As the world gets back to coming together in person, Afrolicious is a band custom fit for this moment when joy and unity are needed more than ever. The genuine passion, love, funk and energy at an Afrolicious event is something folks feel long after the event is over. It is a kind of feeling one wants to go out and spread around because it feels so good! Afrolicious is ready to be a part of that healing and uplifting energy the people need as we all emerge from a truly difficult and challenging time. Few bands have held residencies longer than a year. Afrolicious captivated audiences every Thursday for consecutive years in one of the most entertainment-saturated cities in the world. Having outgrown its weekly residency at the Elbo Room in San Francisco, Afrolicious continues to bring its legendary energy everywhere the band has had the pleasure of traveling since. In 2021, Afrolicious is pushing a timely message: Love Shall Remain! With a single and new album with that title, the band continues to build on momentum from the last few years as an in demand entertainment powerhouse. Afrolicious has been storming through storied venues such as the Fillmore in San Francisco, El Rey in Los Angeles, and electrifying festivals such as Red Rocks, Lighting In a Bottle, High Sierra Music Festival, Governor’s Island Ball and Joshua Tree Music Festival amongst many others. The Afrolicious live experience is, in a nutshell, a joyous and raucous celebration of life. The Afrolicious sound combines inspiring lyrics, funky bass lines, and a powerful horn section while retaining the soul and feel of classic funk, disco, Latin, and Afrobeat melodies. Audiences looking to dance, be inspired, or celebrate life have found Afrolicious as their perfect conduit. Afrolicious confidently thrusts into the future, its reputation buttressed by countless shows and the support of world-renown artists such as Thievery Corporation (Rob Garza produced their first two EPs) and the many renown musicians and acts they have shared stages with. Afrolicious is also affiliated with a worldwide group of DJs, producers, bands, and labels who produce contemporary soulful dance music inspired by sounds of the African diaspora, including Antibalas, Chico Mann, Nickodemus, DJ Smash, Wonderwheel Recordings, and Subsuel. As the world gets back to coming together in person, Afrolicious is a band custom fit for this moment. Joy and unity are needed more than ever. The genuine passion, love, funk and energy at an Afrolicious event is something folks feel and want to go out and spread around long after the event is over, because it feels so good! Afrolicious is ready to be a part of that healing and uplifting energy the people need as we all emerge from a truly difficult and challenging time. Join the Party! "Just try not to dance, we dare you!" - Okayafrica "An invitation to get loose and get down in an Afrolicious space where Highlife meets 70s NYC Nightlife." KCRW

Papiba & Friends brings together three visionary and genre-blending musicians, each with deep roots in Santa Cruz’s vibrant music scene. Papiba Godinho—guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter—is best known as the founder of SambaDá, one of Santa Cruz’s most beloved bands. A capoeira mestre and cultural ambassador, Papiba also runs a Brazilian cultural arts center in Santa Cruz. Etienne Franc (aka roKsta OrKestra) is a dynamic bassist and vocalist who has performed locally and internationally for over two decades. A former member of SambaDá and Paradise Soul Savers, Etienne currently serves as musical director at Inner Light Ministries and a go-to bass player for many other bands and projects. Gary Kehoe is a longtime staple of the Santa Cruz music community. A founding member of SambaDá and the world music group Special Fun, Gary is also known for his work with the California Honeydrops and as a sought-after drummer and percussionist across numerous local acts. Blending rock, soul, funk, and samba, Papiba & Friends creates an electrifying sound that reflects their diverse backgrounds—from Brazil, Minnesota, and Brooklyn—and their shared passion for global grooves with a fresh, modern twist.