[Back to Events]

Archives: Previous Events

962 Wayne Avenue, Suite 902, Silver Spring, MD 20910
Phone: 301/588-8185, Email: fa@folk.org, Website: www.folk.org

For Immediate Release: January 12, 2005
Press Contact: Cash Edwards, 512/447-0544, cashedwards@austin.rr.com

Toronto, September 8, 2004… The Small World Music Festival announces its complete line-up of inspiring global sounds, September 23 to October 3. Tickets are now on sale, and are available by calling 416-366-7723 or visiting stlc.com, unless otherwise noted.  Small World Music Festival information is available at 416-631-4311 or www.smallworldmusic.com.

Thursday, September 23, 9:00pm
Abdelli (Algeria)
~Music from the borders, where cultural collisions inspire
Opening act: Ottawa's Mel M'rabet
Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas Street West
Tickets: $15 advance / $20 at the door

Friday, September 24, 8:00pm
Eliana Cuevas (Toronto)
~ CD launch concert featuring the strong and beautiful voice delivering original Spanish-language lyrics in a jazzy and sensual style
Glenn Gould Studio, 250 Front Street West
Tickets: $20, at 416-205-5555

Saturday, September 25, 10:00pm
dZihan & Kamien (Austria)
~Cutting-edge DJscreate a funky, worldly electronica style
Concert also features DJs medicineman, Christian Newhook and more.
Gypsy Co-op, 815 Queen Street West
Tickets: $15 in advance at Soundscapes 572 College Street, and at the door

Sunday, September 26, 9:00pm
Tricycle & Guests (Toronto)
"Taking the banjo beyond the gates of bluegrass, across the musical landscape of jazz and around the world." - Jeff Goodes, CBC Radio
Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas Street West
Tickets: $10 at the door

Wednesday, September 29, 9:00pm
Alessandra Belloni (Italy / Brazil)
"The songs blazed with an age-old momentum." - The New York Times
Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas Street West
Tickets: $15 advance / $20 at the door

Thursday, September 30, 9:00pm
African Blues (Toronto)
~Adam Solomon, Ndidi Onukwulu and Slim et Donne weave their mix of North American blues and African influences
The Silver Dollar, 486 Spadina Avenue
Tickets: $10 at the door

Friday, October 1, 8:30pm
autorickshaw (Toronto)
~An evening of music for movement and meditation, also including world-fusion DJ medicineman (No Man's Land, CIUT 89.5)
Sage Yoga Studio, 5 Shuter Street
Tickets: $15 advance / $20 at the door

Saturday, October 2, 8:00pm
Afro-Cuban All Stars (Cuba)
~Legendary Cuban veterans return to Toronto.
Presented by The Corporation of Roy Thomson and Massey Hall
Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe Street
Tickets: 416-872-4255

Sunday, October 3, 9:00pm
Rokia Traore (Mali)
"Watch out for this young Malian diva... her messages make her a feminist hero of the near future."-News & Observer
Bamboo Cabana, 245 Queens Quay West
Tickets: $25 advance / $30 door

Small World Music Society, a non-profit corporation, is generously supported by the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Ontario Arts Council and the Toronto Arts Council.

-30-

Media Contact:

Heather Kelly Communications
416-364-5701
Farah Khilji, farah@heatherk.ca
Heather Kelly, heather@heatherk.ca

Third Annual Small World Music Festival
Ten Days of Musical Discoveries

Toronto, August 20, 2004: The Small World Music Festival returns for its third year with an inspiring celebration of global sounds, September 23 to October 3, at numerous downtown Toronto venues. Tickets go on sale August 30, at stlc.com or by calling 416-366-7723. Information is available at 416-631-4311 or www.smallworldmusic.com.

