The Evolution of Indian Music Amjad's workshop will discuss and demonstrate Indian music, from the Vedic chant; the primacy of vocal over instrumental; various instruments and forms of vocal music; North versus South; the structure of a Raga; the importance of percussion and drone; the Gharana system and the evolution of the sarod and Indian music in the West. Saturday 7th / 12.50pm / Stage 4 Language and a Guitar Andy has been a songwriter and poet from an early age in his home town of Belfast in Northern Ireland. His lyrics, poems and drawings have been published in a volume entitled The Music of What Happens and he has released a series of albums internationally. Andy has a humorous, off beat approach to his writing combined with a sharp political and social awareness all the way "from rage to sage" as the UK's MOJO magazine put it. In this session he'll be reflecting on some of his experiences and inspirations (including moving to Australia in 2002). He invites you to share the power of the spoken word combined with his own unique sound on acoustic guitar. For his performances and workshop at WOMADelaide, he will be joined by David Crichton from Glasgow on violin. Friday 7th / 8.30pm / Stage 4 Lutes and the Music of Greece and Asia Minor Band members George Galiatsos (Cretan lute and guitar, vocals), Manuel Galiatsos (banjo and Asia Minor lute), Marios Papandreas (santouri - Greek hammered dulcimer and vocals) and Hector Cosmas (fiddle and baglama), play the traditional music of Greece and Asia Minor. They will discuss the origin and performance techniques of the various instruments, concentrating on the different types of lutes used in their music and the santouri, an instrument rarely encountered, even in Greece. They will also give a brief explanation of the various musical modes and rhythms and demonstrate the various styles of music from all over Greece. This will include the music of Eiperus near the Albanian border, Thrace, Asia Minor and the island of Crete, among others. Saturday 8th / 4.30pm / Stage 6 Passion for Percussion This incredibly talented group of artists belong to one family and are members of the Bwa ethnic group. Their music and dance embodies a rich tradition with a passion and energy that leaves audiences breathless. The young musicians and dancers are dynamic practitioners of a contemporary musical art form coming straight from the heart of West Africa. Having trained with Koba, the foremost traditional ballet of Burkina Faso, their lead dancer Mariam, with her sister Djoume, will encourage you to cast aside your inhibitions and immerse yourselves in their fast and furious polyrhythms; they will demonstrate some of the lightning dance moves that accompany the percussion. Souleymane, Lessina and their nephews will be describing the origins of the doumdoum and djembe drums, plus balafon (a xylophone-like instrument). Bring your drum and your dancing shoes and take part in this high-energy session. Sunday 9th / 1.40pm / Stage 5 Follow that Rhythm... Next Stop Okinawa Bob Brozman is a renowned guitarist and ethno-musicologist. Bob has been playing guitar since the age of six and his knowledge and passion for his instrument are a powerful combination. After winning many fans when he performed solo at WOMADelaide 2001, this time he is performing with Takashi Hirayasu from Takatomi, a tiny island off the south coast of Japan. Bob and Takashi will be exploring the connections and delving into the tradition of Okinawan music. Come and take part in this demonstration/discussion and discover where the connections lie, in this latest of Bob's musical meetings … savour the mix! Friday 7th / 6.40pm / Stage 4 Timeless Traditions Cara Dillon comes from County Derry in Ireland from a family steeped in musical tradition. She sings with a refreshing clarity, sensitivity and style and is joined by Sam Lakeman and his brother Seth on piano, guitar and violin for this session. These three young musicians invite you to listen in on their musical journey where they will be playing and talking about some of the songs which have influenced and inspired them. A great opportunity to meet the artists and follow in their footsteps across a landscape rich in myths, magic and music. Saturday 8th / 6.20pm / Stage 4 Sweet Soul Sounds of Senegal Experience the uniquely expressive sound of Cheikh Lô a maverick talent combining Sufi mysticism with a dazzling range of musical traditions from mbalax, Malian bambara to Cuban guajira. Gather round for this intimate session and let his soulful and spiritual voice, transport you beyond the music. Cheikh will be playing guitar and timbales and will talk about music, mysticism and his beliefs. Sunday 9th / 1250pm / Stage 4 Music of the Streets Percussionists and brass players are invited to be part of the joyous experience of Colombian brass band music. Pick up a traditional song with Colombia Brass (from Totó La Momposina's band) who will take you on a journey through the streets of Colombia with their potent mix of music that has evolved from the coming together of European, African, and indigenous influences. From the Caribbean coast, which was the cultural melting pot of indigenous South American and African roots, comes the rhythms of cumbia, puya and fandango. The sounds of the giant bass drum, snare drum and clashing cymbals are at the