American
Sufi Project
USA
The American Sufi Project was started by a group of artists and seekers who
meet at the weekly gatherings for Zikr (remembrance of God) at
the Dergah-Al-Farah in New York
City. The intention of this project is to transmit
through music and art, a taste of the divine love and interconnectedness that
they have felt participating in these spiritual and musical practices. Their
two inaugural projects include a unique album featuring renditions of
traditional Sufi music and a mixed-media art series.
Romengo
Hungary
Romengo plays Hungarian olah-gypsy music. Most of
the members of the group mastered this music almost as their mother tongue. Apart
from existing gypsy folk songs, the group also performs their original quasi-traditional
songs. Over the last ten years, Romengo has given concerts in more than 20
European countries, and both of their albums got into the best 10 records of the
World Music Charts, Europe. Romengo’s vocalist,
Mónika Lakatos received the Anna Lindh award in 2007, the Parallel Cultures Award
in 2013 and For The Ethnic Minority Award in 2014.
Mamadou
Burkina Faso
Mamadou Diabate is an African musician who
plays the string instrument ngoni and other interesting rhythm instruments such
as balafon, talking drum and djembe. His aim is to bring the joy and sun of his
native West Africa to the stage. He has
released eight albums with his band Percussion Mania and performed at many
concerts and prestigious festivals all around Europe.
He plays music from Burkina
Faso and is a fixture on the European world
music scene.
Karrossel
Portugal
Karrossel was ‘born’ in the Portuguese city of Porto
in 2009. With a party-like spirit and vibe, Karrossel invites listeners to
take a trip down their path of traditional world music, where the audience can
participate in a swirl of dances. From the Vira and Fado Batido, to the
Troika (Russia), through France, Romania, Lithuania and many other cultures, always
coming back to Portugal, the band is in constant dialogue with the public.
Cherry
Grove
Scotland
With traditional songs, original compositions and
contemporary melodies, Cherry Grove is one of Scotland’s most exciting folk
ensembles. Nominated for ‘Up and Coming Artist’ at the MG Alba Scots Trad Music
Awards 2014, they have enticed audiences internationally with performances at
the London 2012 Olympics as well as Europe’s largest Celtic music festival,
Festival Interceltique in Lorient, France. The band produces an exceptional
level of musicianship, which is evident in their thoughtful and sophisticated
arrangements.
Mavambo
Brazil
Mavambo is an artistic group combining traditional Afro-Brazilian dance and
music. In the performance, Mavambo will focus on the “roda”, or circle, the
format in which most of these traditions are held. The ritual and trance
aspects of the Afro-Brazilian culture, as well as its playfulness and
joyfulness, are widely explored by the group that reinterprets the phenomenon
in a very creative way. The group is led by the dancer, singer and composer
Benjamin Abras.