Malian diva Rokia Traore, currently one of world music's most exciting talents, headlines the festival. The New York Times described her music as "handfuls of picked notes, the tapping of a calabash and spare female harmonies add up to memorable songs." Rokia Traore performs on Sunday, October 3, 8:00, at the Jane Mallet Theatre, St Lawrence Centre, 27 Front Street East, in a concert presented in association with Music Africa. Tickets are $30. "Watch out for this young Malian diva. She sounds like no one else, and her messages make her a feminist hero of the near future. "-News & Observer ***THIS SHOW IS NOW TAKING PLACE AT THE BAMBOO CABANA

Abdelli, an Algerian Berber now based in Brussels, is a Real World recording artist whose sound is borne of the encounter between cultures. His most recent CD, Among Brothers, (released in Canada to coincide with this show) was recorded around the world, merging Abdelli's music and singing with the sounds of Cape Verde and Azerbaijan, Burkina Faso and the Maghreb. The music belongs to the borderlands - the regions of creative inspiration that emerge when cultures meet. The five-piece band performs at Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas Street West, Thursday, September 23, at 9:00. Ottawa's Mel M'rabet opens the show. Tickets are $15 advance / $20 at the door. ***THIS SHOW IS NOW TAKING PLACE AT GYPSY COOP.

Tuva's Yat-Kha performs a live soundtrack to "Storm over Asia - the Heir to Genghis Khan," pioneer director Vsevolod Pudovkin's 1928 classic black and white silent film, on Sunday, September 26, 9:00, at Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas Street West. The one-of-a-kind Tuvan band combines the haunting overtone singing tradition of the wild steppes of central Asia with modern sensiblity and instruments. They will be performing to the original Director's cut, improvising music and performing songs as an authenticTuvan score to a film that brought their people to the eyes of much of the world. Tickets are $15 advance / $20. ***THIS SHOW HAS NOW BEEN CANCELLED

Cutting-edge Austrian DJs dZihan & Kamien (pronounced Gee-hahn and Kammy-en) have taken the lightheartedness and accessibility of pop music and created a funky, worldly electronica style. Their interest in the music of the East, especially the music of Turkey, led to their freeform mix of Arabic strings, elusive sampled vocals, and irresistible trip-hop rhythms. With music that reaches past musical and cultural borders, this DJ duo is leading the charge of forward-thinking electronic musicians. Their new release, on Six Degrees Records, hits the streets Sept. 14. dZihan & Kamien perform at Bamboo Cabana, 245 Queens Quay W., Saturday the 25th at 10:00. Tickets are $15.


Alessandra Belloni's 'Night of the Shooting Stars' is a concert blending Southern Italian and Brazilian traditions, born in the musical melting pot of New York City. Haunting ancient melodies and trance rhythms are Alessandra's speciality, as showcased in her last appearance in Toronto, performing 'Rhythm is the Cure'. A highly-regarded percussionist as well as a singer, in the world, she has devoted years to exploring the rhythmic connections between cultures and the healing power of music. In this appearance, Belloni combines these elements with Brazilian trance dances such as condomble, maracatu and samba, with some of NY's hottest players. Lula Lounge, Wednesday, September 29 at 9:00. Tickets are $15 advance / $20 at the door. "The songs blazed with an age-old momentum." - The New York Times

Eliana Cuevas is an example of extraordinary home-grown talent that will also feature prominently in the festival. Eliana's clear, strong and beautiful voice delivers her outstanding original Spanish-language lyrics in a style that is jazzy and sensual with an unmistakable Latin touch. Eliana Cuevas' performance at the Festival is a CD launch concert, Friday, September 24, 8:00 at the Glenn Gould Studio, 250 Front. St. West. Tickets are $20, at 416-205-5555.

