AGENDA . Agenda Picks

Vagabond Opera

Tue., July 27, 8 p.m., $18-$23, World Café Live, 3025 Walnut St., 215-222-1400, worldcafelive.com.


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Published: Jul 20, 2010

[ in the accordion fold ]

Ben Z. Mund

Portland, Ore., is known for doing a few things well: coffee shops, microbreweries, anti-sprawl. You may not know, however, that Stumptown also holds bragging rights to one of the best — and perhaps only — neo-Balkan-belly-dance-Klezmer-jazz-opera cabaret troupes. The six-piece ensemble known as Vagabond Opera is composed of trained operatic vocalists who sing in 13 languages to the tune of accordion, cello, upright bass, saxophone and drums. The group lived up to its name this past May with its first opera, Queen of Knives. Set at a '60s carnival, Queen further showcased the troupe's musical and theatrical prowess and continued interest in the bohemian fringes of society. Fans of similarly influenced groups like Gogol Bordello and The Decemberists will fall for Vagabond Opera's Old World-meets-New World sensibility as it takes its vivacious show on the road.

Tue., July 27, 8 p.m., $18-$23, World Café Live, 3025 Walnut St., 215-222-1400, worldcafelive.com.