Archive for February, 2010

The sixth African Soul Rebels tour of the UK takes place February 18-March 3 with three more diverse acts from across the length and breadth of the continent. The headline act is one of the great women of Malian song, Oumou Sangaré. Her most recent album Seya [reviewed in #58] was nominated for a Grammy award, and she continues to be one of the greatest singers in the musical powerhouse nation of Mali.

She is joined by one of those timeless West African big band ensembles whose music never grows tired. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou from Benin create a vibrant mix of James Brown-inspired funk and soul and voudon sato and sakpata rhythms as contested to on the new release Volume Two Echos Hypnotiques on the Analog Africa label [reviewed in #66].

You have to travel down the length of Africa to find the final member of this year’s African Soul Rebels trio. Kalahari Surfers is Warrick Sony – composer, musician, experimentalist and anti-apartheid activist. Back in 1981, Kalahari Surfers began as a solo project that soon became one of the most politically radical sounds to come out of apartheid South Africa. It was also musically radical – mixing reggae, punk, electronica, hip-hop and avant-garde rock. Sony brings his psychedelic sound to the UK as the African Soul Rebels take in 12 dates…

18 Feb Poole Lighthouse 0844 406 8666 lighthousepoole.co.uk

19 Feb Brighton Dome 01273 709709 brightondome.org

20 Feb London The Barbican 020 7638 8891 barbican.org.uk

21 Feb Northampton Royal & Derngate 01604 624811 royalandderngate.co.uk

22 Feb Bristol Colston Hall 0117 922 3686 colstonhall.org

24 Feb Basingstoke The Anvil 01256 844244 anvilarts.org.uk

25 Feb Coventry Warwick Arts Centre 024 7652 4524 warwickartscentre.co.uk

26 Feb Liverpool Philharmonic Hall 0151 709 3789 liverpoolphil.com

27 Feb Edinburgh Usher Hall 0131 228 1155 usherhall.co.uk

28 Feb Manchester Bridgewater Hall 0161 907 9000 bridgewater-hall.co.uk

02 Mar Leicester De Montfort Hall 0116 233 3111 demontforthall.co.uk

03 Mar Gateshead The Sage Gateshead 0191 443 4661 thesagegateshead.org

www.musicbeyondmainstream.org.uk

Tags: african soul rebels, oumou sangare.

This podcast includes highlights from the March 2010 issue of Songlines (#66) opening with an excerpt from Angélique Kidjo’s new album Oyo (Razor & Tie Direct). Songlines editor in chief, Simon Broughton, plays an extract from the second free CD with this issue, World Music from Hungary 2010 and a bonus track from Gilles Peterson’s playlist.

Features include: Rose Skelton on Angélique Kidjo, our cover star for this issue; Simon Broughton on Orchestre Poly-Rythmo and Nigel Williamson with a special report from Beirut. Nathaniel Handy brings you the latest news with the Official UK World Music Album Chart, as well as music from Tiken Jah Fakoly (Wrasse) and Oumou Sangaré (World Circuit). The podcast ends with an extract from Sierra Maestra’s new album Sonando Ya on World Village.

The next Songlines podcast, featuring highlights from the April/May issue (#67), will be available from March 19 2010.

Tags: angelique kidjo, gilles peterson, podcast.

The March 2010 issue of Songlines is on sale in the UK from February 5 and includes our regular Top of the World CD with ten tracks from the finest new releases from around the planet. There’s also a selection of five tracks selected by DJ Gilles Peterson and a second free CD World Music from Hungary 2010.

The Top of the World CD includes tracks from the second and final collaboration between the late Malian legend Ali Farka Touré and kora maestro Toumani Diabaté; Angélique Kidjo’s new album; Polish klezmer trio Kroke; English folk singer Chris Wood’s new project; the Québécois folk of Le Vent du Nord and North Indian vichitra veena master Gopal Krishan.

The main editorial features include:

• Angélique Kidjo – Allow our ebullient cover star to engage you with stories from Benin and beyond.

• Sierra Maestra – The Cuban son troupe reflect upon their active career as they unveil a new album.

• Orchestre Poly-Rhythmo de Cotonou – Aided by a French journalist, the masters of African vodoun rhythm hit the road again.

• Chris Wood – The Brit-folk exponent reminds us of the magic to be found in our own backyard.

• Tools of the Trade: The Talking Drum – Getting familiar with the West African drum that replicates the human voice.

• Sounding Out Marseille, France – all the best places to see and hear music in the southern French port city.

• Beginner’s Guide to Django Reinhardt.

• Postcard from New Orleans.

• Shetland Folk Festival.

• Backpage from Beirut, Lebanon.

• My World – DJ Gilles Peterson.

• Grooves – Tommy T, Sa Dingding and Warrick Sony share their favourites.

• News, including Dispatches USA.

• Reviews of the latest CD, DVD and World Cinema releases.

Tags: angelique kidjo, gilles peterson, issue 66.