African Blues - A Toronto Triple bill featuring Adam Solomon, Ndidi Onukwulu and Slim et Donne. Kenyan, Nigerian and Magadscar traditions weave their roots through a mix of North American blues and African influences. Adam Solomon has toured Canada with the Afronubians and his band Tikisa playing wicked guitar licks learned in the nightclubs of Nairobi. Watch for Ndidi Onukwulu's fresh voice at the 18th annual Women's Blues Revue. Madagascar Slim and Donne Robert are working up acoustic Malagassy repertoire for a forthcoming CD. All musicians will join together for a finale collaboration to close the show. Thursday, the 30th, 9:00 at the Silver Dollar, 486 Spadina. $10 at the door.

autorickshaw performs Trance-Dance - an evening of music for movement and meditation in the beautiful setting of Sage Yoga Studio. Featuring special guest George Koller, the evening will range from deep atmospherics to funky arrangements of south Indian music and fiery Indo-jazz. "Wonderful world beat music that exploits a collision of cultures" - The Globe and Mail. Also on the bill is world-fusion specialist DJ medicineman (No Man's Land, CIUT 89.5). Friday, October 1, 8:00, Sage Yoga 5 Shuter St. (at Yonge), $15 416 530-0039

Finally, the Afro-Cuban All Stars bring their soulful sound to Roy Thomson Hall, Saturday, October 2 at 8:00, presented by Massey / Roy Thomson Hall. For tickets call 416 872-4255. For the third year, the Small World Music Festival delivers a outstanding mix of cultures, communities and sounds, offering audiences a rich array of musical discoveries,.

Small World Music Society, a non-profit corporation, is generously supported by the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Ontario Arts Council and the Toronto Arts Council.

-30-

Media Contact: Heather Kelly Communications:
416-364-5701, heather@heatherk.ca

Global Cafe and Afrofest Partner to Present 
Bembeya Jazz, Muna Mingole and Mansa Sissoko
At Toronto Festivals This Summer

Toronto, June 15, 2004…Global Cafe, Toronto's newest world music festival presented by Small World Music and Afrofest presented by Music Africa, are pleased to announce several festival performances presented in partnership. Global Cafe and Afrofest team-up to present Guinea Legends Bembeya Jazz, Cameroon sensation Muna Mingole and Malian kora master Mansa Sissoko.

In this very busy summer festival weekend, Small World Music and Music Africa believe that working together to present and promote African music in Toronto will be beneficial for everyone - the festivals, the artists and the audiences. 

Bembeya Jazz make a much anticipated return to the Toronto stage with their big band and Afro-Cuban groove sounds on July 8 at 9:00 p.m. Tickets for the performance are $20 and listeners will hear bold brass, sweeping vocal harmonies and breathtaking guitar improvisations.

Montreal's Muna Mingole also brings her Afro-funk rhythms to the Global Café festival on Friday, July 9 at 9:00 p.m. Known as the "blue fire of Cameroon," Muna's singing, dancing and musicianship is an exciting fusion of traditional and modern influences. Tickets for her performance are $10. 

Malian Kora player Mansa Sissoko presents a free performance at the Global Cafe Festival on Saturday, July 10 at 1:00 p.m.and at Afrofest on Sunday, July 11 at 2:00 p.m. Sissoko is known for his haunting melodies and traditional Malian music which also includes contemporary jazz and blues elements.

Global Cafe presents a wide array of free and ticketed concerts featuring artists from Mexico, Israel, Africa, Canada and other countries, in the historic Distillery District July 7 to July 11. Tickets for Global Café festival concerts are available through Ticket King at 416-872-1212, toll free: 1-800-461-3333, online at www.ticketking.com, and at Soundscapes, 572 College Street, Toronto.
Complete festival information is at www.smallworldmusic.com . 

Music Africa presents Afrofest 2004, the 16th annual festival of African music and dance, in Queen's Park on July 10 & 11. Featuring two international groups, performers from across the country and within our midst, the Babatunde Olatunji Stage with the finest drumming instructors, the ever-vibrant open-air African Marketplace, weekend-long fun in the sun for the whole family at the Music Africa 
workshop tent and in the Children's Village -- this African showcase of richness and diversity is a grand display of Toronto at its best, and better still, Afrofest is all free to one and all! For up-to-the minute information, call 416-469-5336 or visit www.afrofest.org

# 30 # 
Media Contacts:

For Global Cafe: Heather Kelly Communications
Heather Kelly: 416-364-5701, heather@heatherk.ca
Tonisha Robinson, 416-364-5701, kristel@heatherk.ca
www.heatherk.ca

