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Kora (New Zealand)
A 5-piece Aoteoroan family affair from Wellington & Whakatane, Kora is made up of four Maori brothers – Laughton, Brad, Francis and Stuart - along with keyboardist Dan McGruer. With a huge live presence, featuring vocal harmonies sailing on a powerhouse rhythm section, Kora are at the forefront of the current wave of funk-dub-reggae bands from across the Tasman.

Laughton and Brad began playing together in an early ‘90s band, winning NZ’s National Rock Quest high school competition in ‘91 and the East Coast Battle of the Bands for three years running. Dan hooked up with Laughton when they performed together in a Queenstown band, playing and writing their own music. In 2001 they went out on their own and began recording.

In ‘02, with the other brothers onboard, Kora was formed. Their single and video ‘Politician’ was playlisted on radio throughout New Zealand, reaching #1 on the Alternative charts. Building up an enthusiastic following with their formidable live show, the band headed into the studio in ‘04 to lay down an EP for both the home market and overseas release. The four-track Volume has since attained Platinum status in NZ, and has also done well in Australia and across the Pacific. Kora toured Australia for the first time during ‘05 with alongside Kiwi bands Fat Freddy’s Drop and Salmonella Dub, and are down regular visitors to our shores. They’ve played The Big Day Out, Phat 07, Parihaka Peace Festival and Soundsplash. A big Bellingen Kia Ora welcome to Kora!

Sharon Shannon (Ireland)
The career of virtuoso accordionist Sharon Shannon - who first came to international attention in ‘89 as part of the acclaimed Irish folk/rock group The Waterboys - has blazed an eclectic path. While never losing sight of her Irish folk roots, she’s undertaken a musical journey which has included such non-traditional collaborators as U2’s Bono, Japan’s Kodo drummers, and reggae producer Dennis Bovell.

Growing up in the village of Ruan in Country Clare, Shannon started out learning the tin whistle, but by the age of ten she was playing the accordion. While still in her teens she was invited by film director Jim Sheridan (The Field, My Left Foot) to provide music for his stage production of Behan’s The Hostage. Asked to join Mike Scott’s Waterboys for the band’s ’90 album Room To Roam, her dexterous talents were showcased to an international audience. By ’91 she had released her own self-titled debut album, a delectable mix of Cajun, Swedish, Scottish, Portuguese and French-Canadian influences. Followed in ’95 by Out The Gap - which featured a Jamaican rhythm section - it continued the collaborative cultural adventurism that has become her trademark.

Shannon’s work with UK artists has been no less impressive. From duets with the late Kirsty McColl to her inspired projects with Nigel Kennedy, Donal Lunny and Sinead O’Connor, she has been at the forefront of many crossover trad/contemporary experiments. She’s also worked with American folk/country luminaries Jackson Browne, Steve Earle and Emmy-Lou Harris.

Her remarkable 2000 release, The Diamond Mountain Sessions continued her fusion of Irish music with a wide range of influences, and the album has gone triple platinum in Ireland. Her 2001 concert album Live in Galway received rave reviews and ’02’s Libertango spawned the hit single, ‘What You Make It’. Her decade-spanning compilation The Sharon Shannon Collection 1990 – 2005 has broken sales records worldwide, along with her latest ‘06 release Upside Down and the DVD Live At Dolans’.

Recently picking up a Meteor Award (Ireland’s Grammys) for ‘Best Folk/Trad Act’, Sharon’s current all-star band features the remarkable talents of legendary flute/whistle/pipes player Michael McGoldrick (Capercaille/Flook/Fused); All-Britain & All-Ireland Champion ‘devil fiddler’ Dezi Donnelly; and Sharon’s long-time guitar sideman Jim Murray. As Shannon herself once told a reporter after a long night of playing reels and jigs, “You just play 'til the tunes stop chasing you.”  “Sharon Shannon has the energy and stage presence of rockers and the unpretentious traditional roots of a pub musician...as exciting a live band as you'll find coming out of post-Celtic-revival Ireland.” - DIRTY LINEN (UK)

Shasha Marley (Ghana)
No, he’s not one of Bob’s sons, but his commitment to reggae is just as strong. Growing up in his West Africa, Shasha Marley was inspired by the great Jamaican rastaman, along with such musical greats as Stevie Wonder and Fela Kuti. He was also profoundly influenced by the dedication, personal sacrifice and courage of Nelson Mandela.

Shasha’s singing career began whilst he was still a teenager, amazing local audiences with his stunning voice and remarkable range. Not surprisingly, his debut album Tell Freedom hit the charts as soon as it was released, and began his path of success on the local African music scene. During the first Miss Universe beauty pageant in Ghana, he stole the show with a performance that greatly impressed international visitors.

When American soul star Isaac Hayes came to Ghana to be adopted into the Royal Family of Ada, Shasha was introduced by Princess Asie Ocansey. At the commissioning of the Isaac Hayes Foundation, she encouraged Shasha to produce a song she wrote called Save A Million Lives, and a formidable collaboration between the three was born.

Truly a musician with heart, Shasha has been at the forefront of the war against HIV/AIDS in Africa, using his music to break down the stigma of the disease, and travelling from village to village to embrace the sick and those orphaned because of the epidemic. Shasha’s credits his monk-like stage outfit to the Franciscan Friars, and finds the life of Saint Francis of Assisi – who left the comfort of his home to live with and fight for the poor and the needy - to be a true inspiration.

