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Orion Freeman, Kuf Knotz, and Kwesi Kankam

Presented by Burlap and Bean Coffeehouse at Burlap and Bean Coffeehouse

August 10, 2012

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Orion Freeman is a singing, songwriting, guitar-playing seeker from the woods just beyond the mortar and bricks of Philadelphia. His souled-out, reggae-infused, flamenco-tinged, bluesy folk-rock aspires to move: your shoes; your heart; the cobwebs, so as to peer into your soul. Hovering somewhere within the chasm between the worldly and the divine, his music is an intimate glimpse into the spiraling states of freedom and folly, playfulness and prayer. To listen to samples, visit www.orionfreeman.com

No stranger to Philadelphia's live music scene for the better part of the last decade or so, Kuf Knotz has created quite a name for himself accompanying nationally renowned tours with the likes of artists ranging from Common to The New York Dolls. Kuf even battered down historical barriers by becoming the first ever hip hop act to open up for the legendary "Boss" -- Mr. Bruce Springsteen, himself -- at the internationally covered rally for then presidential candidate, Barack Obama on Philly's Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Kuf's career highlights did not end there, however, going on to record "Unstoppable," the official song of World Series Champions, The Phillies, last year with fellow notorious local artists, G. Love and Chuck Treece. To listen to samples, visit www.kufknotz.com

Born within the glow of the Northern Lights of Anchorage, Alaska, Kwesi has seen much in his young life and time. From a West African father of Ghanaian descent and a mother from Ft. Wayne Indiana, his music is a tapestry of relaxed grooves and melodic hooks that stay true to his world view and artistic nature. Raised in Ohio, Kwesi soaked up sounds from his older brother’s cd collection – folk, soul, rap, alternative and rock, setting the stage for his musical journey. Lucky to have a sibling employed at a record shop, he would regularly borrow his brothers’ discs, absorbing all styles from Dave Matthews to Alanis Moriestte, to Boyz II Men and Bone Thugs to traditional Ghanaian gospel reggae and his father’s '70s and '80s soul music, it created a blend of his very own that would later be a key component in the sound of his music. To listen to samples, visit www.kwesikankam.com