world music
Merasi: Master Musicians of Rajasthan going on rare U.S. tour (2 NYC shows)
Folk Arts Rajasthan, a small New York City based non-profit, works hard to support and promote the culture of the Merasi, a marginalized community residing in the Indian state of Rajasthan. Through extraordinary effort, the organization has brought a small group of Merasi musicians to the United States for a tour of the Northeast.
Mulatu Astatke played Temple of Dendur (pics), the kickoff to World Music Institute's 2016/2017 season (lineup)
Check out pics from Mulatu Astatke’s set, and peruse the entire World Music Institute 2016/2017 schedule (Bebel Gilberto, Seu Jorge, Mbongwanna Starr/Songhoy Blue & more).
DUMBO's 'Live At The Archway' underway with Ava Luna, Janka Nabay, Tigue, more
For the second year in a row, Dumbo is playing host to the Live At the Archway series, which is “a weekly cabaret below the Manhattan Bridge — with free performances, beer, wine, and a magical, only-in-DUMBO setting”…
Konono N°1 releasing new album in April (listen to "Um Nzonzing")
Legendary Congolese band team up with Portuguese producer Batida for the sixth installment of the “Congotronics” series.
El Guincho releasing 'Hiperasia,' first album in six years (listen)
Chillwave survivor El Guincho is back with a new album, Hiperasia, which is out Friday (2/12) via Nacional Records. It’s his first since 2010’s Pop Negro and as the very modern production shows, it’s very much a now album, though tropical vibes are still represented…
Malian band Songhoy Blues touring U.S. in April (dates)
Malian band Songhoy Blues will be heading back to North America this spring for a week of shows in the Midwest and Northeast. The band are exceedingly charismatic performers and if they play near you, definitely try and see them…
globalFEST 2016 is this month -- listen to a playlist of this year's performers
The annual NYC world music festival globalFEST returns to Webster Hall on Sunday, January 17 across all three of the venue’s stages. 2016 performers — a few of whom are making their US or NY debuts — include (descriptions via press release):Astrid Hadad
Extravagant Mexican cabaret with soulful songs and outrageous visuals
Debauche
Russian mafia ballads get a New Orleans punk makeover
Fendika
Masterful dancer Melaku Belay leads Ethiopia’s traditional music revival
Ginkgoa
Vintage Paris chic meets New York cool in swinging electro-beats
Lakou Mizik (NY Debut)
Powerhouse collective invigorating Haitian roots and grooves
Mariana Sadovska
The defiant cry of Ukraine, reinventing traditional songs
Simon Shaheen’s Zafir
A reuniting of Arab Andalucian music and fiery flamenco
Stelios Petrakis Quartet
Inimitable virtuosos from Crete weaving melodies across the Greek islands
The Dhol Foundation
UK’s leading South Asian bhangra crew
Tribu Baharú (US Debut)
Afro-champeta party from Colombia’s Caribbean coast
Somi
Lush Afrobeat inspired jazz, soul, and pop
Music Maker Blues Revue
Blues That Made America FamousTickets for globalFEST 2016 are on sale and the schedule/set-times are listed, plus a video preview and a Spotify playlist featuring songs by this year’s acts, below…
tix on sale: Springsteen, Ween, Animal Collective, Mac DeMarco, Duran Duran, Future, Baths, A$AP Ferg & more
Tickets for Ween’s three reunion shows at Terminal 5 go on sale today at noon.
Tickets for Bruce Springsteen’s “The River” tour shows at Madison Square Garden and NJ’s Prudential Center go on sale today at 10 AM…
Afrobeat pioneer Orlando Julius playing first US shows in over a decade (dates)
Few artists have been more crucial to the invention, development, and popularization of Afro-pop than Orlando Julius. Starting in the ’60s, Julius was fusing traditional African sounds and rhythms with those of American pop, soul, and R&B…
Dengue Fever released 'The Deepest Lake,' touring in September (dates, videos, LP stream)
Los Angeles band Dengue Fever, who make an updated take on ’60s/’70s jazzy Cambodian pop, released The Deepest Lake earlier this year and you can check out the video for “No Sudden Moves,” a KEXP session and a Rdio stream of the album below…