Zhou Family Band
Zhou Family Band
Image courtesy of the artists
Zhou Family Band (周家班) is a group of hereditary musicians from an impoverished region in China. The musicians are trained in the traditional master-apprentice system—very different from the modern education system in many conservatories.
In its music, one gains a sense of grassroots music that is very different from better-known Chinese musical genres of the elite. The music is frequently a part of life-cycle rituals such as weddings, funerals, and festivals.
The Zhou Family Band’s 2018 tour includes performances at the BU Global World Music Festival, World Music Festival Chicago, Richmond Folk Festival, and the Kennedy Center.