MOHSEN NAMJOO
Mohsen Namjoo is an Iranian artist, songwriter, singer, music scholar and setar (traditional Persian lute) player based in New York City. Hailed as “the Bob Dylan of Iran” by the New York Times, Mohsen Namjoo blends the Classical Persian setar with electric guitar and drums.
EDERLEZI Balkan-Roma Brass Festival 2016
Ederlezi 6th annual Balkan Brass Festival this year features Fanfare Zambaleta from San Francisco, M9 from Seattle, host band Orkestar Slivovica, and guest Serbian Trumpet Master and Guca Festival award winner Demiran Cerimovic, plus guest dance troupes. Two days of festive celebration
CONSTANTINOPLE & FRIENDS – "Passage"
Taking part in VICO's Notes from the Araxes Basin Festival, Montreal’s acclaimed Constantinople ensemble, led by Kiya Tabassian on setar & vocals, celebrates the release of their latest album with Vancouver-area Persian musicians & international guests Charbel Rouhana (oud), Neva Özgen (kemençe) & Didem Başar (qanun).
BOMBINO – Tuareg Guitar Star
Bombino’s electrifying jams capture the spirit of resistance and rebellion while echoing with guitar riffs reminiscent of fellow Africans Tinariwen and Ali Farka Touré.
KASANDRA FLAMENCO "Encuentros"
"Encuentros" is a percussive dance spectacular celebrating passionate encounters by internationally renowned dancers in Flamenco, Irish, Tap, and Egyptian Bellydance!
CHE MALAMBO! Direct from Argentina
Experience A THRILLING, PERCUSSIVE DANCE AND MUSIC SPECTACLE FROM THE GAUCHO TRADITION of ARGENTINA. The Argentine dance company Che Malambo excites audiences through precise footwork and rhythmic stomping, drumming of the bombos, regional folk music and singing, and the mesmerizing percussive whirling of boleadoras.
NIYAZ & ADHAM SHAIKH- Middle-Eastern Trance Dance
Caravan World Rhythms & Beats Without Borders present a powerful evening of music and dance music, featuring the renowned Middle-Eastern inspired global trance dance group NIYAZ. Completing the evening will be the hypnotic DJ'ing from Beats Without Borders and Very Special Guest
VENTANAS – Slivovica Social Club
Join us for a special edition of the Slivovica Social Club at Seven Dining Lounge with guests VENTANAS from Toronto. The trans-Mediterranean ensemble Ventanas fuse passion and intimate dialogue, embracing the varied instrumental and melodic traditions of North Africa, the Balkans, Turkey and Spain.
Bïa – Brazilian Concert
Bïa is a Brazilian singer and songwriter who incarnates what “world artist” is all about. After winning awards in France for her first album in 1997 and in Quebec for her self-produced 2015 album NAVEGAR, Bïa is riding the wave to Vancouver, accompanied by cellist Sheila Hannigan.
AZAE LO! Adanu Habobo & Rhythm’n’Roots
Adanu Habobo and Rhythm 'n' Roots team up to bring you a night of traditional music and dance focusing on the rich vocal traditions found among the Ewe of Ghana. Rarely heard songs will be sung by a 20+member chorus in conjunction with the drums and social dances of Adanu Habobo, Vancouver's finest Ghanaian drum and dance ensemble.
VASHAAN & DAVOD AZAD: Persian Sufi Concert
Canada’s premiere Iranian music group, the Vashaan Ensemble presents their CD Release of “Dolate Eshgh – Reign of Love” – an evening of Sufi-inspired Iranian music. They will be joined by internationally renowned Iranian Sufi singer Davod Azad, and the mesmerizing whirling dancers Raqib Burke and Lindsy Ridgeway.
Kayhan Kalhor & Erdal Erzincan: Persian & Turkish Improvisations
After a recent sold-out performance, legendary Iranian kamanche (spike-fiddle) player Kayhan Kalhor returns to Vancouver with Turkish baglama (lute) master,
Vieux Farka Touré & Guests
Malian guitar superstar Vieux Farka Touré returns to Vancouver after a recent sold-out performance, with his new collaboration featuring the sublime jazz singer Julia Easterlin.
Erez-Man-Houle World Trio
A new collaboration featuring internationally renown musicians Itamar Erez (piano & guitar), Liron Man (handpan & percussion), Francois House (Clarinet).
NILADRI KUMAR & ADITYA KALYANPUR
Sitar prodigy Niladri Kumar has performed regularly with the legendary Ustad Zakir Houssain and is featured in over 20 national and international albums and numerous films. Aditya Kalyanpur has performed with numerous classical giants as well as Katy Perry, The Rolling Stones, Slumdog Millionaire composer AR Rahman.
EDERLEZI – Balkan-Roma Spring Festival
The 5th annual Spring celebration of Balkan-Roma Brass, featuring 6 bands, two dance troupes, and once again, the special guest trumpet master from Serbia, DEMIRAN CERIMOVIC!