On Saturday, January 31st, the Sunflower Theatre in Cortez will fill with rhythm, horns, and high-energy dance grooves as Afrobeatniks return to the stage with a special, scaled-down lineup designed for an intimate venue.
Band founder and drummer Bradley Hoessle says the group adapts its size to fit the space — from a full 10- to 12-piece “Afrobeat orchestra” at festivals to a tight six-member band for smaller rooms. At the Sunflower, audiences can expect layered percussion, keyboards, and a standout horn section, all built around Afrobeat and West African-inspired rhythms.
Hoessle describes the show as a “midwinter energy exchange,” with dancing and audience participation at the heart of the experience. “The goal is to get people out of their heads and into their bodies,” he said, “and just be in joy with each other in community.”
Based in Mancos and Durango, the band blends global percussion traditions with funk, jazz, and groove-driven arrangements. Their music draws on Hoessle’s background in Afro-Cuban, Congolese, and West African rhythms, influenced by teachers like Fara and Etienne Tolno.
The six-piece lineup for Saturday includes original members Danny Quinlan, Alexii Carey, and Hoessle, joined by Dr. Easton Stuard on keys and flute, longtime percussionist Dean Mullen, and tenor saxophonist Ian Boletchek.
Afrobeatniks say the show is designed as a “cabin fever reliever” — a chance to shake off the winter blues, dance, and connect through live music in one of the Four Corners’ most intimate listening spaces.
