Akimbo

• Phil - Guitar
• Shawn - Percussion/Didgeridoo
• Frank - Bass
• Dianna - Vocal
• Melissa - Vocal/sax/Clarinet
• Kurt - Guitar
• Jeff - Drums

!Akimbo play original world fusion dance and vocal music combining elements of Afro-pop, Latin, Funk, Celtic and Jazz. They put on a highly-energetic and colorful show, and can keep an audience on their feet for hours. !Akimbo has appeared with such names as Laura Love, Kotoja, Jim Page and Holly Near. The seven members of !Akimbo, together for eight years, have captivated audiences at major festivals including SolFest, San Francisco Mardi Gras, The High Sierra Music Festival, California World Music Festival, Sacramento Heritage Festival, Valhalla Arts and Music Festival, Heavenly Valley Brewfest, Whole Earth Festival, and the Reno Calypso Festival. They have been nominated SIX consecutive years for a Sacramento Area Music Award (SAMMIE), and their 3 CD's have received great reviews from the music press.

San Francisco Bay Guardian: ' Davis-based !Akimbo expand the definition of world beat from its trademark Afro-Caribbean rhythms into a multicultural jive so dizzying that it exceeds the limitations of one stage.'

' !Akimbo blends soukous, Afro-beat, zydeco, reggae, Celtic and rock beats into a refreshing new mix. The result is a richly layered, and by turns hauntingly emotive and irresistibly upbeat type of music that moves your soul while begging your feet to dance'

Anniversaries, Awards Nights, Bachelor Parties, Bachelorette Parties, Banquets, Bar Mitzvahs, Bat Mitzvahs, Birthday Parties, Children's Birthday Parties, Casinos, Celebrations, Christenings, Christmas Parties, Clubs, Coffee Shops, Community Events, Conventions, Corporate Functions, Country Clubs, Cruise Ships, Dinner Dances, Festivals, Fraternity Functions, Fund Raisers, Graduation Parties, Grand Openings, Hotels, Jingles, Movie Soundtracks, Picnic, Private Parties, Proms, Resorts, Restaurants, Reunions, Ski Lodges, Sorority Function, Studio Session, TV Soundtracks, Weddings

• We asked !Akimbo to play for our wedding celebration. We were looking for a band that would play music to move our bodies as well as feed our minds. !Akimbo was that band. They exceeded all of our expectations. They came early to do a sound check to make sure there were no problems and that the sound was right. They were flexible and accomodating of our requests. They were interested in making the event what we wanted it to be. And once the music started, energy poured from the band and flowed into the dancers. !Akimbo doesn't just stand on the stage and play music, they perform! They interact with the dancers. They are not just there to do a gig, !Akimbo obviously enjoys playing their music and being part of the celebration. They played as long as we had the energy to dance. I didn't expect my mother to dance at all that night, but she was out there with the rest of us. In the week since the party, friend after friend has commented to us about how much they enjoyed the celebration. !Akimbo was at the heart of what made it a great party. -- Bethany S, Grass Valley, CA, 2/24/2007
• !Akimbo Rocked!!! They were so perfect for our amazing wedding in the Santa Cruz Mountains. They went the extra mile in helping make the event a superb success. They came early, in order to finish the sound-check before the ceremony began. They loaned equipment for a PA for the ceremony. And they were helpful and allowed a multi-track board feed for recording. They even played music for a contradance! The music was top notch, with wonderful variety and very enjoyable to dance with. The swahili love song, Malaika, made the perfect first dance, especially considering the bride learned the song in the Peace Corps in Tanzania. And near the end the "!Akimbo Mask" came out and led a thrilling group dance that all the guests enjoyed. Thanks !Akimbo for everything! -Jamie and Bryan -- Bryan C, Los Gatos, CA, 9/3/2005
• !Akimbo rocked. They played such excellent high energy music, everyone was dancing. -- Britton K, Walnut Creek, CA, 11/13/2004

Click here for more feedback