The Twin Cities artist Dessa swings south for a concert in Earlham. (Photo: Scott Streble)
By Jane Burns
BPC staff writer and copy editor
You can call Dessa many things: a hip-hop artist, a poet, an author, a science geek, a big pal of the Minnesota Orchestra and, according to NPR’s “All Songs Considered,” “a national treasure.”
These days you can call her something else: a dedicated performer who knows the show must go on. The genre-defying artist will take the stage at Earlham City Park at 6 p.m. Sunday as part of the Levitt AMP Earlham Music Series. Unfortunately for Dessa, it won’t be the show she planned.
The Twin Cities artist planned to perform in Earlham with the 29:11 South African Ensemble and had lined up a series of Midwest tour dates. But the 12-member group’s U.S. performance visas were denied and they aren’t allowed in the country, despite previous visits.
“To get a performance visa like this, you have to prove you already have gigs lined up and you’re culturally unique,” Dessa told the Minnesota Star Tribune. “They had the gigs, obviously. In no universe does this ensemble lack profound cultural value. I’m completely heartbroken.”
Dessa postponed some of the dates on the tour until December but still plans to perform the free outdoor show in Earlham. She will be joined by Lady Midnight, with Nella Thomas also on the bill.
