when something doesn’t quite hit the spot. But with just three stages you’ve got to be convinced that every single artist is right”.
He has high hopes for this year’s performers. The exceptional line- up of musicians will
bring sounds
as diverse as sitar, kora, Swedish nyckleharpa and West African riti (one-stringed fiddle) to the festival, weaving a multi textured tapestry of music, voice, language and roots to the South Devon site.
Says Thomas: “People won’t see these acoustic performances anywhere else – they will be unrepeatable sets. I’m particularly looking forward to seeing Mali’s Tamikrest guitar band play in the Great Hall as if they were performing in the desert. There’s no way groups like this from sub-Saharan Africa would have a national tour or recording career and yet here they are at home.”
Other acts will include Alejandro Toledo & the Magic Tombolinos, an ensemble of travelling musicians from Argentina, Italy, Slovakia and Portugal; celebrated sitar player and composer Sheema Mukherjee and guitarist and Robert Plant collaborator Justin Adams with Gambian master musician Juldeh Camara, fusing West African trance rhythms with a blues sensibility.
On the Friday night multi-talented Max Pashm will stage his DJ set while the award-winning black dance company Desert Crossings bring their dynamic, cross cultural show to Dartington.
Celebrated sitar player and composer Sheema Mukherjee
On Saturday other acts range from Senegal’s Seckou Keita (inset), an exponent of the 21-stringed kora and the a capella Perunika Trio with their brooding Slavic repertoire while from the UK comes enigmatic singer songwriter Martha Tilston (left) with her haunting voice and brilliantly observed songs and Fernhill, described as “the band at the heart of the Welsh renaissance”.
David Francis, Director of Arts at Dartington, says: “At a time when we’re losing global cultural diversity, home is a wide-ranging celebration of music, voice, language and different cultures. We’ve learnt a lot from last year so this year’s extended festival will see on-site enhancements including a much wider choice of food, expanded camping facilities and a new outdoor stage.”
As well as outstanding international artists the festival will also feature food, films, workshops and family events. There will be a traditional fair and children’s activities from face painting and banner making to a treasure hunt.
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