Following in the footsteps of other African reggae stars, like Alpha Blondy, Lucky Dube and Tiken Jah Fakoly, Shasha’s latest album - the highly acclaimed Lost & Found - was recorded with Jamaica’s legendary Wailers Band, featuring Junior Marvin. It’s as powerful a statement of contemporary reggae and social awareness as you’re likely to hear.
Presented in conjunction with Jaslyn Hall Presents

The Gyuto monks of Tibet
"The Gyuto Monks are masters of Tibetan Buddhist tantric ritual and their lives are dedicated to practicing tantric ideals. To be with them, to observe and be touched by their humanity, is to see kindness in action."

The Gyuto Monks of Tibet have a strong tradition and history that continues into the present day. One of the two great monasteries of the Gelug-pa lineage in Tibetan Buddhism, Gyuto Tantric University was established by Jetsun Kunga Dhondup in 1475 and flourished in Lhasa, Tibet until 1959, when their famous Ramoche temple was desecrated and the population of 900 monks decimated. About 60 monks escaped to India with the Dalai Lama and throughout the following years, enduring serious privation as refugees, have nurtured and preserved the ancient rituals and traditions, carefully rebuilding the monastic community to today's population of over 500.

The unique sound of their chanting occasioned an invitation for the monks to visit the West for the first time in 1967, and since then they have regularly conducted tantric arts programs around the world - sharing the colour, beauty, complexity and magic of this ancient endangered culture. Such visits have been integral to the financial survival and regeneration of monastery life, as the old monks pass on 500 years of wisdom to the young refugee monks still pouring into the monastery from Tibet - as well as from the Tibetan diaspora - all of whom need food, accommodation and care.

The life of a Gyuto Monk is a life of practice, of loving kindness and compassion for the benefit of all. The monks do this by the practice of the Tantric arts, including harmonic chanting, butter sculpture and the creation of sand mandalas.

The Gyuto Monks have been coming to Australia annually since 1994 to spread awareness of Tibetan culture. They were honoured Bellingen guests at Global Carnivals in ‘97 and ‘01, and we are thrilled to have them with us again this year.

Johnnie Aseron
Born in upstate New York, Haudenosee(Iroquois)/Lakota musician-storyteller Johnnie Aseron was raised in the American Midwest, and resides on the Cheyenne River Sioux reservation in South Dakota. His stories and songs employ traditional Native American flute and drums, acoustic guitar and percussion. Drawing from his multicultural urban and rural upbringing and extensive world travels, Johnnie shares his insightful lyrics and melodies. Through storytelling he creates a space that invites us to discover our environment, our cultural histories, the diverse peoples around us - and ourselves.

Johnnie has performed at the Native American Heritage Festival, Woodford Folk Festival, Glastonbury Festival and Melbourne’s Moomba Festival. His work has also been profiled on ABC-TV’s ‘Message Stick’ program. He is the Director of ‘Rediscovering The Seventh Direction’, a non-profit Native American organisation that seeks to foster social and economic development, through recognising and promoting the traditional cultural strengths and values of native people. Johnnie is also Director of ‘Stories and Songs of the People’, an initiative for linking up indigenous storytelling traditions from around the world. He maintains strong ties with Aboriginal Australia and is currently working on a number of development and cultural projects at Southern Cross University.

Afro Dizzi Act featuring Jali Buba Kuyateh
Anchored in a variety of roots music, Afro Dizzi Act have built a reputation as one of the most flexible bands in Australia. Originally playing in and around Brisbane, Afro Dizzi Act came into existence in ’97 following a number of low-key jams. Word spread quickly and it didn’t take long for the band to make their way onto the Australian touring circuit - landing a secession of slots at the East Coast Blues and Roots Festival, Big Day Out, Livid and the Woodford Folk Festival. These appearances led to invitations to play at festivals in Nepal, India and Dubai, where they performed alongside master Indian percussionist Trilok Gurtu.

This adventurous group want nothing more than to continue to seek out fresh musical compositions, freely combining whatever sonic elements they see fit to call upon. With the recent addition to the band of West African kora master/singer Jali Buba Kuyateh, Afro Dizzi Act have created a rich mix of African roots and melodies, blended with the band’s signature deep funky grooves & worldbeat influences.

Born in The Gambia, Jali Buba comes from an illustrious griot family - the traditional hereditary musicians, historians and storytellers of West Africa. Entrusted with the responsibility of keeping the oral history of their people alive, whether singing praises to the royal family’s lineage or commemorating one of the nation’s historical events, the role of the griot (jali) is central to West African culture. Jali Buba has played kora (the African harp) with Senegalese superstars Baaba Maal and Cheikh Lo. He's a brilliant entertainer with the ability to enchant an audience, showcasing the traditional musical styles of his homeland.

With several CDs already to their credit, Afro Dizzi Acts’s last EP Welcome Speech received extensive Triple J airplay, and their new album Walkin’ has been generating great reviews and attention.

Alan Posselt and Jay Dabgar
Alan Posselt has been studying and performing Indian classical music for forty years, and is the foremost Indian musicologist/sitarist in Australia.  After some years as a classical guitar, he traveled to India in the 1960s to study sitar and sarod from Ustad Allauddin Khan - father and teacher of Ustad Ali Akbar Khan and teacher of Pandit Ravi Shankar.  Moving to Bengal, Alan then studied with the eminent sarod player Pandit Radhika Mohan Maitra, and he has also had musical guidance from many other eminent Indian musicians. Those influences have given Alan a rich foundation on which to build his own evolving style.

