World fusion group Ancient Future, will perform Friday, September 29, 8 p.m., at Edwards Auditorium, Upper College Road, University of Rhode Island, RI. This is the group's first East Coast concert since 1981. The Ancient Future Arabic Dance Ensemble with Matthew Montfort, Georges Lammam, Salah Takesh and Doug McKeehan, inspires audiences with its up tempo fusion of American and Arabic music . Ancient Future plays with "technical brilliance and gypsy-like fire" and has been called "trendsetters" by Billboard Magazine. Admission is free to the public. Information: 401-874-2215.

Ancient Future is the world's first and longest running musical ensemble dedicated exclusively to the mission of creating world fusion music. Founded as a quartet in 1978, today there are 28 musicians from around the world who are part of the ensemble, with over a dozen ensemble variations.

This concert features master Arabic and American musicians. Scalloped fretboard guitar pioneer Matthew Montfort is the leader of Ancient Future and coined the term “world fusion music" when the band was germinating. He has performed concerts world wide, including at the Festival Internacional de la Guitarra on the golden coast of Spain near Barcelona and at the Mumbai Festival at the Gateway of India in Bombay. He is the author of the book "Ancient Traditions--Future Possibilites" on the rhythmic traditions of Africa, Bali, and India. On the Planet Passion CD, Arabic violin virtuoso George Lammam adds an element of romantic fire. Born in Beirut, Lebanon, he is well-known in the Middle East as well as the US, having performed with the most well-known singers of the Middle East. He is on the faculty of the Near East Music and Dance Camp in Mendocino. One of the world's finest Arabic percussionists, Salah Takesh was born in Azerbaijan, Iran. In his long career in music, he has worked with the top Arabic musicians and dancers in Europe and the Middle East. He is also on the faculty of the Near East Music and Dance Camp. Virtuoso pianist Doug McKeehan started his piano studies at age five, and began his first professional work at the age of twelve. He studied music at the Oberlin Conservatory, Kent State University, and the University of Otago (New Zealand). He has toured Europe twice and spent considerable time in India studying with notable Indian music teachers such as Pandit Ram Narayan, Ustad Kursheed Khan and Pandit A.G. Bhattacharya.