Chopteeth

Chopteeth Afrofunk Big Band brings an 11-member ensemble to Riverworks Outdoor Stage for a dance-focused performance of highlife, rumba, afrobeat, afrofunk, and related African sounds from the 1970s. The band combines original music with interpretations of works by artists including Fela Kuti, Tabu Ley Rochereau, Orchestra Baobab, Manu Dibango, Ernesto Djedje, O.J. Ekemode, The Sweet Talks, Alhadji K. Frimpong, Samba Mapangala, and others.

Based in the DC area, Chopteeth has been performing for more than 20 years. Its sound features two guitars, bass, keyboards, drums, percussion, and the group’s horn section. The band has released the albums “Chopteeth,” “Chopteeth Live!,” and “Bone Reader,” and has received 14 Washington Area Music Association Wammie Awards, including Artist of the Year, Debut CD of the Year, World Music CD, and nine consecutive awards for World Music Group. Lead vocalist Michael Shereikis is a three-time Wammie winner for Best World Music Vocalist.

When: October 10, 2026

Showtimes: 6:00–8:00 p.m.

Run time: Approximately 2 hours

Tickets: Pay what you want; donations are accepted online and at the door.

Lineup: Chopteeth Afrofunk Big Band, featuring two guitars, bass, keyboards, drums, percussion, horns, and lead vocals by Michael Shereikis.

Music: Original compositions and interpretations of highlife, rumba, afrobeat, and afrofunk, including music associated with Ghana, Senegal, Congo, Guinea, Nigeria, and other parts of Africa.

Background: Chopteeth has shared stages with Parliament Funkadelic, Trombone Shorty, Galactic, Aaron Neville, Cyril Neville, the Derek Trucks Band, Ozomatli, Grupo Fantasma, Konono No. 1, Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars, Gov’t Mule, Soulive, Greyboy Allstars, War, Chuck Brown, and many other world music, soul, and jazz-funk acts. The band has also performed at colleges, festivals, HBO’s “The Wire” wrap party, the Congo Square World Music Festival, Artscape, the Duke Ellington Jazz Festival, the Silver Spring Jazz Festival, and Adams Morgan Day Festival.

Venue: Riverworks Outdoor Stage, 17617 W Willard Road, Beallsville, MD 20839.

Presented by: Riverworks Art Center.

Ages: Not specified.

Accessibility: The page does not provide accessibility information for this event.

Contact: (301) 690-9337; contact@riverworksart.org.

Website: https://www.riverworksart.org/event-details/chopteeth