Back Beat

Zimbabwe’s “afrocoustic” Bongo Love returns to Eugene June 27 at Cozmic. Since the last time the band brought the “Zim sound” to town, Bongo Love released a self-titled album and added a trap set drummer and a female vocalist to the sonic smorgasbord of djembe, mbira, marimba and “southern African guitar licks.”

Local photo studio Digital Latte hosts “Madness & Music,” a benefit for Womenspace, featuring performances by Black Magdalene and Stariana 7 pm Saturday, June 28, at Suite 2, 1000 S. Bertelsen Rd. Work will be on display by Tracy and Rob Sydor from their Jaded Jane project, which features disturbing yet beautiful photos inspired by victims of violence and sexual assault.

Attention Eugene-area bands and singer-songwriters! EW’s Next Big Thing music contest closes for submissions Tuesday, July 1. Get your songs in now at nextbigthingeugene.com. Sixteen semi-finalists will be paired with film directors July 15 at Hop Valley Brewing Company to make a music video. Check out more details with this sweet video by DJ Food Stamp featuring K.I. Design and Joe Hughes, presented by the Eugene Film Society and the UO Cinema Studies, at http://wkly.ws/1s5.