In a Basque Center filled with anticipation, Afrosonics turned Treefort 2026 into a joyous cross‑cultural dance party.
The Basque Block is already one of Treefort’s most eclectic settings, and this year it transformed into a world‑beat utopia when Afrosonics took the stage. Treefort’s multi‑venue, multi‑genre format means you might encounter headlining indie bands on the main stage one moment and discover a horn‑driven ensemble in a historic community hall the next. On this night, the Basque Center pulsed with the rhythms of half a dozen continents as locals, visitors and refugees alike packed the hall, eager for Boise’s homegrown global collective.
Formed by keyboardist Todd Dunnigan and Nigerian percussionist Dayo Ayodele, Afrosonics draws musicians from the Middle East, Europe, Africa, South America and the U.S., fusing their experiences into what Dunnigan calls a musical “soup”. The group’s mission goes beyond grooves: they intentionally integrate refugees and local musicians to build community and “provide positive hope” through music. Ayodele has long mentored recently arrived “New American” musicians in Boise, and the band’s rotating lineup gives them a platform. Songs often switch languages mid‑verse, with Swahili, Spanish and English lyrics woven over congas and brass.
Afrosonics’ Treefort set unfolded like a whirlwind world tour. Bright trumpets blazed over tumbling djembe rhythms, while Dunnigan’s keys and saxophone riffs filled the spaces in between. At one point the band dropped into an Afrobeat groove reminiscent of Fela Kuti, only to segue seamlessly into a cumbia shuffle. The two scheduled sets; a sunny afternoon Tropico FM showcase and a jam‑packed late‑night encore at the Basque Center, kept the dance floor full, with fans spinning to polyrhythms and singing along in multiple languages. The joy onstage was matched only by the smiles in the crowd, proving that Boise’s global melting pot could light up a spring night.
Afrosonics epitomize Treefort’s ethos of inclusion and discovery. By inviting Boise‑area refugees to share their rhythms and stories, the collective not only produces irresistible grooves but also fosters a sense of belonging. In a festival that prides itself on genre‑blending and community, Afrosonics showed that the most powerful music sometimes comes from the margins.
