California BBQ/Mexican Fiesta
Ticket sales for this event have closed. See you at the FinnFest CA BBQ party!
Welcome to FinnFest!
After the Opening ceremony, enjoy a casual Mexican dinner buffet by the Tiki Pavillion and the beautiful fountain pools. Entertainment will be provided from 5 to 7 p.m. by Conga Se Menne, a Finnish-American reggae band.
Buffet dinner is served from 5:30 to 7:45 pm, the bar is open until 10 pm.
Conga Se Menne
Conga Se Menne has forged a unique jamming sound that mixes roots with reggae, Latin, Brazilian and other tropical sounds. They sometimes combine these exotic rhythms with local themes and lyrics to brew an eclectic mix. Propelled by the hit single "Guess Who's Coming to Sauna (Heikki Lunta!)," the Finnish guys had made it to the "Best of 1995" list in Beat Magazine.
Their debut album, Finnish Reggae and Other Beats earned the group an international following among those devoted to reggae, Caribbean, Latin, and world beats. Their second album, Land of the Conga Boys landed them positive reviews and a spot on National Public Radio's "All Things Considered." Despite this, the musical style of Conga Se Menne is impossible to pigeon hole, running the gamut of Blues, Funk, Latin, Reggae, Rock, Caribbean beats and ethnic Finnish sounds. Island beat percussion blends smoothly with mellifluous keyboards, sonorous horns and big shouldered guitar work - all mixing with an influence of traditional styles.
While the message is light hearted and entertaining, the musical competence of these fine musicians cannot be disputed. Some of this material is difficult to play. Make no mistake about it, these people are serious and talented musicians. In an era of media-controlled popular music, the music of Conga Se Menne is a refreshing respite for all.
Band members:
Derrell Syria - Singer/Song writer and guitarist
Gary Parkkonen - Keyboards
Rob Parkkonen - Drums
Cliff Porter - Bass Guitar
Kay Smith - Percussionist
