Dancing in The Jungle and "Pray Now" have received critical acclaim, "trailblazing new rhythms!"

The Arena Theater bar and snack stand will be open.