RSS feedArchive for August, 2009
Brand new Official UK World Music Album Chart
Posted on August 27th, 2009 in World Music by Songlines.
The last issue of Songlines [#62], saw the first listing of the brand new Official UK World Music Album Chart, a chart compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC) from sales information gathered across all key distribution (or entertainment) channels including all major high street retail chains, independent stores, supermarkets, mail order internet retailers and digital music service providers, representing 98 per cent of the total UK albums market.
It’s already causing controversy! Murmurs of disapproval (and approval) and even the old issue that has dogged world music since the term was coined – is English folk music world music? – have been appearing on internet forums and blogs.
Robin Denselow’s Guardian blog Why I welcome the new world music chart praises the attempt to raise the profile of world music artists, but questions the criteria for inclusion. Where, he asks, is all the folk music? Martin Simpson, whose new album was the biggest seller at Cambridge Folk Festival this summer, is strangely absent. The OCC’s Phil Matcham has said that while there are no set rules, the Official UK World Music Album Chart is ‘mostly non-British’. But that hasn’t excluded London klezmer band Oi Va Voi from the opening chart, begging the valid point made by a contributor to the fRoots online forum that to discriminate against folk music for being of Anglo-British origin is surely as wrong as to discriminate against folk music that is not.
All charts evolve, and at the same time all charts must decide on what they will cover. The beauty if music is that it will endlessly elude our categorisations but it will all continue to delight – whatever it’s called.
Let us know what you think by emailing letters@songlines.co.uk
Catch up with the new Official UK World Music Album Chart in the latest issue of Songlines
Gujarati village life comes to the east Midlands in September
Posted on August 17th, 2009 in World Music by Songlines.
This September, a slice of Gujarati life is coming to Leicester in the UK’s east Midlands. Indian classical music label Sense are behind Village India and Experience Gujarat – a dual musical and cultural festival aimed at raising the profile of the western Indian state of Gujarat in the UK.
The festival is being staged over four days in De Montfort Hall and Gardens from September 10-13, and aims to bring the sounds, tastes and crafts of rural Gujarat to Leicester in what has been termed a ‘traditional village setting’. Quite a challenge!
Experience Gujarat – the straighter music and dance concert element of the festival – takes place in the De Montfort Hall. Outside in the gardens will be Village India – more of a music festival with two stages, roaming musicians and artisans and food, drink and crafts galore.
There is a strong line-up of some of the top bhangra, urban Asian and traditional classical musicians, as well as traditional storytelling and Gujarati comedy. The artists include 15-year-old Amul Star Voice of India winner Aishwarya Majmudar, poet Tushar Shukla and singer Sanjay Oza, Hemant Chauhan, a folk singer of bhajans and garba songs, bhangra stars Sukshinder Shinda, Panjabi MC and Tigerstyle and top UK Asian DJ Bobby Friction among many others.
2 for 1 ticket offer at the Tower Festival featuring Khaled and Tony Allen
Posted on August 5th, 2009 in World Music by Songlines.
WOMAD ventures into the UK’s capital this September for a weekend of the top world music at WOMAD Presents World Music at the Tower – the concluding weekend of the Tower Festival 2009 on September 19-20.
In its first London event for 10 years, WOMAD joins the Tower Festival (in association with Songlines) to bring world music to the historic grounds of the Tower of London.
On Saturday September 19, the Algerian king of rai Khaled headlines a day including the combined English folk talents of The Imagined Village, flautist and beatboxer Nathan Flutebox Lee, the Balkan flavours of Paprika Balkanicus and South Koreann drummers Dulsori.
On Sunday September 20, the beat behind Afro-beat, drummer Tony Allen plays alongside the experimental collaboration between The Bays and the Heritage Orchestra, Justin Adams and ritti maestro Juldeh Camara, oud master Abdullah Chhadeh & Syriana and Zimbabwe’s Siyaya.
The shows start at 4.45pm each evening and run until 10.15pm and there will be music workshops running through the day.
We are offering 2 tickets for the price of 1 by following this link:
http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/promo/it2efe
www.towerfestival.com
King Sunny Adé is inducted into the Afro-pop Hall of Fame
Posted on August 3rd, 2009 in World Music by Songlines.
At Celebrate Brooklyn’s African Festival in New York on July 18, Nigerian juju legend King Sunny Adé was inducted into the Afro-pop Hall of Fame by US Afro-pop producer Sean Barlow.
The Afro-pop Hall of Fame, whose previous inductees have included Youssou N’Dour, Oumou Sangaré, Thomas Mapfumo and Angélique Kidjo, seeks to raise the profile of African music in the US by honouring contemporary African artists who have excelled artistically and helped to connect US audiences with African music and culture.
On receiving his award, Adé dedicated it to the late pop star Michael Jackson, an icon of modern black music. He then performed an a cappella song in his native Yoruba language before a full-band juju workout.
Watch the video of King Sunny Adé’s induction into the Afro-pop Hall of Fame at the following link:
