The Festival line-up included....
Ganda Boys
www.gandaboys.com
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The Ganda Boys blend the soulful voices of Denis Mugagga and Danny Sewagudde (famed in Uganda as DaTwins), with the musical backing of world class film composer and arranger Craig Pruess.
The connection was made after they successfully collaborated on the Moses Jones TV series for the BBC and since then have performed with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and on the BBC World Service. They have released three albums with the most recent, ‘Mountains of the Moon’ featuring Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s Babuyila Shabalala and his group Young Mbazo. |
The band are interested in the power of music to help and established the charitable organisation, The Ganda Foundation in 2009 to empower sustainable community development in Uganda. Their most recent project is re-recording 'The Forgotten People', a track from their album, ‘Africa’, with a Syrian Refugee Orchestra, and 21 Grammy Award winners, for a refugee education charity.
The Ganda Boys played that amazing track at the Sacred Music Festival. In August they released a video telling the story of this global humanitarian anthem by and for displaced people throughout the world, refugees who are homeless beyond their control. See this great 30 minute documentary here. |
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“The Ganda Boys need to be seen live, they are brilliant performers with incredible energy and presence. The ultimate feel good experience.” |
Raga Babas
www.ragababas.co.uk
Stroud's 9 (to 15) piece band based on World Fusion Devotional music with ancient and contemporary sounds specifically for dancing. Featuring sitar, tabla, acoustic & bass guitars, harmonium, violin, percussion, dholak, darbuka, trumpet and voice.
RSVP Bhangra
www.rsvpmusic.co.uk
Susheela Raman and Sam Mills
Facebook Page
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Born in the UK to Tamil Parents, Susheela has been charming audiences worldwide for a few years now with her beguiling voice and her explosive stage presence.
A fearlessly innovative singer and composer who allows herself to be home anywhere, Susheela adds a Londoner's perspectuve to her collaborations with master musicians from diverse traditions. Her previous albums are "Salt Rain" (2001), "Love Trap" (2003), "Music for Crocodiles" (2005), "33 1/3" (2007), "Vel" (2011) and the live album "HAL" (2012). In India Susheela is best known for the song "Ye Mera Divanapaan Hai", and enduringly popular track from her second album. But one listen to "Queen Between" reveals how much more there is to discover in the Raman musical universe. |
Tribal Rhythms Orchestra
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The didjeridu originates with the Aboriginal People of Australia where it is known as the yidaki. For centuries this instrument has accompanied ceremonies which connect the player or a group of people to 'The Dreaming'.
You can think of this as a spiritual realm where the land, it's features, plants and inhabitants are all interconnected. Generations of families pass down the responsibilities for the conservation of these sacred sites with ceremonies, artwork and dedication. As a contemporary interpretation, The Tribal Rhythms Orchestra can claim no such responsibilities but in their performance they hope to pay respect to this most complex culture and raise awareness of their continuing plight. |
Jean-Paul Gospel Choir
www.wabotai.com
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International artist Jean Paul Wabotaï, originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and considered the golden voice of Africa by the Australian media, is, above all, a singer, an author and a composer.
But he is also a dancer, choreographer, percussionist, painter, teacher and has released several albums in France, Spain and Australia, seven of which are for children. Currently is a member of the International Coalition of Artists for the General History of Africa, launched by UNESCO. Jean Paul lead two weekend workshops leading up to the festival creating a choir to perform at the Sacred Music Festival at the concert of Saturday 2nd July, and then to grow as an inspirational/gospel choir. |
Qi Rattan
www.Qi-Rattan.com
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Qi-Rattan is the duet of masterful Tabla player Amritpal Singh and his wife, the gifted vocalist Jagdeep Kaur. Stunning, full of emotion, and thought provoking, their unique sound can be best described as a perfect balance between eastern and western styles of music.
Since releasing their debut album in 2013, these British artists have since become a household name in soothing devotional music, Kirtan, of the Sikh faith. They have toured all over Europe, Middle East and South East Asia and have just released their 3rd album, ‘Asees – Blessing’ reaching No 4 in the iTunes World Music Charts. They are currently working on launching their 3rd official music video ‘Aad Guray Nameh’ releasing mid June this year. |
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Craig Pruess and Friends
Craig will perform two tracks from his million selling album, " Sacred Chants of Buddha", featuring the powerful vocal chant, "Buddham Sharanam", accompanied by Jon Sterckx and Paul Ellson on percussion.