heart of processions, fiestas and political gatherings throughout Colombia. Sunday 9th / 8pm / Stage 6 USA Modern Ethnicity New age? Ethnic? Native American? World beat? Call it what you'd like, it's very difficult to pigeonhole Douglas Spotted Eagle's music. His expressions span so many genres, he seems to defy nearly every label put upon his musical taste. Having released classical forms, jazz, rock and even some pop, and what he terms 'modern ethnic' blends of traditional Native music forms and contemporary sensibilities, his constantly shifting sound focuses around the Native American flute, although he plays a huge range of instruments. Already renowned as a virtuoso performer on the Native American flute and a pre-eminent composer of contemporary ethnic music, Douglas Spotted Eagle received a Grammy Award - the first ever by a Native American - for his production of Gathering of Nations Powwow. 'Spot' as he likes to be known, has performed with artists as diverse as Willie Nelson and ZZ Top and been largely responsible for bringing Native American music, from authentic powwow recordings to experimental modern ethnic amalgams, into the digital age. In his one-off, solo appearance at WOMADelaide he will conduct an intimate workshop, providing a history of the Native American Flute and modern ethnic music production. Saturday 8th / 2.40pm / Stage 4 Island Grooves The Drum Drum workshop will begin with a short introductory performance followed by demonstrations of the drumming and dance from the various provinces of Papua New Guinea, and the traditional dress of these regions. Including drumming, song and dance of both the traditional and contemporary form, and information on instruments such as the garamut (log drum), kindu (goanna skin hand drum), conch shell, shakers and bamboo flutes, the audience will have a rare opportunity to learn more about the different cultural aspects (dress, face-painting and languages) of PNG's many diverse provinces, such as the Trobriand Islands (Yam Festival and dance), Manus Islands (log drumming and bird dances), Central Province (Hiri trade voyage stories and tattoos) and more. At the end, the audience will take part in a short performance reflecting what they have learned! Saturday 8th / 8.10pm / Stage 6 North West Spain; a Different Rhythm This workshop will give audiences an introduction to Asturian culture and music. Members of Felpeyu will discuss how the geographical and social/political context of Asturias has impacted the development of its traditional music and how they as a band have incorporated different influences, musical styles, instruments and characteristics into original arrangements. Felpeyu will also explain and perform the different Asturian rhythms, tunes and songs. The audience will be given an opportunity to interact with the band by learning these rhythms and asking questions. Sunday 9th / 3.30pm / Stage 5 Finding a Voice Language need never again be a barrier when Julian Jacob encourages us to discover a whole new galaxy of sounds inside ourselves. Hook into the harmonies and grooves that make up his innovative and extraordinary soundscapes. Julian has a deep and awesome voice and his music can be melodic and soulful, contemplating the harmony of human relationships, or upbeat and resonant with an Afro-pop sound. Join Julian to explore the many rich textures and timbres of the human voice. Sunday 9th / 12noon / Stage 5 Italian Folk Music ARIA award winner Kavisha Mazzella has been choir director of the Joys of the Women and la Voce Della Luna Italian women's choirs for the last 15 years. She has run countless workshops at festivals and schools around the country and invites WOMADelaide to share the fun and earthy beauty of Italian folk songs. Kavisha has collected many wonderful regional songs from around Italy through interviewing people who emigrated to Australia and in this workshop the audience will have a hands-on experience of learning some of them. No experience is necessary; all that's needed is a willing heart and a keenness to jump in, sing and dance! Sunday 9th / 4.20pm / Stage 4 Afghani and Indian Rhythms Khalil Gudaz will introduce and describe his instrument, the sitar, explaining the history and the correct way to play it. Fazila Hajeb will interpret on behalf of Ramin Karizi, the tabla player, detailing what the tabla is made of, how it was first introduced and the differences and specifications of a tabla compared to other musical instruments. She will also give a description of the tanpura. The workshop will cover the melodies, patterns and ragas played on the sitar and the differences between Afghani and Indian music accompanied by a demonstration on the sitar. The musicians will also discuss the history and types of instruments played in Afghanistan as well as the numbers and types of thals (rhythms) played on the tabla, introducing few specific Afghani and Indian thals, beautifully demonstrated by Ramin. Saturday 8th / 12noon / Stage 5 The Stories and Sounds of Mer Originally from Mer (Murray Island) in the Torres Straits, Ricardo Idagi (King Kadu) has been living in Melbourne for the past five years. As a prominent indigenous musician and significant visual artist in Melbourne, King Kadu has performed at many events including the Brunswick Music Festival, the Fringe Festival, the Melbourne