Lincoln City, OR – On Saturday, Nov. 16, audiences at the Lincoln City Cultural Center will be joining an international celebration of cante, baile and toque – song, dance and musicianship –through a concert performance by the duo Seffarine and their flamenco loving friends. The show, part of the Cultural Center’s new Voyages concert series, will be our Oregon Coast tribute to the “arte jondo” (deep art) that inspired UNESCO to declare Flamenco an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The Nov. 16 performance will feature the soulful Moroccan vocals of Lamiae Naki and the oud expertise of Nat Hulskamp, who tour together as Seffarine, along with Bernardo Gomez (bass), Darian Patrick (cajón and percussion), and Sophia Solano (flamenco dance and palmas). Showtime is 7 pm. Reserved table seats are on sale now at the Cultural Center, 541-994-9994, or online at lincolncity-culturalcenter.org.

Flamenco is a combination of song, dance, and musicianship that is performed in many settings, including religious festivals, rituals, church ceremonies, and private celebrations. It has its origins in interculturality, especially in the Roma culture and the Roma people. The UNESCO recognition of flamenco was formalized on Nov. 16, 2010.

The Andalusian Regional Government declared the day after UNESCO's recognition as "Flamenco Day in Andalusia". The day is celebrated with a variety of activities, including conferences, exhibitions, concerts, and shows. Spain also releases a video each year to celebrate the day. 

About the performers

Bass Player magazine characterized the music of Seffarine as a “gorgeous intersection of Spanish flamenco, Arabic and Andalusian music, Persian Classical and jazz.” In SoundRoots, Naki and Hulskamp were described as “an ear-caressing blend of sounds from Spain and North Africa, spiced with fiery instrumentation and percussion.” Together, as partners in music and life, these two musicians explore and preserve their shared cultural traditions.

Sophia Solano is a second-generation flamenco artist, daughter of guitarrista José Solano. Her earliest dance teacher was Rafaela de Cádiz, and at 18 Sophia moved to Spain for a semester to immerse in Spanish culture and study flamenco at the Universidad de Sevilla and Estudio Juan Polvillo. A few years later, she returned to Granada to study at the internationally-renowned school Carmen de las Cuevas where she took private and group classes in technique and choreography, learning primarily from bailaora María la Manzanilla. Over the past several years, Sophia has also taught beginning and intermediate flamenco dance in Newport and Eugene.

A classically trained bassist, Bernardo Gomez is equally schooled in jazz and Latin music, and has a resume that includes work with Raul & Margarita, The Shanghai Woolies, Afincando, Raz, La Tropikana and Pura Vida. Darian Patrick is a composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist based in Portland. Focusing on percussion, with training in classical and stage voice and bass guitar, Patrick performs a broad range of musical styles with particular focus on Black American and African diasporic traditions.

The “Voyages: Adventures in Music” series is sponsored by a grant from the TourWest program of Creative West (formerly WESTAF), funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as a Community Partnership Program grant from Explore Lincoln City. Lodging sponsorship is provided by the Holiday Inn Express in Lincoln City and the Berton Family Charitable Trust.

All seats in this year’s series are cabaret style, limited to 100. Band members often gather for merchandise and autographs in the back, not far from the counter where center volunteers sell Northwest beers and wines, along with sodas and freshly baked cookies. Parking is free. During intermission, patrons are welcome to wander the outdoor Plaza’s new public art installations, or the rotating exhibits in the Center’s indoor art galleries.  

Discounted multi-show packages will be sold through will be sold through December. To learn more, call the box office at 541-994-9994 or use this direct link: https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?subscription=lccc

Single show tickets for all shows are on sale now at the Cultural Center, open from 10 am to 5 pm Wednesday through Sunday, by calling 541-994-9994, or through the Arts People ticket link: https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?ticketing=lccc.

Here’s the schedule for “Voyages: Adventures in Music” concerts:

Saturday, Nov. 16 at 7 pm – Seffarine (International Flamenco Day)

Wednesday, Dec. 4 at 7 pm – Ensemble Sangineto

Thursday, Jan. 23 at 7 pm -- Christine Tassan et les Imposteurs

Sunday, Feb. 16 at 2 pm – Windborne

Sunday, March 16 at 2 pm -- Gamelan Sari Pandhawa

Friday, April 25 at 7 pm – Barbra Lica

MORE INFORMATION ON THE SHOWS AND PERFORMERS, November 2024-April 2025

Saturday, Nov. 16     Seffarine & Friends, 7 pm

Celebrate International Flamenco Day, a day of "arte jondo" (deep art), with the Seffarine quartet. Seffarine, centered around soulful Moroccan vocals of Lamaie Naki and the flamenco guitar of Nat Hulskamp, return to the LCCC with a program of music and dance from the Mediterranean and Middle East. The concert will also feature Bernardo Gomez on bass and Darian Patrick on cajon/percussion, as well as Newport based flamenco dancer Sophia Solano. Direct ticket link here.

Wednesday, Dec. 4   Ensemble Sangineto, 7 pm

Ensemble Sangineto is an eclectic band which blends skillfully ancient harmonies and sonorities with modern rhythms. It’s a collaboration of twins Adriano and Caterina Sangineto, children of the well-known harp and psaltery maker Michele Sangineto, and guitarist and bouzouki player Jacopo Ventura. Direct ticket link here.

Thursday, Jan. 23      Christine Tassan et les Imposteurs, 7 pm

Pioneers in a domain usually reserved for men and precursors of the Gypsy jazz wave that swept across Quebec, this quartet led by guitarist Christine Tassan contintues to reinvent this timeless music while integrating new ideas and influences with originality and flair. With standards and new compositions, the Imposteures’ musical arrangements innovate, rejuvenate and leave room for unbridled creativity from four talented and accomplished musicians. Direct ticket link here.

Sunday, Feb. 16         Windborne, 2 pm

NPR calls this quartet “the best musical discovery of the year" and "stunningly powerful." Windborne's captivating show draws on the singers’ deep roots in traditions of vocal harmony, while the absolute uniqueness of their artistic approach brings old songs into the present. Known for the innovation of their arrangements, their harmonies are bold and anything but predictable. Direct ticket link here.

Sunday, March 16     Gamelan Sari Pandhawa, 2 pm

Gamelan Sari Pandhawa, a non-profit cultural organization based in Oregon, perform on bronze and wood instruments elegantly handcrafted and painted by master instrument makers in central Java. This group has been dedicated to the celebration of Javanese arts, music, dance and shadow puppetry since 1995. Direct ticket link here.

Friday, April 25          Barbra Lica, 7 pm

JUNO-nominated artist Barbra Lica is fast-rising Canadian vocalist and songwriter and has been receiving accolades for a unique approach that stresses subtlety, grace and storytelling. Based in Toronto, Barbra’s live show captivates audiences all over North America with her genuine warmth and confident stage presence. Direct ticket link here.