During the ‘70s Alan enjoyed success as composer for documentary film and dance, including pieces for the Australian Dance Theatre and Sydney Dance Company. His focus in the ‘80s was active dissemination of Indian classical music, lecturing in Ethno-Musicology and Composition at the University of New England, and as visiting lecturer at universities across Australia. He wrote and presented an ABC Radio National series on Indian Classical Music, and undertook several national performance tours with Indian accompanists.

Relocating to his present home in Adelaide, Alan established ‘The Music Room’ as an Australian centre for teaching Indian Classical Music and a vehicle for promoting Indian and non-western musical performance. He has continued to perform both in India and Australia, and has experimented with musicians from various genres.

Born in India, Jay Dabgar was brought up in a family of renowned tabla makers, a business established by his grandfather. He began systematic training of tabla playing when he was 6 years old, going on to participate in competitions held at school, college, state and national levels. He then began giving performances - both as an accompanist and a soloist - in concerts and annual festivals of classical music, as well as on recordings. He was awarded All India Radio’s first prize for tabla in 2002, and was awarded a scholarship from India’s Ministry of Culture in 2006.

Alter-Native
Bellingen’s own tribal-electronic trio, Alter~Native was formed in 2004 when Ben Whitaker (aka DJ B9) and drummer Darren Lee met at Uni, where they were both studying multimedia. Adding in Darren’s percussionist mate Justin Wilkinson (both had previously played together in mid-coast group BOOM) the new group began uniting two ends of the dance music spectrum: the ancient driving rhythms of Afro-Latin America and ultra-modern techno-inspired basslines and trancey soundscapes. With samples taken from the Australian bush added to the formula, they created an eclectic mix of organic and electronic sounds, guaranteed to inspire minds and motivate dancing feet.

Alter~Native have played a string of successful gigs on the North coast including Exodus Live Festival, the famous Missabotti and Castle parties, and supported the likes of Blue King Brown, Ganga Giri and Wild Marmalade. In 2006 their track ‘Paul’ held down the #1 spot on Triple J’s Unearthed Dance chart for six weeks, and the trio have recently recorded a debut album in Byron Bay.

Baja
A collaboration between two of Bellingen’s well-known musical personalities, Baja combines the soaring organic vocals and guitar style of Tony Polson, with the virtuosic playing of world/classical guitarist Paul Bulanyi. Sharing a passion for eclectic styles, the duo has previously explored many musical forms including jazz, rock, Hawaiian and Mexican sounds. Baja recently composed and performed the soundtrack for one of Tropfest’s 2007 film entries.

Paul is a versatile multi-instrumentalist who has enjoyed a varied musical career spanning over 20 years. He’s played guitar with a gypsy jazz outfit, steel guitar for a Hawaiian Band, and toured in a circus band - to name but a few.  As guitarist with triple ARIA Award-winning world music band Monsieur Camembert, he performed across Australia, in Paris and Tokyo, and at the Montreux Jazz Festival. He recently released his debut solo album Espresso Mondo.

Tony was born into a family of professional musicians, developing an appreciation for music - particularly jazz - from an early age.  His accolades include being singer/guitarist with local jazz quintet Frater Five and the Bellingen Shire Band. With a shared appreciation for guitarists John McLaughlin, Paco De Lucia and Al Di Meola, whose influences can be heard throughout their music, for their Global Carnival sets Baja will be presenting a Mexican-influenced program.

Balkan Beasts
A shared enthusiasm for gypsy music from Eastern Europe, and the modern  Balkan remixes and beat-oriented dub mutations that have been burning up dancefloors worldwide, has brought together two of Melbourne’s deadliest DJs – Systa BB and DJ Delay. As The Balkan Beasts, their hugely popular monthly club nights “The Good The Bad & The Balkan” have been packing out The Horse Bazaar venue since 2005. With the most discerning dance fanatics revelling to the Beast’s choice selection of Vodka-slamming gypsy tunes, you can expect brass, violins, accordions and some serious table-dancing!

DJ Delay (aka Brian May) is a musician and producer who has been making, playing and promoting music without borders since ‘89. Born in England, with extended residencies in of Japan and Germany, he currently calls Australia home. Under the name Beam Up he’s produced and remixed tracks in six countries and co-produced Melbourne's 2006 Submerge Chill Festival. With plenty of heavyweight dubwise experience, he’s presented PBS-FM’s "Into the Groovy" show for the past 12 years. As a Balkan/Gypsy DJ he marries traditional and electronic tunes directly aimed at swinging hips & smiling lips.

Systa BB (aka Kate Welsman) has been at the forefront of global and electronic music since she began radio broadcasting in ‘92. Her weekly PBS “Planetary Chaos” program is the mothership for crucial dub/global-fusion listening in Melbourne, and she annually co-presents the national Community Radio broadcast from Womadelaide. Her music reviews and interviews pop up regularly in The Age, Rhythms magazine and on-line. On the DJ front, she’s mixed it up at The Big Day Out, Earthcore, Hemispheres and Womad, while opening for Transglobal Underground, Afro-Celt Sound System, Sly and Robbie, Lee Scratch Perry and Linton Kwesi Johnston.

Bellinger River District Pipe Band
As in other parts of Australia, Scottish heritage came to the Bellinger River area with the early settlers, and Scottish music was always a part of the local scene. The first account of a Highland Gathering in Bellingen was in the early 1930's and was apparently very successful, raising over £100 for the local hospital. The first pipe band in the Bellinger Shire was formed in Dorrigo in the late 1950's and was called Plateau Highlanders. This band was reformed early in ‘75 by Rod McGrath and lasted a couple of years before joining forces with the newly established Bellinger River District Pipe Band. The band underwent a resurgence of interest in 1980 and become very successful on the competition field. This success carried on for 12 years, and the band won around 90 prizes - including the East Coast, North Coast Championship, and placed 2nd in the Queensland Championships.