International Festival of Arts and the Bless Your Big Black Arts Festival. King Kadu will tell of the history and lifestyle on Murray Island and take the audience on a journey through song, chants and drums from before European contact. He will document the international kinship ties, the working songs of the pearling and fishing industries and the influences on the island community of the music from the 1920s til the 50s. The stories and songs are alive today and are contemporary snapshots of Murray Island life. Sunday 9th / 620pm / Stage 5 The Music of Québec La Volée d'Castors has concocted a workshop that is typically Québécois. First, Frédéric Bourgeois, Sébastien Parent and Steve Boulé will reveal all the secrets of Québécois 'podo-rhythms', a phenomena which is not only lovely on the ear but also visual and physical, in the world music culture. The three musicians (La Volée d'Castors has six in all) will help the audience discover the vivacity, dynamism and contemporiness of traditional Québécois music - prepared with a Volée d'Castors sauce! Saturday 8th / 3.40pm / Stage 5 Latin Underground This anarchic bunch of musicians from Mexico, bring you 'tropipunk', an explosive mix of Latin rhythms and urban beats from Mexico City. 'Los de Abajo' means 'those from below' and the group will air their politics and aspirations, discussing in particular the driving force that politics has in their music and lyrics. They will discuss some of the issues that have fanned the flame of their music and how that music provides a voice for the injustices of the society of which they are a part. Prepare to be swept away by their kaleidoscope of Mexican life, as well as their rhythms and dance grooves. Saturday 8th / 4.30pm / Stage 4 Chinese Music from the 1st to the 21st Century Mei Han and Randy Raine-Reusch will explore over 2,000 years of the music of China and cultures it has influenced, demonstrating a wide range of beautiful, rare and unusual instruments. Discover what ancient Chinese philosophers have in common with contemporary jazz artists, and how ancient Chinese instruments influenced the blues! Randy will also show the instruments that he has played with Aerosmith, Yes and the Cranberries. Friday 7th / 10.25pm / Stage 4 Many Strings to her Bow It is hard to overestimate the power of this extraordinary performer. During her lifetime she has had to contend with poverty, natural disasters, apartheid and exploitation. This session will be a chance to celebrate her life, loves, humour and extraordinary musical and vocal dexterity. With her percussionist Vuyo, she will unravel the stories from the Transkai that illustrate the role of the umrhube (mouthbow), the uhadi (mouth harp) and the isitolotolo (Jew's harp). Come and discover life begins at 80! Sunday 9th / 2.30pm / Stage 4 Devotional Music of the Sufis Rizwan-Muazzam Qawwali are the youngest and most exciting group of Qawwali singers to emerge form Pakistan over the last decade. The group is led by four young brothers (grandnephews of the late, great Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan) who have an impeccable musical pedigree. Rashid Din will take you through the history of this passionate, inspirational and trance-like music, while Rizwan-Muazzam Qawwali, the group, will illustrate his story with their breathtaking devotional singing, chanting, rhythmic hand clapping and sung poetry. Don't miss this intensely exciting session! Sunday 9th / 6.10pm / Stage 4 The word 'salsa' translates to 'sauce' … Hugo Salcedo from Cartagena, Caribbean coast of Colombia, arrived in Adelaide in 1999. Hugo is a Latin percussionist, DJ and dance instructor and established La Bomba's Street Latin Dance School three years ago. He has been dancing salsa since he can remember and during his workshop will teach the audience the basic moves, while explaining the history of this sensual and sizzling rhythm that is today a world wide phenenonen. Salsa has no borders and there are no age limits for performers, dancers, or afficionados. Country and culture of origin are far less important than feeling and expressing passion for salsa music: as a musician; as a dancer or as a listener. Hugo will be joined by Emily Stansfield and other guests from Adelaide's salsa scene. Sunday 9th / 7.10pm / Stage 5 The Voice of Colombia A Colombian diva whose heart and voice is full of passion for her country and its music. Born on the tiny island of Talaigua in the middle of the great Mompos River, she has always been a champion of the indigenous music which developed there in the 16th century, known as 'cumbia'. Totó will share her love of cumbia, which has its roots in Spanish, Indigenous South American and African traditions, and invite you to enter the spirit of this passionate musical expression. Join this remarkable singer and raise your voices to a music which is as relevant today as it was 300 years ago. Saturday 8th / 10.10pm / Stage 4 The Songs of Tatarstan Zulya, winner of Best World Music Artist at the Australian Live Music Awards in November 2002, joined by band members Phil Bywater and Anita Hustas, will demonstrate and explain the various styles of Tatar traditional singing and how she creates new music based on this rich tradition. The audience will learn a song in Tatar and have the opportunity to ask Zulya questions. Sunday 9th / 8pm / Stage 4