The music has always been here...
...we only need to listen closely.
Rattletree Marimba is a Zimbabwean style marimba band based in Austin, Texas. They play high-energy dance and trance music that is guaranteed to get the dance floor moving from the first song! They have been called 'Blue Man Group Meets Afropop' because of their giant hand-crafted instruments and their high-energy stage presence.
Rattletree is quickly making its mark in the music scene in Austin,TX-the "live music capitol of the World". Already having played over 300 shows since their beginning in June 2006, they have played the stage at some of Austin's biggest music festivals, including SXSW, First Night, Batfest, Eeyores Birthday, Bob Marley Fest, and Pecan St. Fair.
Rattletree has been featured both nationally and regionally in print: including Global Rhythms Magazine, The Austin Chronicle, The Austin American Statesman, The Dallas Observer, The Houston Chronicle, Austin Music Magazine, and numerous regional newspapers.
Here in 2009, Rattletree is continuing to focus on building regional support. Rattletree has been honored to have been partnering with local non-profit groups around the region to bring awareness to the many great causes that are happening right in people's back yards. Some of the groups are the SIMS Foundation, Save Our Springs Association, Save Austin Music Foundation, Social Entrepreneurship Group, the Epilepsy Foundation, and many others. Committed to "doing it right", Rattletree has a vision of slowly building with their fans and letting their reputation precede them into new communities. They are achieving this through not only gigs at clubs and venues, but also by teaching workshops and clinics to students of all ages-from elementary schools to university level intensives. The infectious music of Zimbabwe is spreading throughout Texas.
Through all this attention, Rattletree has managed to stay true to its roots in traditional Zimbabwean spirituality. In Zimbabwe, dance is an integral part of spirit-possession ceremonies and the Shona people of Zimbabwe have spent more than 1000 years perfecting the intense grooves that Rattletree is blessed to transmit to its audience. Come share the joy and be a part of this music!
We'll see you on the dancefloor!