RSS feedArchive for May, 2010
Daara J Family are refused entry to the UK for Jazz Café gig
Posted on May 23rd, 2010 in World Music by Songlines.
Senegalese hip-hop outfit and Radio 3 Awards for World Music winners Daara J Family were due to play the Jazz Café in London on May 25.
They have instead become the latest act from outside the West to be denied visas to the UK. They were advised to go to the Gambia to apply for visas, where it took the British embassy three days to finally refuse their visas.
This is despite the fact that they have previous come to the UK to play at WOMAD and Glastonbury festivals in 2004, have a new album School of Life out on Wrasse Records, and had an interview arranged on BBC Radio 4’s Midweek.
AR Rahman announces world tour to begin on June 11
Posted on May 18th, 2010 in World Music by Songlines.
The world famous Indian composer A.R. Rahman has announced a world tour to begin on June 11 at the Nassau Coliseum in New York before traversing the US and Canada, Switzerland, France, the Netherlands and the UK.
The theatrical extravaganza AR Rahman Jai Ho Concert: The Journey Home World Tour will feature not only Rahman’s music but also dance arrangements and acrobatics inspired by the culture of his native India.
None of this will come as a surprise to those who have enjoyed some of the composers biggest successes – including musical Bombay Dreams and the blockbuster Indian movie Slumdog Millionaire as well as Bollywood classics Lagaan, Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na and Rang De Basanti.
Following twelve dates across the length and breadth of the US and Canada, Rahman visits Zurich, Paris and Amsterdam. He finishes in the UK with dates at Birmingham on July 23 and London’s O2 Arena and Wembley Stadium on July 24-25.
Cape Verde star Cesaria Evora cancels 2010 concerts after open heart surgery
Posted on May 11th, 2010 in World Music by Songlines.
Cesaria Evora – the ‘barefoot diva’ – Cape Verde’s greatest export, had open heart surgery on May 10 in a Paris hospital. The surgery was in response to a coronary problem. She has woken from surgery but will be suspending all performances until the end of the year.
This week’s surgery follows a stroke in April 2008 from which she recovered to produce her new album Nha Sentimento (Lusafrica). The album explores the Middle Eastern and Arab influences of Cape Verdean music and culture, territory rarely explored before.
She collaborated on the release with Fathy Salama, a former conductor of the Cairo Orchestra known for his work with Youssou N’Dour, and who arranged three mornas for the album. Nha Sentimento will be re-released shortly featuring bonus track ‘Moda Bo’, Evora’s duet with Cape Verde’s rising star Lura.
