This episode of "Live from Med City" was recorded in the historic Chateau Theatre in downtown Rochester’s “Heart of the City” district. A special audience-less performance and interview from the Minneapolis based Congolese ensemble Siama's Congo Roots.

Brimming with catchy songs and engaging stories that bring renowned musician Siama Matuzungidi’s rural Congolese culture to life, this charming program features Siama’s spirited singing, masterful finger-picking acoustic guitar and captivating traditional African instruments like Mbira (thumb piano), Lokole (tone drum) and Balafon (marimba). Dallas Johnson narrates and encourages everyone to sing along in Kikongo, Lingala and English while drummer Luke Rivard adds infectious African rhythms. Whenever Siama plays, he hopes you’ll feel inspired to sway and dance and sing along. It’s no wonder people call his music, “the Sound of Happiness”.

 

Rochester Civic Music, the City of Rochester's music department, presents "Live from Med City", the online video digest for all things arts and entertainment in Rochester, MN. The "Live from Med City" concept was conceived with the objective of spotlighting the many “live arts experiences” Rochester has to offer, featuring artists from around the block and from all over the world, and filmed in some of its finest and most unique venues.

 

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support Grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts & cultural heritage fund.