Urban Arts Festival ... and other news

Oh, my goodness! Has it really been that long since we've blogged anything? Guess I'd better be bringing you all up to speed on things, huh?

We are going to be playing the Urban Arts Festival this Sunday (September 18) at the Gallivan Center in Salt Lake City. This is a FREE festival for the whole family so come on out & enjoy the last weekend of summer with us.



As to the rest of the news, we've had a few changes in our crazy family. Chris, Tony and Tiffin have decided to take a break and pursue other projects and life adventures. They will always be with us in spirit and we wish them the very best of everything. Jennifer is still around, but has been incredibly busy with her other projects. Who knows when she may pop in for a surprise tuba honk? And Byron has relocated to the south desert. He will still be joining us for our craziness whenever he returns north. But not to despair! We have some incredible new family members sharing in the madness that is Juana Ghani: Heather Gardner (yes, the same Heather who belly dances, burlesque dances, and aerial dances) joins us on banjo and vocals, Phil Miller on all the saxes, and Bob Smith on percussion. OH! And Bryan Bale is now playing bass guitar when he's not playing doumbek.  I told you there were a lot changes!

Disappearing boobs over Albuquerque

We visited the local Fox 13 news broadcast for a live taste of Juana Ghani's Gypsy Circus ahead of our show at the Gallivan Center in Salt Lake City last week.  (The weather segment is fabulous!)

DeVotchKa!

BIG, EXCITING LAST MINUTE NEWS!

Juana Ghani is opening for the amazing DeVotchKa tomorrow night (Saturday, July 18) at Park City Live (427 Main Street / Park City, Utah).

Tickets are $30 for general admission and can be purchased here: http://parkcitylive.net/event.cfm?id=211566&cart

Doors open at 8:00pm.  This is a 21+ event.

It's Circus Time!

We had so much fun throwing a circus for Excellence in the Community at the Gallivan Center last summer that we're doing it again!  This time we're taking the party to the Viridian Center in West Jordan, Utah, on May 9. 

Salt Lake City, Utah – Local acoustic Gypsy punk band Juana Ghani will perform at the Excellence in the Community Concert Series on Saturday, May 9th at the Viridian Center (8030 South 1825 West) in West Jordan.

Utah-based Juana Ghani is a 10-piece acoustic Gypsy rock band that mixes original compositions and traditional world folk songs, infusing them with punk energy and theatric sensibility to create a cabaret-meets-rock-n-roll feel. Accompanied by belly dancers, aerialists, fire dancers, and cirque performers, Juana Ghani puts on a raucous and charismatic show, drawing influences from such Gypsy/World punk troubadours as Gogol Bordello, Firewater and Viza – all with a poetic balladry likened to that of Tom Waits and Nick Cave. Juana Ghani’s Gypsy Circus is more than a concert; it is a show. And Juana Ghani is more than a band; they are a community.

Performing with Juana Ghani will be Tabla Arabia (Middle Eastern drums), Amina (belly dance, swords), Jenn Shamsa (belly dance), LaNae (belly dance), LeyLa & Paris (Bollywood), Chad Rockstar (stilts, fire), Heidi-Lyn Butterfly (stilts, fire, hoop), Miss Rio (fire, hoop), August (magic), Celeste McCulley (magic, balloons), Hope Banrion (aerial), Heather Garden (belly dance, fans) and Elias “Lefty” Caress (Ringmaster, magic, juggling).

The Viridian Center is located at 8030 South 1825 West in West Jordan, Utah. Doors open at 6:30pm, show starts at 7:00pm. Admission is free for all ages.

NEW PHOTO!

Oh, my!  This was such an amazingly fun photo shoot!  Photographer Renee Keith is so absolutely wonderful! 

Rajasthani Gypsy Caravan

What an amazing autumn we have been having!  We have played so many great shows and met so many wonderful people.  We can't wait for more!

Our last show for a while, at least until January 10 (oh, there's some big news there!), is going to be this Friday night, November 7, at Bar Deluxe.  We have the amazing honor to open for Rajasthani Gypsy Caravan who are currently on a US tour from India.  This is going to be such an amazing night!

Excellence in the Community

Joining Juana Ghani for this performance will be a plethora of Utah’s finest cirque performers and belly dancers, providing a fun-filled circus atmosphere that will include sword dancing, basket dancing, magic, juggling, belly dancing, stilt walkers, fire dancers, and other surprises. Featured dancers and performers are Amina, Alexandria,  Jennifer Payton, Mandi Johnson, Pretty Macabre, LaNae Surerus, Jenn Shamsa, Tammee Seal, Kevin James Seal, Chad Ashment, Heidi Lyn-Butterfly, Celeste Mcculley, and Ringmaster Elias Lefty Caress with a special appearance by Tabla Arabía.

Excellence in the Community featuring Juana Ghani will take place at the Gallivan Center located at 239 S. Main Street in downtown Salt Lake City on Thursday, August 21st. This family friendly event begins at 7:30pm and is free to the public.