Music / world music
Bristol’s month in World Music – August 2024
Did you miss WOMAD this year? Or maybe you caught it but still want more? There’s plenty to catch your ear this month, not least the Jam Jar programmed Yard Stage at Valley Fest (Thur 1 – Sun 4). As you’d expect from the Jam Jar’s eclectic programming they’ve picked a fine selection of African musicians including gospel-soul singer Florence Adooni, kora player Jali Bakary Konteh, Afro-House duo Raf & Afla, Malawian power duo Madalitso Band and Sisanda Myataza’s new Amapiano project Songø.
The Yard Stage also have the Buena Bristol Social Club, a cracking combination of Bristol’s best Latin players and some authentic Cuban guests to evoke the spirit of the Cuban revival brought about by that film and album. Several BBSC members are also in the Saoco Collective who have a gig at The Beacon (Fri 30) but sadly both bands will be missing the great percussionist Jason Gaines who suddenly passed away in June. His loss has been a great blow to the Bristol music community and beyond, and the Saoco gig is a tribute to him, with many guest musicians also lending their support.
Among other Latin-themed gigs the unlikeliest is the impressive Brazilian/Thai collaboration of guitarist Theo Mizu (Canteen, Thur 1), while the venue goes on to host Colombian double bass player and composer Juan Sin Cabeza. (Thur 8) and Bossa nova outfit Zubieta & The Suaves (Thur 22) fronted by charismatic singer Marta Zubieta.
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Hailing from South America but musically focused on West Africa, Chilean band Newen Afrobeat – pictured at top – return to Lost Horizon (Sat 10). They’re very authentic – even Seun Kuti has played with them on occasion. Trinity hosts another of their Colour Block all-day ‘backyard BBQ’ festivals (Sat 3) with Afrobeat and Amapiano on the musical agenda. German producer Mark Ernestus brought together Senegalese musicians to form Ndagga Rhythm Force (Strange Brew, Fri 23), their music a fusion of West African rhythms with echoes of Jamaican dub and more.
And talking of reggae, Ya Freshness & The Big Boss Band (Canteen, Fri 30) have an authentic early ska sound, complete with (pre National Front) skinhead styles, while Mizizi (The Bell, Wed 14) have a fuller, brass-led sound covering 70s reggae hits and beyond. Trinity hosts another Teachings in Dub all-dayer with a guest appearance from Solo Banton and Scots sound system Mungo’s HiFi. There’s a benefit for the Hurricane-struck Grenadian island of Carriacou (The Mount Without, Tue 6) featuring vocalists Celestine and Nia as well as the mighty Bristol Reggae Orchestra.
If you did get to WOMAD you will hopefully have caught the inspirational qawwali performances there, but The Beacon has a night of Sufi and Qawalli music (Sun 4) with singer Chahat Mahmoud Ali Qawwal and party performing the devotional music of Northern India and Pakistan. The lute-like North African oud has a number of improvisatory traditions and Tunisian player Abderrauof Ouertan has evolved his own language on the instrument. He appears at a ‘secret location in BS5’ (Tue 13) while, in contrast, Moroccan player Soufian Saihi brings a more traditional approach to Canteen the next night (Wed 14).
And finally a couple of good time festival-friendly fusion outfits to get you jumping: pan-European folksters Marvara (Canteen, Fri 9) plunder traditions from Belgium, Denmark and Finland to keep you dancing while ‘high octane gypsy swing’ outfit The Rin Tins trawl the Balkans with a similar intent.
Read next:
- Bristol’s month in World Music – July 2024
- Bristol’s month in World Music – June 2024
- Bristol’s month in World Music – May 2024
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