The band outgrew the facilities in the Bellingen Shire at the time and centred their practices in the Sawtell area, where it saw an influx of new players. The band has players from all over the countryside and currently practices at the Southern Cross University Campus in Coffs Harbour. The band still has strong ties to Bellingen as most of its sponsorship - as well as many players - comes from there.

The past few years has seen the band once again gain great success in the competition arena, winning the ‘04 and ‘05 NSW Grade 4 pipe band championship, and becoming the current Queensland champions. The band recently travelled to Daylesford, Victoria, becoming the first NSW pipe band to win this competition in 25 years. The band competed in New Zealand in ‘06, and in ‘07 won the 1st major competition of the year – the 103rd Maclean Highland Gathering.

Christie and the Rhythm family
This local North Coast band combines the talents of some of the region’s most experienced musicians – who have individually played in a variety of Latin, jazz, country, rock and funk bands over the past 15 years. When the group first met, they’re musical tastes were so complimentary that it was like old friends reuniting. They share a common love for the “standards”, especially the works of Brazilian composer Antonio Carlos Jobim - with its Latin rhythms; and George Gershwin - with his echoes of the classics.

With members ranging in age from their late 20s to early 60s, the inter-generational group is led by remarkable vocalist Christie Schlenker, who was classically trained but has always had a passion for jazz and contemporary music. Backed by veteran guitarist George Lambert and clarinet virtuoso Sheo White, the Family is completed by the solid rhythm section of Malila and Louey Howell on bass and drums. Christie & The Rhythm Family are a quality line-up, guaranteed to deliver a tasty selection of familiar tunes.

Chukale
Chukale has quickly become Australia’s premier Afro-Cuban Salsa group.  The Brisbane-based big band has built an extensive and enthusiastic following, not only within the Latin community, but also with music and dance enthusiasts from all cultural backgrounds. Gustavo Cereijo, the founder and Musical Director of Chukale, is one of the pioneers of Salsa music in Australia. He has dedicated the last 20 years to pursuing and perfecting all genres of Latin music, specialising in Afro-Cuban rhythms. He has made numerous journeys to the colourful Caribbean island in order to advance his musical knowledge and understanding of Latin percussion, and has toured and performed with international artists such as Afro-Cuban All Stars, Buena Vista Social Club, Jimmy Bosch, Gypsy Kings, and Oscar De Leon.

The ten-piece Chukale is made up of some of Australia's finest salsa musicians, hailing from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Performing authentic Cuban salsa, timba, cha cha cha, guajira, rumba and Columbian classics, the band is fronted by Gus and two stunning vocalist/dancers - Tika Roberte and May Rodrigues - who are supported by a powerful brass line-up and a hot, driving Latin rhythm section. Get ready to sweat – Afro-Cuban style!

Diafrix
Formed in 2002 in Melbourne’s Footscray, independent hip-hop crew Diafrix features the upfront vocals of African-born MCs Momo and Azmarino. They’re backed up by soulful songtress Nadee, with Wax Vandal on turntable cuts and producer Ptero Stylus pumping out some wicked electronic beats. Toss in funky guitar and a dynamic horn section and you’ve got one crucial band. Influenced by Marvin Gaye as much as Timbaland, these guys inject their 100% original ragga-tinged hip-hop with politics, positivity and panache.

Momo arrived in Australia along with his family as a three-year-old political refugee from the Comoros Islands. His fellow MC Azmarino was born in Eritrea and is also a refugee, having lived in Europe and the Middle East before arriving in Melbourne. Nadee hails from Haiti in the Caribbean.

With Triple J’s ‘Next Crop Award’ and finalist status in The Noise’s SOYA competition behind them, Diafrix have appeared at The Big Day Out, The Falls Festival, Earthcore, Moomba and the St Kilda Festival, and released two well-received six-track EPs – “The First Sample” and “In Tha Place”. Having already proved themselves to be an essential Aussie hip-hop crew with a killer live show, Diafrix represent the motherland of Africa and refugees from all corners of the globe. A word up to the wise – catch ‘em!

Echoes of Polynesia
This Pan-Pacific adventure began in the early ‘90s, when a small collective of Sydney-based Polynesian families and their children gathered with a common goal - to teach, learn and maintain the cultural ties to the various Polynesian traditional dance and music styles of the Cook Islands, New Zealand, Hawaii, Tahiti and Samoa. Ranging from as young as two years of age through to adults, the majority of the group are Australian born and recognise this activity as a great opportunity to maintain the generational links to their cultural heritage.

With songs that are often inspired by the melodies and movements of nature - the sun, the moon, sea breezes, rain and the sound of waterfalls – all are combined in a rich aural blend. Traditional instruments include the ukulele, acoustic guitar, various types of authentic tokere drums (also known as an ove or kaara), bass drum and conga drums. The evocative hip-swaying Polynesian dances capture the spirit of Pacific island life, with experienced dancers aiming to minimise their spinal movements with a smooth and controlled display from hips to toes.

Last seen at the Global Carnival back in ‘97, Echoes of Polynesia project a message of cultural diversity, joy and tranquillity in their performances, taking the audience on a musical voyage across the South Pacific.

They don't run, for they are men now,
They don't hide, for they are not cowards.
They travel the world, for they are open-minded,
but on foot, since there horses buck when they play.
They are not married, for they must serenade all senoritas.
They don't bath, because in the desert, (and Australia) water is too precious.
They search for harmony and seek new gringos to drink tequila with.
Where there are great crowds....you will find them,
Where there are many cactus plants...you will not find them.
Where there are fiestas, you may hear them,
Where there is the fog.....you will still see them.
Where there is gold...you may lose some,

Jalsa Creole
Formed in 2004 with an all Mauritian-born line-up, Sydney-based group Jalsa Creole brings an authentic Indian Ocean vibe to its performances, demonstrating the irresistible groove of the national dance of Mauritius – the Sega (pronounced Say-gah). The word Jalsa means ‘Party’ and the band’s songs are performed in the French Creole language. Fronted by sensational singer Aniele Deojee, Jalsa Creole have been crowd favourites at Womadelaide and Sydney’s Café Carnivale.

The history of tropical Mauritius, situated almost 900 kilometres east of Madagascar, brought together colonial influences from Portugal, Holland, France and Britain. Sega originated during the French period, with its roots in the pulsating rhythms of the African slaves taken to the island. As far back as the 1760s, travellers to Mauritius were bringing back tales of the unique singing and dancing styles amongst the African Creole descendents. Mauritians of all backgrounds now claim the Sega as an exciting expression of their modern multicultural nation.

One of the main traditional instruments still used is the ravane, a circular frame drum with a taut goat skin sometimes ringed with bells, which is at the heart of the Sega rhythm. The maravane, a wooden-framed shaking board filled with stones or dried nuts, accentuates the hypnotic beat. The Sega dance itself starts with the gentle swaying of the hips to the pulsating rhythm. The women’s skirts twirl, complimented by graceful arm motions and shuffling footwork. The tempo gradually rises - the dancers keeping pace with the ever-increasing beat – and often culminating in an ecstatic frenzy.

Joseph Tawadros - the Oud, the Bad & the Ugly
The Oud, The Bad & The Ugly is a fresh, new high-energy ensemble featuring some of Australia's leading exponents in their genres. Heading the band is the internationally renowned oud virtuoso/composer Joseph Tawadros. Performing on electric oud and violin, he is accompanied by his prodigiously talented brother James on Egyptian percussion, amazing jazz/funk bassist Ben Rogers, the extraordinary Stu Hunter on keyboards and Chilean percussionist Fabian Hevia on drum kit. A diverse fusion of rock, electronica, Egyptian and World music, the group performs improvisations and original compositions by Joseph, creating an exciting hypnotic atmosphere.

At 23 – with four albums, two ARIA nominations and a recent Freedman Fellowship for Classical Music already to his credit – Egyptian-born Aussie Tawadros has certainly been making his mark in recent years. Immigrating with his family to Australia at the age of three, he brought with him a musical tradition inherited from his grandfather, Mansi Habib, who was a composer and oud/violin master. By the time Joseph was twelve he was already a seasoned performer, playing alongside his teacher Mohamed Yousef.

Joseph released his debut album Storyteller in 2004, which was nominated for an ARIA award as Best World Music album. His second effort Rouhani came out in ‘05, followed by the again ARIA-nominated Visions in ’06. His most recent album Epiphany (with James and Ben) has again been receiving great reviews.

Last seen at the Global Carnival in ‘04, Joseph has toured with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, and shared stages with Richard Tognetti, Slava Grigoryan, Neil Finn and Zakir Hussain. He continues to collaborate with a veritable who’s who of Australian and international musicians. The Oud, The Bad and The Ugly is his latest project – an amazing melting pot of multicultural talent.

“…(Tawadros’) remarkable proficiency on the lute-like instrument is not only technically impressive, but also emotionally inspired.” – ABC Limelight magazine

Rafiki Connection
Despite only being together for a short time, this dynamic young group of Coffs Harbour-based East African drummers is making a big noise locally, sharing their rich cultural experience of Burundian drumming. Since its inception earlier this year, Rafiki (“friends” in Swahili) has continued to grow, utilising an exciting blend of both traditional and contemporary rhythms. Led by Joseph Majambere of Burundi, the group came together through a common language - Kirundi, and the shared experience of refugee settlement. Other members include: Jean Paul Ndayiragije and Gervais Minani, also from Burundi; Eric Ngirabakunzi, Iginas Gasengayire and Eric Sibomana from Rwanda; and Felix Sinzinkayo and Jacques Ndizeye from Tanzania.

Studying at TAFE in 2006, Joseph and his fellow students performed for their class using the only drums available to them - jembes. Noticing the lack of their traditional drum - the ingoma, TAFE teacher Lloyd Palmer assisted them in gaining a small grant to make new ingomas.

In ancient Burundi and Rwanda no one was allowed to manufacture a drum without a formal order from the king, who alone held the privilege of owning the drums and having them played for him. Much more than simple musical instruments, as sacred objects they were reserved solely for ritualists. The major events of the country were heralded by their beating - coronations, sovereigns' funerals – and they kept rhythm with the regular cycle of the seasons which ensured the prosperity of the herds and fields. Nowadays, the drum remains an instrument that is still revered and popular, reserved for national celebrations and distinguished guests.

Rafiki Connection remembers this history as their heritage. Their debut performance was for Youth Week in April. Since then the group has entranced crowds at Harmony Day, the Woolgoolga Curry Festival and the Orara Valley Fair. According to Joseph, the hope for the future of this group is “…to achieve unity and peace within a new home and to continue promoting multiculturalism.”

