Come along to Newcastle Library on 22 June and hear the Windrush Story – with music and poetry. Organised by the North East of England African Community Association. A free event, 13.00 to 15.00. Book here – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-windrush-story-tickets-62918733626 Advertisements
Read MoreFive pages of news, reviews and event listings/previews Waka Waka February 2019 Advertisements
Read MoreOur second performance of “The Story of Reggae in Britain” on May 25th was a sell-out success in the Music Room at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall ! Our first venture outside the North East ! Check it out here: Advertisements
Read MoreCurious Monkey Theatre Company, Newcastle upon Tyne and Newcastle Arts Development Organisation, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa have been collaborating for two years on the “Two Newcastles” project, and last week presented a work on Tyneside that they have created together called ” This World Here…Nomhlaba Le” It’s a journey to a new world full of song […]
Read MoreWaka Waka What’s On + News Spring 2018 Advertisements
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Amadou & Mariam, Ken Boothe and Dobet Gnahoré are among the first acts announced for this year’s WOMAD Charlton Park Festival from July 26-29
The first wave of names have been announced for this year’s WOMAD at Charlton Park. Recognised as one of the greatest world music events, the festival returns to its regular setting at the Wiltshire site this summer.
The prolific Malian power couple Amadou & Mariam will take to the stage this year, along with the legendary Jamaican singer Ken Boothe and Grammy Award winning singer Dobet Gnahoré, who hails from the Ivory Coast.
Camille, an eclectic and inventive French artist will also appear at Charlton Park, as will Afrobeat and hip-hop fusion group Afro Cluster.
Other confirmed acts so far include:
Django Django (UK)
Sharon Shannon (Ireland)
Jazzanova live featuring Paul Randolph (Germany)
Aeham Ahmad (Palestine/Syria)
Colectivo Danza Región & Cámara de Danza Comunidad (Colombia)
Electric Fields (Australia)
Ezra Collective (UK)
La Dame Blanche (Cuba)
Federspiel (Austria)
Gasper Nali (Malawi)
KermesZ à l’Est (Belgium)
KOKOKO! (Democratic Republic of Congo)
LADAMA (Brazil/Colombia/Venezuela/USA)
Papaya (Portugal/USA)
Pixvae (Colombia)
Tal National (Niger)
For tickets and more information, visit womad.co.uk.
The April 2018 (#136) issue of Songlines is now on sale!
Our cover feature artist this issue is the Afrobeat musician Femi Kuti who talks about continuing his father Fela’s musical legacy. Other features include interviews with the Haitian singer Mélissa Laveaux; Trinidadian calypsonian Drew Gonsalves and his band Kobo Town; African instrumental trio 3MA who are combining Malian, Moroccan and Malagasy traditions; GRRRL – a new all-female collective tackling gender inequality; a Beginner’s Guide to the Cuban former Buena Vista Social Club star Eliades Ochoa, plus the latest CD, book, world cinema and live reviews.
The Top of the World CD includes tracks from Afrika Mamas, I’m With Her, Ross Ainslie and Daniel Kahn & The Painted Bird, as well as a guest playlist from the journalist and broadcaster, Samira Ahmed, featuring music from Lata and Usha Mangeshkar, Natacha Atlas and others..
Issue #136 also includes our free International World Music Festival Guide 2018-19
To buy the new issue or to find out more about subscribing to Songlines, please visit: www.songlines.co.uk/subs
Here is our selection of the top ten new releases reviewed in the April 2018 issue of Songlines. Tracks from each of these albums are included on the free cover-CD with issue #136.
To buy the new issue or to find out more about subscribing to Songlines, please visit: www.songlines.co.uk/subs
Afrika Mamas
Iphupho: A Cappella from South Africa
ARC Music
The joyful title-track from the South African six-piece’s fourth album is by Ntombi Lushaba. It translates as ‘The Dream Song’ and reflects her wish to take their music to the world.
Amazon | iTunes | Spotify
Sam Reider
Too Hot to Sleep
Sam Reider
An accomplished debut album from accordionist and pianist Sam Reider, supported by a group of young firebrands, the Human Hands. This track has a Gypsy jazz vibe about it.
Amazon | iTunes | Spotify
I’m With Her
See You Around
Rounder
After much anticipation, super trio Sarah Jarosz, Aoife O’Donovan and Sara Watkins finally release their debut of hair-raising harmonies, stunning songwriting and instrumental skill.
Amazon | iTunes | Spotify
Turkwaz
Nazar
Turkwaz
This Toronto-based vocal quartet present music from across the Middle East and Balkans. Guest instrumentalists improvise flawlessly over haunting vocals.
