Antibalas, the Brooklyn-based Afrobeat orchestra whose propulsive grooves and political consciousness have made them the torchbearers of Fela Kuti’s legacy in America, perform at Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock on April 3, 2026.
For over two decades, Antibalas — whose name means “bulletproof” in Spanish — have sustained a mission that is as much cultural as musical. Drawing on the Afrobeat tradition pioneered by Fela Kuti and his Africa 70 in 1970s Lagos, the ensemble builds hypnotic, polyrhythmic grooves that unfold over extended compositions.
The group’s influence extends far beyond their own recordings. Members of Antibalas formed the core of the Broadway production of Fela!, and the ensemble’s alumni have gone on to work with artists across the musical spectrum.
Levon Helm Studios, the barn-turned-concert-venue built by The Band’s legendary drummer in Woodstock, carries its own weight of American musical history. The convergence of Afrobeat’s communal, groove-centered ethos with the studio’s tradition of communal music-making creates a setting that honors both legacies.
Visit Levon Helm Studios for tickets and information.