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SOUL on the MOVE at Abolition Row Park
On Thursday, August 8 at 5:00 PM, New Bedford’s historic Abolition Row Park will be transformed into an open-air celebration of rhythm, culture, and movement as Oversoul Theatre Collective, Inc. presents SOUL on the MOVE: House Music in the Park—a free community event blending soulful dance music with deep ancestral roots.
The event features a live set by WAMPTRONICA, a cutting-edge music and media collective known for crafting high-energy House Music experiences that draw from traditional Cape Verdean, West Indian, Latino, and African musical forms, as well as updated blends of classic disco, jazz, and soul recordings. Their sound is both reverent and revolutionary—bridging generations, genres, and geographies on a thumping dancefloor beat.
“House Music is a latter-day soul dance tradition. Social dances are among the traditions of Wampanoag people—we’re just combining these two traditions,” says Mwalim DaPhunkee Professor, Artistic Director of Oversoul Theatre Collective and a founding member of WAMPTRONICA. “This isn’t just a performance—it’s a celebration of living culture, a reclaiming of joy, and a reminder that the heartbeat of our communities is alive and well.”
With an impressive catalog of original music, WAMPTRONICA is making waves on the underground club circuit and beyond. Their track "GROWN FOLKS PARTY" featuring powerhouse vocalist Navalle “Chops” Turner has become a global dancefloor favorite, alongside the infectious "Not Going Out (Feel The Vibe)." Meanwhile, deep cuts like "HANDSOME" and their releases on Eightball Records (NYC) are receiving serious attention among tastemakers and DJs in international house music circles.
SOUL on the MOVE is more than a party—it’s an act of cultural and spatial justice. Set in the heart of Abolition Row, a neighborhood once home to Black abolitionists, Underground Railroad conductors, and early Cape Verdean families, the event reclaims public space for joy, art, and intergenerational community connection. The park becomes a living stage for sound, movement, and liberation, echoing the traditions and resilience of the African Diaspora and Indigenous peoples of the region.
Presented by Oversoul Theatre Collective, Inc., the event is made possible through the support of Polyphonic Studios, the Mass Cultural Council, MassDevelopment TDI, New Bedford Creative, The Leduc Center for Civic Engagement, the Osborne Trust Fellowship, and WNB One Radio.