Klezmer Connection
At the stroke of midnight, New Year's Eve 2001, while playing with the famous Klezmer Fantasma Orkestra at the Woodford Folk Festival, reedman Zeppo Zimmerman had an alcohol induced hallucination. An Angel of the Lord appeared to him saying, “Get off your arse, get the band back together, and go spread the word.” Thus on June 17th 2001, Klezmer Connexion opened at 'La Bar', a popular night club in the heart of Sydney, where the band still plays, the Angels are happy, and Zeppo has stopped drinking.

The Klezmer Connexion play traditional Yiddish and Gypsy folk music, with all of the fire and passion that is the hallmark of the idiom.  Reconnecting with the spirit of the ancient Klezmorim, their music is a joyful celebration of all it means to be alive. Exploiting the natural tensions of the harmonic minor, Klemzer brings a wide variety of dynamics into the musical vocabulary, which makes for a fresh and spirited performance.

With backgrounds from Poland, Holland, Ukraine, France and Switzerland, the musicians of Klezmer Connexion have extensive experience in a variety of genres, but have found a reference point for each other through wild, heartfelt and joyous Jewish jazz.

Lead vocalist Faye Sussman was born in Poland to a family of practicing cantors (religious singers). She emigrated to Israel after WWII, where as a young girl she sang to holocaust survivors on the streets of Tel Aviv. Now living in Sydney, she and the band play the Yiddish songs of her youth to spellbound audiences, both within the Jewish community and to a new and eager generation of music lovers.

LABJACD
Their name may read like an optometrist’s eye chart, but Melbourne-based band LABJACD (pronounced ‘lab-jacked’) is a dynamic nine-piece outfit that’s been making a big splash lately, both in their hometown and well beyond. Only getting together in mid-2004, they’ve quickly built up an impressive reputation for their exhilarating mix of old school hip-hop, Cuban salsa, jazz and even a bit of Andean folk. Singing and MC-ing in both Spanish and English the group’s three vocalists all share a Chilean heritage, and like the band’s other members, have previously performed in a number of well-known Latin big bands and a variety of funk/jazz configurations.

Having maintained residencies at popular Melbourne clubs like The Evelyn, Cape Live and The Night Cat, LABJACD were one of the big local hits at Womadelaide 2006, and have also appeared at The Falls Festival, Earthcore, and the Queenscliff Music Festival. Releasing their self-titled debut EP in ’05, they quickly followed up in ’06 with their first full-length album, Vote With Your Feet, recorded with assistance from one of John Butler’s “JB Seed” grants. They were recently featured on Triple J’s JTV program.

“One of the best live acts in the country” – Rolling Stone

“Some of the best Aussie hip-hop floating around at the moment, made all the better through its Latin American heritage.” – Time Off magazine    

Lolo Lovina
With members from Romania, Hungary and Brazil, hi-octane Aussie band Lola Lovina claim influences from Eastern European Gypsy music, Irish folk, Latin Salsa and heavy metal! Only forming earlier this year, this electrifying and technically impressive Sydney-based group brings together some very exciting individual talents.

With a truly captivating voice, lead singer Sarah Bedak-Rockliffe has been surrounded with Gypsy music from an early age, as she comes from a Hungarian Romany family (her grandfather was a well-known Budapest violinist). When not working with Lolo Lovina, whirlwind violinist Jess Randall fronts her own outfit - The Crooked Fiddle Band – which has been featured at the Woodford Folk Festival, The Basement and Tamworth’s Country Music Festival.

Double bassist Rodrigo Salgado hails from Brasilia and has featured prominently in a number of bands and theatre productions, while Romanian accordionist Leonid Beshei grew up in Bukovina and has played gypsy jazz across the USSR, as well as performing in philharmonic and folkloric orchestras in Ukraine and Moldova.

Guitarist David Carr completed a musicology degree at the Sydney Conservatorium, and performs in a variety of jazz, classical and world styles and ensembles.  Fellow guitarist/banjo player Matthew Baistow has a keen interest in Irish, Eastern European & Gypsy Swing Jazz, and has a Bachelor of Music honors in Composition from Newcastle University. He also received a scholarship to study at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.

Mihirangi
New Zealand-born Mihirangi (pronounced me-hee-rung-ee) is a nomadic Maori singer/songwriter, currently based in Melbourne, who was brought up in a touring musical family. She is a former member of all-female Aussie vocal groups Stiff Gins and Akasa.

Paying homage to her Maori roots, Mihirangi’s music is a passionate internal journey: from danceable rhythms to lyrics evoking solo reverie. Performing soulful roots and funky world-r’n’b with a rare performance style, Mihirangi creates her own live band sound in front of the audience.  Using a loop pedal, Mihirangi layers her vibrant vocals into intricate harmonies and repeated phrases, with her beat-boxing complimented by acoustic guitar, tribal rhythms and poi dancing.

With an extraordinary range of power, expression, vitality and intensity - Mihirangi has sung at the helm of a three-hundred-plus choir, hosted a Maori Haka at the Melbourne International Arts Festival, and worked in television as host of “Noise TV”. With her debut solo EP Moemoea Reka (Sweet Dreaming) released in 2004, and her ‘06 album Kulcha Nation continuing to receive strong international praise, in recent years Mihirangi has also proved herself to be a firm crowd favourite on the national and overseas festival circuit, giving unforgettable performances across Canada, the UK, New Zealand and Australia. She’s appeared at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, WOMAD, Byron Bay’s East Coast Blues & Roots Festival, Port Fairy and the National Multicultural Festival, the Ottawa Blues Fest and the Vancouver Folk Festival.

