The City of Ocala in partnership with Marion Cultural Alliance present the 2022 Levitt AMP Ocala Music Series! This series returns Fridays, April 22 through July 1 (excluding May 27), 7 to 9 p.m. at Webb Field at the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Complex (1510 NW Fourth Street).
Join us for 10 FREE concerts and 10 non-profit intermission activities, as well as food trucks, non-profit vendors, and artisan vendors. Stay tuned for the 2022 lineup release!
For more information, visit www.ocalafl.org/levittamp
HEADLINING ARTIST: Natu Camara
In Conakry, a sprawling legion of Natu Camara’s adoring fans regard her as “the Tina Turner of Guinea.” In her music and during high-octane shows, the impassioned singer-songwriter substantiates the weighty nickname. In the early 2000s, Camara led West Africa’s first all-female hip-hop group, the Ideal Black Girls (IBG). Years after releasing Guinèya Moumonèra (It’s Not a Shame to Be a Woman) — a multiplatinum opus advocating for women’s rights — as a member of IBG, the dynamism of Camara’s musical evolution is revealed in Dimedi (“Child” in her native language, Susu), an inspirational solo debut underscoring the significance of children having positive role models. Singing in five languages, Dimedi showcases Camara’s unique blend of afro-rock, pop, and soul that speaks to the range of heroes influencing her individual sound: Miriam Makeba, Nina Simone, Mory Kante, Fela Kuti, and Baaba Maal.
OPENING ARTIST: UF Afropop Ensemble
Founded in 2021, UF's African Popular Music Ensemble specializes in the popular music of the African continent, with a special focus on Afrobeat, highlife, soukous, and African jazz. The ensemble, directed by Dr. Sarah Politz, features students from the School of Music, musicians from the Gainesville community, and selected guest artists. The 2021 program will include arrangements of popular music from Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and Guinea, as well as Afro-diasporic sacred music from Haiti and Cuba.
