Khaira Arby, Robert Clay, et al. Included in Englert Theatre's Concert Lineup in May

The Englert Theatre announces new concerts coming to the theatre this May. The lineup features exciting performances by a diverse collection of performers. On Friday, May 11 Malian vocalist Khaira Arby will perform with Iowa City band Bermuda Report. Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars return to the Englert on Friday, May 25. The subject of a critically acclaimed documentary, the Refugee All Stars have matured into one of Africa's top touring and recording bands. Finally, five-time Grammy award winning, guitar legend Robert Cray will perform Thursday, May 31.

Tickets are available now online at englert.org, or by calling the Englert Box Office at 319/688-2653.

Khaira Arby with Bermuda Report
Friday, May 11 at 8pm
Tickets: $16 General Admission

Born in a village not far from the famed city of Timbuktu, Arby is firmly planted in the desert sand. Her creativity flows in part from the people of her home region of Northern Mali-the young musicians in her band all hail from Timbuktu-and from their past and present struggles. Arby's most recent album, Timbuktu Tarab, shifts seamlessly between the edgy and progressive and the traditional and deeply rooted. Inspired by her cousin Ali Farka Toure, Arby turns to her mixed Berber and Sonrhai roots and draws on a sweet mixture of desert blues and recording sophistication, blending ripping electric guitar with the forefather of the banjo and funky drum breaks with the traditional percussion of the scraper and the calabash.

Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars with Orgone
Friday, May 25 at 8pm
Tickets: $20 Advance / $22 Day of Show

Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars has uplifting songs of hope, faith and joy. The band is a potent example of the redeeming power of music and the ability of the human spirit to persevere through unimaginable hardship and emerge with optimism intact. From their humble beginnings in West African refugee camps Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars have performed on some of the world's most prestigious stages and matured into one of Africa's top touring and recording bands.

Co-presented with the Iowa City Yacht Club.

This American Life
Wednesday, May 30 at 7pm
Tickets: $18 Advance / $20 Day of Show

WBEZ Chicago's hit radio show This American Life comes to the Englert's movie screen this May. Host Ira Glass and popular contributors present stories, plus things you could never do on the radio - including dance, animation, video and more. Captured live May 10 and broadcast from the NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, the event will feature stories by David Rakoff and Glynn Washington, a new short film by Mike Birbiglia, music by OK Go, comedy by Tig Notaro, and special surprise guests.

The Robert Cray Band
Thursday, May 31 at 8pm
Tickets: $50 Tier One / $40 Tier Two

As a five-time Grammy award winning, singer/songwriting guitar legend, Robert Cray is considered "one of the greatest guitarists of his generation" and since his 1980 album debut Who's Been Talkin, Cray has been inviting audiences along on his epic musical journey – breaking through the pop ceiling with his gate crashing/blues-edged trademark sound, distinct playing style and daring innovations.