They are not your usual pop band

The Brooklyn, New York-based ensemble, Banda Magda, is not your usual pop band. They draw upon a variety of musical styles—from samba to some of the classics of French chanson from ‘50s mid-century classic American Jazz/Pop such as a cover of Peggy Lee’s “Fever” to Brazilian beats and Colombian cumbia.

They weave these diverse strands into a dynamically finessed musical stew. The group was originally formed by the singer, film composer, Magda Giannikou, a Greek-born graduate of the prestigious Berklee School of Music.

She was trained in film scoring and her works have drawn critical acclaim from a wide variety of artists from the Kronos Quartet to the comedian Louis CK with whom she performed a duet on his TV show.

In person the group is noted for their quirky sensibility and devotion to songcraft, as well as their ability to turn pop chestnuts into Technicolor dream Folk songs. Their debut album “Amor t’es La” won numerous awards including being included on the Top 10 Billboard World Music Chart

They will perform in the Barkley Theatre at the Oats Park Art Center at 8 p.m. on Feb. 20 and will also present a free and open-to-the-public talk on their musical journeys at 3 p.m. on the day of the performance.

Tickets are $17 for CAC members, $20 for non-members and can be picked up at Jeff’s Copy Express on Maine Street or at ITT @ NAS Fallon. You can also call CAC at 775-423-1440.

The final film in CAC’s romantic comedy film series, “Goundhog Day” will screen tonight at the Art Center.

This popular film was directed by Harold Ramis and stars Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell and Chris Elliott. It garnered several nominations from the Academy of Science Fiction, Horror & Fantasy Films with MacDowell winning Best Actress. Tickets are $7 for CAC members, $10 for non-members and can be purchased in the Center’s Art Bar beginning at 6 p.m. and the film will begin at 7 p.m.

The Arts Council’s 30th Anniversary Edition of its “An Evening with the Arts,” fundraising dinner and silent auction is coming up on March 5 at the Convention Center, and will feature a delicious “Surf & Turf” dinner catered by the Slanted Porch.

This social event of the season is selling out quickly; for more information or to reserve your table, you can call CAC at 775-423-1440 or email charts@phonewave.

Kirk Robertson covers the arts and may be reached at news@lahontanvalleynews.com