For AfroFest: James Tay, 416-469-5336, pr@afrofest.org 

Small World Music presents Los De Abajo, Muna Mingole, Bembeya Jazz and Ex-Centric Sound System 
at Global Cafe Festival in Distillery District

Toronto, June 21, 2004… Toronto will be treated to the eclectic sounds of a new world music festival: Global Cafe, from July 7 to 11, 2004. Presented by Small World Music, Global Cafe brings an exciting array of live musical performances from around the world to Canada's music capital. Festival highlights are the Toronto debuts of Mexico City's Los De Abajo on July 7, and Israel's Ex-Centric Sound System on July 10. Guinea legends Bembeya Jazz make a much anticipated return to Toronto on July 8, and Montreal's Muna Mingole will thrill audiences on July 9; both of shows are presented in partnership with Afrofest. All concerts take place in the Stone Distillery at Toronto's historic Distillery District, Distillery District, 55 Mill Street. 

· Los De Abajo Wednesday, July 7 (Tickets: $20)
· Bembeya Jazz Thursday, July 8 (Tickets: $20)
· Muna Mingole Friday, July 9 (Tickets: $10)
· Ex-Centric Sound System Saturday, July 10 (Tickets: $20)

Radical Mexican group Los de Abajo brings an exciting blend of ska, reggae and cumbia to Toronto, July 7. A "kaleidoscope of Mexican life", the eight members of Los de Abajo successfully balance entertainment and political education in their music. Driving Afro-Latin rhythms and ska combine with powerful vocals exploring themes of racism and poverty. Recently, the song "El Loco" from the album Cybertropic Chilango (2002), produced by David Byrne's Luaka Bop record label, won the group the 2003 BBC Radio 3 Award for World Music in the Americas. More information on the group is online at www.losdeabajo.com

Los de Abajo "evokes a place where rebel gangs proclaim revolution to the pulse of mambo and meringue rhythms. An eight-piece collective, Los de Abajo at times seem like a semi-acoustic Rage Against the Machine, delivering musical manifestos via mariachi brass and percolating percussion." - Blender Magazine

Opening the show for Los de Abajo is the Liquidaires. This trimmed down quintet version of Toronto's cross-pollinating roots ska outfit has four CDs under their belt, the latest being "Lookin' Up".

Ex-Centric Sound System makes their Toronto debut at Global Cafe on July 10. Led by bassist/producer Yossi Fine, and Ghanaian master musician and choreographer Nana Dadzie, the group fuses pulsating drum and bass with authentic African instrumentation and chants, producing a unique Afro-electronic vibe. Ex-Centric Sound System draws inspiration from the diverse cultural backgrounds of its group members who provide an eclectic mix of Ghanaian, Moroccan, Israeli, French and West Indian influences. 
Visit www.ex-centric-sound.com for more information on the group.

"Reedy African flute, earthy wooden xylophone, thumb-plucked Kalimba, and other acoustic instruments are seamlessly blended with dub-style bass and treated with ethereal effects…spiritual food in the pop-music desert" 
-Vibe Magazine

Before Ex-Centric Sound System hits the stage, eccodek, Andrew MacPherson's Guelph-based crew, finds groove in the wide world with their trippy funk fusion of African samples and percussion.

On July 8, Guinea sensations Bembeya Jazz make a much anticipated return to the Toronto stage. Named Guinea's official national band in 1965, Bembeya Jazz is known for their sublime big band music and intoxicating Afro-Cuban grooves. Ensuring that traditional African elements are fused with modern music influences, the group expertly blends bold brass and sweeping vocal harmonies with breathtaking improvisations by guitar genius Sekou "Diamond Fingers" Diabaté. This performance is presented in partnership with Afrofest. 

