Celebrating musical heritages from around the World, in a shared community event with live music and film.
We're back with the lovely people at Jubilee Library for a packed event of live music from around the World, via some of the UK's finest musicians. Some great new acts plus some of everyone's favourites.
To get the day started there will also be a special film screening, of the Stone Flowers documentary, made by Music Action International
Saturday January 18th... Free, all welcome.
Film Screening: Stone Flowers Documentary 11.00 - 12.00
Music Action International invites you to a very special Brighton screening of their award-winning documentary made by James Sandy, following the lives and music of Stone Flowers, a refugee music collective of torture survivors from across the globe, now based in NW England.
Music Programme 12.15 - 4.00
Klezmer Quartet featuring Merlin & Polina Shepherd + Fran & Flora
Kareem Samara
Trio Akima
Ilesh Patel and Jayesh Vaduhul
Mavka Singer
Artists details:
Klezmer Quartet: Merlin & Polina Shepherd + Fran & Flora
Multi-award-nominated experimental/folk duo Fran & Flora captivate audiences with their reinventions of traditional Eastern European melodies and songs. Francesca Ter-Berg (cello/vox) and Flora Curzon (violin/vox) draw inspiration from archival recordings, recovered manuscripts and studying with traditional masters, infusing source material with drones, loops, free improvisation and electronics to create a “border-defying” aesthetic (Mojo). Merlin Shepherd (clarinets) and Polina Shepherd (voice, piano) perform together in a way that is rarely encountered. They play music from several linked cultures with improvisation, freedom and spontaneity. The Duo’s playful approach to their root traditions – klezmer, Slavic, East European and southern Mediterranean creates a unique sound that embraces the enduring spirit of folklore and takes the listener to new dimensions. Despite having known each other for many years, this is the first time that these four outstanding players will as a quartet. Expect spontaneity, flare and fun. Those of you looking for heart-felt and passionate singing won’t be disappointed either!
Kareem Samara
Kareem Samara is an improviser and composer from London.
He has worked extensively in theatre as a composer and his various projects have seen him tour across the United States and Europe. He combines the Oud and Arabic percussion, with loopers and samplers to create a new dialogue between himself and technology, between the past, the present and the future. Honouring all his musical traditions, he challenges the empty political posturing of the music industry and uses his music to advocate for a free Palestine through collective liberation.
Currently he is the Arabic music advisor on the forthcoming musical 'The Shadow World' based on the award winning arms trade expose book and film.
Theatre credits include 'Hakawatis' Shakespeare's Globe, 'A History of Water in the Middle East' Royal Court, 'You Bury Me' Bristol Old Vic, 'The Chronicles of Majnoon Leila' The Gate Theatre, 'Wipe These Tears' Camden Peoples Theatre.
Trio Akima
Inspirations from World Folk music, with spontaneous creative improvisation
Joseph Philogene :
Kamele N’goni 8 string west African harp
North African frame drums
Indian bells and shakers.
Indonesian jaws harp
Nepalese singing bowls.
Geoff Hearn:
Flutes: Shakuhachi (Japanese bamboo flute) Native American 'love flutes' in various different woods and keys, eagle bone flute and bird callers,western alto flute and soprano saxophone.
Hugh Bance:
Acoustic and electric guitar.
Ilesh Patel and Jayesh Vaduhul
Ilesh Patel learnt Sitar initially from Sri Sachinda Dasgupta. At present, he is learning from Pandit Arvid Parikh (India) and Ustad Mehboob Nadim (UK)
He has is a popular performer at cultural events, and weddings and was a regular on the main stage at Crawley International Mela Festival.
Jayesh Vaduhul is well known UK based Tabla player and plays with Ilesh at many events.
Mavka Singer
Ukrainian Singer songwriter, sharing Ukrainian music and culture, living in Britain since 2022