“This young woman is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. A brave and unpretentious solo performer, I was utterly in awe of her originality and creativity.    – Cheap Thrills (Melbourne)

Old Spice Boys
The Old Spice Boys mix razor-sharp musicianship with great tunes and a dry sense of humour – creating an exciting, timeless and charming trio. Based in the Byron Bay region, they have pushed their miniature line-up far beyond skiffle, into swing, jazz, blues, reggae, vaudeville, dub and R&B. They play their own original tunes - such as ‘I’m Not An Alcoholic (I Just Enjoy a Drink’)’, ‘Let’s Get Wet’and ‘Who Gave You a Licence to Drive Me Crazy?’, plus unlikely interpretations of songs by a wide range of artists - from Louis Jordan to Ian Dury, Django Reinhardt to Ornette Coleman and Grand Master Flash to The Seekers.

So who are these big men of small music? The Old Spice Boys are renowned ukulele virtuoso Azo Bell (ex-Freeboppers, Bellydance and Mic Conway); tea-chest bassist Billy Milroy (ex-Granny Magnet and Sundowners); and regurgitated British pop star Tim Reeves (ex-Mungo Jerry, T. Rex, Shane Howard and Ed Kuepper) on the snare drum.

Renowned festival faves, The Old Spice Boys have appeared at the World Music Festival in Sarawak (Borneo), in the Famous Spiegeltent at Edinburgh Fringe Newcastle’s Comedy Festival, Woodford, Port Fairy, and Queenscliff Music Festivals, Darling Harbour Jazz Festival and Byron’s East Coast Blues & Roots Fest.
The trio’s albums include their debut Lost in Spice, 2002’s Alibi of Birdland and the recent Live At The Rails, recorded at the Railway Friendly Bar in Byron Bay. Their In Concert DVD release was filmed at the 2005 National Folk Festival in Canberra.

“As with all the best musical wits, underpinning the hilarity is expert musicianship.”
- Sydney Morning Herald

San Lazaro
Following an extended stay in Cuba, Greek/Macedonian percussionist Lazare Agneskis returned to Melbourne in 2002, determined to put together a band that could recreate the pulsating rhythms and raw swing that he had encountered in Cuba. With other members of the nine-piece group having had similar travel and music experiences across Cuba and South America, San Lazaro was born.

About the name…During the times of slavery in Cuba, praise to the West African Yoruba orishas (saints) was often disguised as prayer to the Catholic saints. San Lazaro (Saint Lazarus) is the parallel of the orisha Babalu Aye, from the Yoruba-based Afro-Caribbean religion called Santeria.

Already a vital presence within Melbourne’s spirited Latin scene, San Lazaro fuse the basic ingredients of reggaeton, hip-hop and cumbia, combining their powerful Latin rhythms with funky horns and MC rhyming into one steaming salsa soup. Seasoned to taste, it’s a spicy dish.

Reflecting the group’s united cross-cultural heritage - which includes Chilean, Spanish, Indian, Mauritian, Iranian and Australian bloodlines - the band’s ‘06 debut release was entitled Mestizos Urbanos (urban people of mixed race). A big hit at this year’s Womadelaide festival, now San Lazaro bring their mucho caliente Havana/Melbournemix to Bellingen!

“When I hear San Lazaro I become a dancing fool!” – Paul Kelly

Skorba
A quartet of exceptional musicians, Skorba represents the ancient music of Malta. Performing original music sung in Maltese with a theme of cultural unification, Skorba is a fusion of ancient and modern Greek, Turkish, Arabic and European music, that is a unique representation of the historic cultural influences on Malta.

Formed in 2005, Skorba is a collaborative effort, founded by Andy Busuttil (vocals, percussion and wind instruments) and John Robinson (oud, tambura and percussion). Both veteran players, Andy was a key member of Nakisa, Xenos, Drum Arabic, and Rivero, while John has been part of Davood Tabrizi’s Far Seas, Baklava, and The Renaissance Players. The talented line-up also now includes Bertie McMahon on bouzouki, acoustic bass and waldzither (related to the lute and mandola), and Sirocco’s Paul Jarman on sax, flute and saxillo.

Their performance celebrates the Neolithic Temples of Malta, built between 6,000 and 8,000 years ago to worship the Goddess of Fertility. These Mediterranean structures are the oldest known freestanding, roofed stone buildings in human history, and are steeped in mystery and beauty, with haunting shades and transitions of the Sun and Moon. They were home to a community of people who lived in peace and harmony with their environment. With visual images of the Maltese Islands and the Temples projected as part of the presentation, Skorba’s music is a unique and gorgeous spectacle not to be missed.

Café of the Gate of Salvation
“Making a joyous noise” is exactly what Sydney-based choir The Café of the Gate of Salvation has been doing with gusto for over two decades. Inspired by the African-American vocal tradition of spirituals and gospel, this acclaimed 30+ voice ensemble has been at the forefront of the acappella movement in Australia since its inception in 1986.

Named after a café on the outskirts of Istanbul, this vibrant ensemble brings together an impressive congregation of non-denominational souls, united by their shared love of singing in the gospel style. Equally at home performing in concert halls, inner-city nightclubs, festivals, grand cathedrals or the most humble church, the choir is blessed with a variety of gifted soloists, some of whom have been singing with the group since its earliest days. A non-profit association, the choir regularly takes part in benefit concerts and makes financial donations to many worthy social causes including AIDS support groups, Amnesty International, Walk Against Want and refugee assistance programs.

The choir has toured in the United States and New Zealand, and has graced the stages of Womadelaide, Sydney’s Olympic Arts Festival, the Brisbane Biennale, the Melbourne International, and many other jazz, classical and vocal festivals.

