ROOTS AND BRANCHES – African Celebration
An evening of exhilarating music from Ghana, Zimbabwe, Guinea and Senegal, featuring ADANU HABOBO - Ghanaian Drum, Dance & Horns, ALPHA YA-YA DIALLA & BIJOU - West African Guitar, Vocals and Kora, and ZHAMBAI TRIO - Zimbabwean mbira, percussion and vocals.
SOWETO GOSPEL CHOIR
The multiple Grammy-winning Soweto Gospel Choir returns to Vancouver in a tribute concert to Nelson Mandela and in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the end of apartheid.
CONSTANTINOPLE Ensemble, with Sepideh Raissadat
Paths to the Summit is a unique Persian music program which recreates rediscovered treasures of Persian music from the 16th and 17th Centuries. The soloist guest singer is the well-known Sepideh Raissadat, and will also include one of the best today's santour player from Tehran, Siamak Aghaie.
SUFI JOURNEY – Omar Faruk Tekbilek & Vashaan Ensemble
Enter the sublime world of Sufi and Islamic music and dance. Sufi Journeys will feature one of the top international exponents of sufi-inspired music from Turkey, Omar Faruk Tekbilek, Vancouver's Vashaan Iranian Folk Ensemble, and Whirling Dervish Raqib Brian Burke.
BUIKA – Flamenco Jazz Diva
"Though compared to Nina Simone, Billie Holiday and Edith Piaf, she sounds like no one but herself. "— Los Angeles Times. Born in Spain to parents in political exile from Equatorial Guinea, she grew up on the Spanish island of Mallorca. She has a breathtaking, soul-drenched vocal style combining traditional Spanish-Gypsy laments of flamenco with soul and jazz improvisation.
The Longing Sky Project
The Longing Sky Project presented with the Vancouver Intercultural Orchestra will be hosting international guest stars Dhruba Ghosh and Harrie Starreveld for a series concerts and educational presentations that will culminate in the world premiere of Moshe Denburg's double concerto for sarangi, shakuhachi and intercultural orchestra.
OPA TSUPA! Balkan-Romani Festival
Our annual festival celebrating Romani music from the Balkans returns, with Turkish, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Serbian, Greek music and more!
"Canti di a Terra" – Music from Iran & Corsica
An extraordinary meeting of musical cultures: two ensembles – the Persian/Medieval ensemble Constantinople (Montreal) and Barbara Furtuna, the stunning male vocal quartet from Corsica that specializes in Corsican polyphonic song.
EZRA KWIZERA – CD RELEASE
Join us to celebrate Ezra Kwizera’s CD Release of his EP “FREEDOM”, and also celebrate Ezra’s Birthday. The music will be a grooving mix of reggae, soca, and East African Bongo, led by Ezra’s gritty vocals and a dynamic Afrobeat band!
FIONA MALENA FLAMENCO ENSEMBLE – "PUERTAS"
Direct from Spain!
Explosive and passionately creative; dancer Fiona Malena and her live music Flamenco ensemble engage in a rich new work exploring the influence of Indian, Arabic, Jewish and Latin cultures.