Jonesborough: Polyphony Marimba Concert

Music on the Square to host special event

The Polyphony Marimba, a nationally recognized marimba band, will be bringing their Zimbabwean style music to Tennessee’s Oldest Town on Thursday, August 22nd. They will perform a special show for Music on the Square, Jonesborough’s weekly Friday evening concert series. The performance will take place in front of the courthouse at 7 p.m. in historic downtown Jonesborough. This event is in addition to Music on the Square, which will still continue on Friday, August 23rd.

Polyphony Marimba was founded in 2010 with a mission to get an acoustic ensemble of nine players together who wanted to make a life out of the roots of southern Africa, while contributing their own creative expression to that tradition. Polyphony brings a big acoustic dance sound with intricate vocal harmonizing on spiritual themes. Over the past eight years, the band has played over 300 concerts around North America and has sold over 5,000 copies of its three albums.

Over the last five years, completely self-operated, Polyphony has established a steady circuit of gigs, particularly in the eastern United States. Peter Swing, founder of the group, has been teaching the music of Zimbabwe for over 30 years and actively builds Zimbabwean style marimbas which are sold all across the country. Swing learned that the music grows in power and artistry, the more the players put their lives into it, and the larger the audience is that appreciates it. Expanding the cathartic and joyful energy inherent in this music is what Polyphony Marimba is about.

Polyphony Marimba’s special performance will be free and open to the public. For more information regarding the event, please contact the Jonesborough Visitors Center at 423.753.1010