Amazon | iTunes | Spotify
Chris Stout & Catriona McKay
Bare Knuckle
Bare Knuckle Records
Opening an entirely instrumental album, this striking track showcases the warmth of the musical interplay between Stout’s fiddle and McKay’s Scots harp.
Amazon
3MA
Anarouz
Mad Minute Music
Ballaké’s virtuosic kora, the resonant oud of Driss El Maloumi and Rajery’s laid-back valiha (Malagasy zither) unite to create an enchanting, masterful album.
Amazon | iTunes
The Transports
A Tale of Exile and Migration
Hudson Records
Sean Cooney sings this haunting ballad of love and separation, joined by some of the finest names in folk for the revival of Peter Bellamy’s 1977 work.
Amazon | iTunes | Spotify
Erlend Apneseth Trio
Åra
Hubro
The traditional meets the synthetic on this abstract album from Norwegian Hardanger fiddler Apneseth. ‘Undergrunn’ begins with an old-time feel, quickening at the entrance of a ritual drum.
Amazon | iTunes | Spotify
Ross Ainslie
Sanctuary
Great White Records
Indian and Eastern European influences underpin this album from the Scottish multi-instrumentalist, which celebrates the sanctuary offered by music.
Amazon | iTunes | Spotify
Daniel Kahn & The Painted Bird
The Butcher’s Share
Oriente Musik
This track is one of many thought-provoking songs reflecting on Jewish history. It’s klezmer with boundless energy and respect for tradition.
Amazon | iTunes | Spotify
Pick up the April 2018 issue of Songlines to enjoy our Top of the World cover-CD, which contains tracks from each of the albums above. To find out more about subscribing to Songlines, visit: songlines.co.uk/subs
Here is our selection of the top ten new releases reviewed in the March 2018 issue of Songlines. Tracks from each of these albums are included on the free cover-CD with issue #135.
To buy the new issue or to find out more about subscribing to Songlines, please visit: www.songlines.co.uk/subs
Criolo
Espiral de Ilusão
Sterns
Moving from his signature rap style, Criolo devotes a whole album to Brazil’s national rhythm, samba. Led by percussion and cavaquinho, these songs give voice to Brazil’s marginalised people.
Amazon | iTunes | Spotify
47SOUL
Balfron Promise
Cooking Vinyl
47SOUL call their unique hip-hop/roots fusion of Arabic tradition and Western electronica shamstep. Swirling synth keyboards, rock guitar and powerful vocals drive this bold album.
Amazon | iTunes | Spotify
Ghost of Paul Revere
Monarch
Ghost of Paul Revere
Virile vocals, tasteful harmonies, whirling guitar riffs and punchy harmonica shouts shine on the spirited ‘Little Bird’. The energy of this Americana trio from Portland, Maine is infectious.
Amazon | iTunes | Spotify
Hama Sankare
Ballébé: Calling All Africans
Clermont Music
Deep vocals and rock-solid calabash meet slide guitar, throbbing bass and hypnotic synths, played by an impressive array of musicians. Sankare’s first outing as bandleader does not disappoint.
Amazon
Da Cruz
Eco do Futuro
Boom Jah Records
The fervour of Afrobeat is harnessed in this track as frontwoman Mariana Da Cruz laments on the state of her birthplace, Brazil. A highly danceable, inescapably thought-provoking third album.
Amazon | iTunes | Spotify
Mahsa Vahdat & Coşkun Karademir
Endless Path
Kirkelig Kulturverksted
Recorded in a 20th-century mausoleum in Oslo, the baglama explores its full acoustics, entwined with Vahdat’s rich vocals.
Amazon | iTunes | Spotify
Stick in the Wheel
Follow Them True
From Here Records
This album is trademark Stick in the Wheel; there’s spindly guitar, acerbic vocals from Nicola Kearey and Fran Foote and tub thumping percussion. Five stars for these East London folksters.
Amazon | iTunes | Spotify
Xylouris White
Mother
Bella Union
Cretan laouto player George Xylouris takes the reins with his nimble string work and no-nonsense vocals, all the while propelled forward by the urgent drums of Jim White.
Amazon | iTunes | Spotify
Gili Yalo
Gili Yalo
Dead Sea Recordings
Five stars for this debut album combining funk, soul, dub and a large helping of Ethiopian groove. Yalo sings in both Amharic and English, while his band cook up a range of retro sounds.
Amazon | iTunes | Spotify
Nils Økland Band
Lysning
Hubro
Økland’s impressive Hardanger fiddle playing and outstanding musicianship underpin this album, and earned him respect in many musical circles. This album is a spectacle to behold.
Amazon | iTunes
Pick up the March 2018 issue of Songlines to enjoy our Top of the World cover-CD, which contains tracks from each of the albums above. To find out more about subscribing to Songlines, visit: songlines.co.uk/subs