"Bembeya music sparkles swings and makes any normal human want to dance, with its high-pitched singers, fiery horns, insistent guitars and, of course, a powerhouse rhythm section." Toronto Star

Starting the night off right, Master Ugandan kalimba player Achilla Orru opens the show for Bembeya Jazz with a solo appearance. Dho-Mach (Sacred Gift) was recorded with his band Baana Afrique this past spring.

Known as the "Blue Fire of Cameroon," Montreal's Muna Mingole brings an exciting fusion of traditional and modern influences to the Global Café stage. Muna skillfully combines the Cameroonian cultural richness of Afro-funky rhythms with percussive sounds, mixing acoustic traditional and modern instruments such as kora, djembé, tchekeres, talking drums, bells, guitar, bass, keyboard and diversified flutes. More information on Muna Mingole can be found at www.mungamingole.com.

Opening the show for Muna Mingole is Cameroon expat guitarist Jean Baptiste Fojeba, who brings his original French West African sound to Toronto.

Tickets currently on sale through Ticket King at 416-872-1212, toll free: 1-800-461-3333 and online at www.ticketking.com, and at Soundscapes, 572 College Street. 

Bringing an exciting array of culturally diverse musicians to the historic Distillery District July 7 to July 11, Global Cafe will also feature free presentations and concerts. Visit www.smallworldmusic.com for complete festival information. 

# 30 # 

Media Contact:

Heather Kelly: 416-364-5701, heather@heatherk.ca
Tonisha Robinson: 416-364-5701, kristel@heatherk.ca
www.heatherk.ca

Global Cafe Presents More Than 20 Free Performances
at the Distillery District, July 7-11

Toronto, June 21, 2004…Global Cafe, Toronto's newest world music festival presented by Small World Music, brings a taste of the world's most diverse music to Toronto, July 7-11, 2004. Global Cafe features over 20 free live performances from musical greats including Madagascar Slim, the Toronto debut of Mansa Sissoko, ¡Bomba!, and outstanding performers from Quebec, including the Toronto debut of Intakto, along with Nazir Bouchareb, and Aditya Verma.

Global Cafe opens with a preview concert on Tuesday July 6 by Madagascar Slim, whose European and cross country tours have been fueled by two Juno Awards honouring Slim's guitar wizardry. Donné Robert accompanies Slim in a journey through blues and Malagasy roots. Wednesday July 7 brings Cassava Latin Rhythms to the stage, with Rodrigo Chavez driving this pan-Latin collaboration featuring Alberto Alberto on vocals. Trinidadian soca crew Moses Revolution performs their pulsing island rhythm on Thursday, July 8.

Saturday July 10 includes a host of musical guests, with Rancho Misterio paying tribute to the music of America's southwest, and Montreal's Nazir Bouchareb bringing a fresh representation of ancient hypnotic Moroccan Gnawa chant and percussion. Recent Toronto arrival Carlos Bastidas of new quartet Mapalé presents a mix of Colombian coastal rhythms and Cuban musical influences. 

Saturday's lineup continues with the Toronto debut of Intakto, whose sensuality, humour and passion are the trademarks of this original Latin American tango and gypsy-influenced guitar and violin quintet from Montreal. Fresh from the release of their latest CD, Maza Meze also brings their Mediterranean collision of Greek, Arabic and other sonics to the festival. CBC Records has just released Maza Meze's new CD, Secrets, Moon, Magic. 

Touring Canada this summer, Malian kora master Mansa Sissoko stops in Toronto for an appearance at Global Cafe (Saturday) and Afrofest (Sunday) to share his griot heritage of kora magic from his home in Mali, West Africa.

Ndidi Onukwulu, a new voice in Toronto's blues community, will thrill festival audiences with traditional southern blues with her own twist. Afro-Brazilian 20-piece troupe Maracatu Nunca Antes, new kids on the Samba block, specializes in the raw traditional percussion of Afro-Brazilian street parading of Recife, the northern music hot bed and home to Chico Science and forro music.

John Gao, father of renowned Chinese erhu (vertical one string violin) virtuoso George Gao, is often seen performing on Toronto subway platforms. He will perform tunes from his independent CD at the Global Cafe festival.

