National Sawdust presents National Sawdust Presents: Silkroad Up-Close featuring Yacouba Sissoko & Mike Block Duo and Maeve Gilchrist and Seamus Egan
Yacouba Sissoko & Mike Block Duo, Maeve Gilchrist, Seamus Egan
National Sawdust80 North 6th Street, New York 11249
National Sawdust’s Silkroad Up-Close program brings the Yacouba Sissoko and Mike Block Duo to Brooklyn alongside Maeve Gilchrist and Seamus Egan. Sissoko and Block’s set joins kora with Block’s cello and voice, moving between original compositions and adaptations of traditional folk repertoire. The evening places their collaboration within a bill that also features Gilchrist and Egan.
Sissoko is a master kora player from Mali and a musician of the Djely tradition. He has performed and recorded with Baaba Maal, Paul Simon, Leni Stern, and Regina Carter. Block is an American cellist and singer from Kansas. The two first met as members of Yo-Yo Ma’s Grammy-winning Silkroad Ensemble, and their duo melds West African and American traditions. Gramophone has called Block “one of the bravest, most intriguing musicians on the American fusion scene.”
National Sawdust offers a unique evening where music and innovation meet in a thoughtfully designed space that once housed a sawdust factory. The main hall, seating up to 185 guests with flexible arrangements, features a cutting-edge Meyer spatial sound system that immerses you in every note. The room’s raw brick walls and crystalline architectural elements create a striking contrast, enhancing the focus on the performance. A full bar is available, inviting you to enjoy a drink while fully engaging with the diverse range of genres presented by both emerging and established artists. Shows are ticketed, and purchasing ahead is recommended to secure your spot in this intimate yet spacious venue. The experience is centered on listening and discovery, making for an evening that feels both special and thoughtfully curated.