Musafir (meaning 'traveller') is an exciting fusion of folk and classical music, dance, acrobatics, magic and snake-charming, in the tradition of the ancient desert wanderers.
www.musafirmusic.com

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Mandingo Griot Ba Cissoko and his ground-breaking young group joyfully blend acoustic and electric kora, creating fresh sounds with their ancient harp instruments.
By arrangement with Top Shelf

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Brazilian Beats
A remarkable musician-poet-troubadour-composer and social commentator whose catchy songs (over 300, and counting!) have sprung from his musically rich but tough background in one of the world's poorest regions.
Simone Soul has had a passion for percussion since the age of 15 when she attended her first drum classes in Sao Paulo. From early experiences with an all female Hard Rock band to working with an Afro-Reggae group, she has enthusiastically explored many percussion techniques. Working with Chico Cesar since 1992, she has travelled throughout Europe, USA, Japan and Brazil. Bring a drum and join Simone for a session of pandeiro and Brazilian rhythms and seek out the musical connections which link percussion techniques around the world.
W

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This young and dynamic group cook up a hugely infectious mix of Brazilian samba batucada music, fused with funk, Afro beats and street rhythms.
www.wickedaura.com

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The world's greatest solo classical percussionist, Glennie is an avant-garde artist who sculpts the very nature of sound, taking her audience on thrilling, improvised musical journeys.
www.evelyn.co.uk

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An incredibly versatile musician, Lang pens memorable songs of love and loss, death and dishonor, sings in a pure vocal style and plays guitar with technical brilliance.
www.jefflang.com.au

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A French-Canadian roots band which plays with an almost hyperactive exuberance, La Bottine Souriante have won dozens of awards for their musical genius and headlined festivals across the world for 30 years.
www.bottinesouriante.com

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A classical/jazz composer regarded as the 'Paganini of Indian Classical music', Subramaniam has a reputation for spell-binding landmark concerts that transport and inspire his audience.
www.indianviolin.com
By arrangement with the Nataraj Cultural Centre and supported by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations

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Batuku Workshop
Lura has been described as the future of Cape Verdean music. Her extraordinary voice full of passion and pathos has wooed audiences wherever she performs. In this session Lura will share the story of her musical journey from Lisbon back to Cape Verde. In her ancestral home, the Island of Santiago, there is a unique percussion style, which is performed by the women. At social events, or in breaks from working, women come together in groups to play, sing and dance. Lura will introduce you to this fascinating music, telling of its role in her culture and demonstrating how it is played and danced to.
W

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Baobab fuse melodic drumming traditions with deliciously mellow Cuban rhythms. The band split up in 1982 after 12 years as the country's top band and were reunited by Youssou N'Dour in 2001.
www.orchestrabaobab.com

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Demonstrating that 'found sound' can be completely mesmerising, Scrap plays funky rhythms and melodious sounds on kinetic percussion instruments made from recycled and salvaged materials.
www.scrapartsmusic.com

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Tommee creates sun-drenched funk/reggae, incorporating five languages and the kecapi, a West Javanese stringed instrument, into his music.
www.tommeemusic.com

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An icon of soukous dance and music, the effervescent Kanda burst onto the scene in the mid 80s - and people haven't stopped dancing. His music is irresistibly uplifting and optimistic.

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Now deservedly a star in her own right after working with artists such as Salif Keita, Mbassi's gentle African-roots and jazz-flavoured music exudes warmth and soul.
www.coco-mbassi.com

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Maqam Heritage
In the classical traditions of Iraq maqam defines a certain type of singing that expresses a wide range of emotions to perfection through its 53 modes. Although the singer of tchaIghi baghdadi is generally male, Farida Mohammad Ali has been able to make herself a place in this great tradition. She has been living in Holland for the past four years and has established the Iraqi Maqam Foundation which aims to preserve the spirit of maqam in its traditional form. Farida's generous personality has brought new warmth and energy to the genre. She invites you to explore this tradition with her and gain a deeper understanding of this remarkable and little-known musical form.
W
www.zamanproduction.com

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Elaborately costumed and rich in philosophy, Wayang Orang is the dance-drama art of Indonesia, adapted from the Indian epics The Mahabharata and The Ramayana.
www.nanisoedarsono.com

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After learning tabla, Singh worked with artists such as Massive Attack and Bjork before defining his sound; a meeting of complex Indian classical melodies and rhythms and gritty electronica. Don't miss his one-off DJ set!
By arrangement with The Adelaide Bank Festival of Arts

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