The good vibes continue on Sunday, July 11, with Aditya Verma. South Asian sarod is the specialty of this Montreal resident. Aditya tours internationally and has released three CDs, including his latest, "Sarod, Traditional Music of India".

Portuguese Fado is at the heart of Catarina Cardeal's career, but she is developing her tradition-based sound and taking it to new heights. 

Out of Western Canada comes the funky Afro-Cuban jazz quintet ¡Bomba!, led by Mario Allende. This percussive group from Edmonton grooves with the aid of Cuban addition Toto Berriel of Los Munequitos de Matanzas.

Sunday's show continues with the Toronto debut of Ismail Hakki & Brenna MacCrimmon, which features the ground breaking vocalist MacCrimmon in collaboration with Montreal oud master Hakki. The group will showcase a repertoire of folk, classical and Turkish devotional (Sufi) music.

Escola de Samba will have the audience moving and grooving at Global Cafe. Leader and musical director Alan Hetherington has devoted a lifetime to enhancing the cultural link between Toronto and Brazil through inspiring a small army of 35 "bateria" percussionists who parade the samba tradition. A festival highlight!

DJ medicineman spins the globe every Wednesday for two hours at 10am on his CIUT show, "No Man's Land". He will provide ambient beats thoughout the festival on Trinity Street and in the Stone Distillery.

Visit www.smallworldmusic.com for complete festival information.


# 30 #

A festival schedule is available. 

Media Contact:

Heather Kelly: 416-364-5701, heather@heatherk.ca
Tonisha Robinson: 416-364-5701, kristel@heatherk.ca
www.heatherk.ca

Sunday, December 7 @ Hugh's Room
Roots Roundup, a fundraiser* featuring:

in order of appearance:

- Autorickshaw (Suba Sankaran / Ed Hanley)
- Jian Ghomeshi
- Dan Kershaw (Cosmoline Brother) Trio
- Serena Ryder
- Richard Underhill Quartet

doors: 7pm, showtime 8:30pm.
admission: $10

*proceeds go to Derek Andrews Legal Fund
Make a Donation

2261 DUNDAS ST. WEST, TORONTO, ONT.
For ticket reservations please call:
(416) 531-6604
www.hughsroom.com

"Derek and the Dominoes"

Monday, December 1st
@ The Silver Dollar Room

A fundraiser featuring:
(in order of appearance)

- Raoul Bhaneja & the Big Time
- Mark "Bird" Stafford
- Jack de Keyzer
- Adam "Professor" Solomon (solo)
- Ken Whiteley
- Suzie Vinnick, Gwen Swick & Caitlin Hanford
- Diana Braithwaite
- Brian "Colorblind" Blain
- Paul Reddick (Sidemen)
- and special guests.

doors: 7pm, showtime 8pm.
backed by highgrade musicians Gary Kendall, Suzie Vinnick, 
Bucky Berger, Tom Bona, Lily Sazz, Chris Murphy

admission: $10

proceeds go to Derek Andrews Legal Fund
Make a Donation

Silver Dollar Room - 486 Spadina Ave., Toronto, Ontario
Entertainment Hotline:416-763-9139 
Main Office: 416-975-0909
Email: info@silverdollarroom.com
www.silverdollarroom.com

proceeds to the Derek Andrews Legal Fund*.

Global Cafe, a fundraising concert featuring:

- Madagascar Slim & Donne Robert
- David Rudder (solo w/piano)
- Jane Bunnett & Spirits of Havana
- w/special guest Eliana Cuevas
- dj Billy Bryans

Sunday, Nov. 9, 2003
doors: 8pm     admission: $10

proceeds go to Derek Andrews Legal Fund
Make a Donation

Lula Lounge
Bar+Restaurant+Performance Venue+Community Resource
1585 Dundas West, 1.5 blocks West of Dufferin
416-588-0307 for reservations
416-538-7405 for information
www.lula.ca

[Back to Events]