To date COTGOS have released three albums of all-original material; their ’91 self-titled debut, ’95’s A Window In Heaven, and ‘04’s Deluxe.

COTGOS’ founder and Musical Director is Tony Backhouse, known both here and overseas for inspiring thousands of enthusiastic singers through his regular vocal workshops. Backhouse’s passion for Black gospel has seen him make several trips to the USA, researching the various vocal traditions, taking part in church services in New York, Chicago and throughout the South, and undertaking study at Memphis State University. He is the author of the acclaimed gospel songbook A cappella: Rehearsing For Heaven.

“The choir’s vibrant range of soloists delivers a compelling message of love, hope and joy.”  - SYDNEY MORNING HERALD

The View from Madeleine's Couch
Forerunners in the resurgence of Brazilian music in Australia, Brisbane–based band The View From Madeleine’s Couch continue to carry the flag as one of the most versatile and accomplished Oz/Brazilian music ensembles in the country. Lending their distinct sound to classic styles like bossa nova, samba and forro, they also write award-nominated original music and explore the funk and dance grooves of samba-reggae and batucada.

“Brazilian music is the most gorgeous in the world, and you can never have too much of it!” That's the credo under which this band was co-founded in 1998 by vocalist Anje West and vibraphone player Kym Ambrose. From the early days of finding their way through the classic Brazilian bossa sounds of the 50s and 60s, to their recent recordings, the group has continued to forge a sound that is unique to Brazilian music in Australia, and perhaps the world. (If anyone knows of another Brazilian band featuring the vibes, let ‘The Couch’ know!).

Assisted by a grant from the Australia Council, Anje and Kym lived and studied in Brazil for three months in 2004, working with some of the best local musicians. There they wrote songs for the group’s debut album, Tranquilo, which received consistently excellent reviews. The release of the band’s eagerly-awaited second album is imminent.
With bassist OJ Newcomb and drummer Mark Henman making up a rhythm section to die for, the dreamy sounds of Ambrose’s vibes washing over the top, West’s gutsy percussion and sublime Portuguese vocals, and special guest jazz guitarist Jim Kelly (Crossfire)  - expect to experience something very special from this great group.

“The sound of sunset on the porch, cocktail in hand.........” – Rave magazine

Tjupurru
Didgeridoo performer Adrian Fabila Tjupurrula (aka Tjupurru) is a proud descendant of the Djabera Djabera tribe of the West Australia Kimberleys. Born in Port Moresby, Papau New Guinea, he began his career as a professional boxer – and was two-time National Featherweight Champion of PNG and winner of the Oceania Title in Western Samoa.

Moving to Cairns, he first heard the didge music of Charlie McMahon and Gondwanaland. Adrian and Charlie came together for all-night outdoor corroboree jam sessions on the beach, with the atmosphere of playing around a campfire encouraging improvisation and trance-like endurance playing.

Learning to play “Didjeribone” and “Face Bass” - both McMahon inventions - Adrian's  life has come full circle. The Didjeribone can slide through different notes and tones - a cross between a didge and a trombone. The Face Bass technology enables the slightest whisper and tremble in your mouth or body to be picked up. “Its tiny, mouth-based controls are at the cutting edge of what the big guys are predicting for phones and computers in the future”, says Tjupurru. “Any noise you make in or around your mouth and neck - with your tongue, your teeth, your fingers, swallowing, humming or just breathing - you can amplify it and record it and make it into a sample.”
With the addition of electronic effects and a comedic attitude, Tjupurru has enabled himself to perform as a One-Man-Band, creating live samples and looping them to create songs and soundscapes that criss-cross music genres. On his ’07 debut EP Stompin’ Ground he provides incredible didge versions of the Dr. Who theme, Deep Purple and James Brown!

Now based in Brisbane, Adrian is a community leader within the Northside Murri community. Giving workshops and performances at Queensland schools and remote indigenous communities, he provides a positive community role model for local indigenous and non-indigenous musicians and artists.

Tommee
Singer/songwriter Tommee Balukea hails from the village of Bima on Sumbawa Island, which lies on the eastern side of the Indonesian archipelago. His musical journey began in his mother's kitchen, where he amused himself by creating an orchestra of instruments made up of pots, pans, plates and buckets. Based in Australia for over twenty years, he first gained attention as guitarist with Sydney Afro-reggae ‘80s group Kalabash.

His own songwriting skills were highlighted on his 2003 debut album No Added Sugar, where backed by his band The Neighbourhood he fused an enticing mix of blues and reggae, emphasising his inventive acoustic guitar style. Able to sing in five languages, in ‘06 Tommee released Kachampo (Mix It Up), a brilliantly received solo album that highlighted his Indonesian heritage and use of the traditional kecapi - a 20-string zither indigenous to the Orang Sunda (Sundanese people) of West Java - which produces a beautiful cascading sound. Tommee’s elegant proficiency on the instrument is complimented by his ornate guitar work, and he also plays a multi-chambered percussion instrument from East/Central Java called kaleng arumanis.

Now based in the Byron Bay area, his latest album is Get On So Well, a new collection of mostly Engish language songs. Having collaborated onstage with performers like John Butler, Canadian bluesman Harry Manx and American guitar wiz Bob Brozman, Tommee’s recent festival appearances have included Womadelaide, East Coast Blues and Roots and Woodford Folk Festival. He’s just returned from a successful solo tour of Japan and France.
 “An unexpected Indonesian masterpiece from Oz. A pleasure from start to finish, his music has an unadorned simplicity to it, which through its authenticity transforms into a dazzling gem of an album.” (Five stars)
- Songlines (UK) review of Kachampo