Blackpool based Creative Meddler Buzz Bury describes himself as an occasional DJ, an audio mood maker at Soundavan central, whilst also a youth worker and international trainer. Buzz introduces his regular feature about international music, lockdown and spreads some sunshine inspired musical recommendations.
In 2016 Buzz launched Small Corner of the World Festival a boutique and intercultural music festival in rural Lancashire. In the following years, the Small Corner experience joined other festivals to embrace musical multi-culturalism and celebrate diversity through the audio experience. He is a regular contributor and reviewer for Songlines.
Festivals Past Festivals Future
The world, the media and our own focus are still very much on the coronavirus pandemic, and it can be easy to miss what else is happening in the world. Fires in Siberia, a military coup in Mali, political unrest in Belarus and so much more have all slipped down and sometimes been hidden from our news feeds. In times like these, it can be difficult to think and act globally at the moment. It does however seem more and more important to have music in our lives, music that has a message, a message of hope, a call to action, words of remembrance, a shout out for unity.
It was beginning to look like live music was to emerge through these struggles, but may now be required to take two steps forward and three steps back.
With Songlines continuing to drop through my letterbox it continues to fill my mind with a much-needed distraction as well as offering my ears the opportunity for a retreat with music from across the globe. While at the same time Songlines reminds me of the importance live music has in my life and how much I have missed a summer of festival experiences.
I know I am not on my own with these thoughts and feelings of pondering the missed festivals and musical highlights of the summer of 2020. I have really missed Africa Oyé, Larmer Tree, WOMAD, and several other new festivals that were on my list for this year. I have missed being part of the Songlines team, reviewing performances with them, and occasionally meeting artists as they enter our tent for a signing. I should now be busy with pulling together the Songlines team for MusicPort in Whitby looking through the line-up to identify who I want to catch this year.
The resilience of the arts and creative industries is evident in these times and music is still finding new ways to find its way to our lugholes.
World Music festivals across the U.S and Canada have come together to declare September as Global Music Month and offering a range of online world music events: world music month World Central Music Org The Real World Studios launch a continuation of WOMAD at Home: https://athome.womad.co.uk/ with a programme of world music experiences specifically engineered to be listened to and experienced through headphones. The global adventure offers eight artists from across the genres to be experienced through a 360° immersive audio experience.
My musical offering for this piece is a combination of selected tracks from the latest releases and artists I was hoping to catch this summer.
Asgeir: Bury the Moon – Icelandic isolation provides Asgeir the space and time to craft meditative and reflective lyrics that are delivered with a passion and beauty. The album flows between pop and folk music arrangements to offer an album that would touch both young and old. The album is released in both English and Icelandic.
Afel Bocoum: Lindé – Having performed for years with Ali Farka Touré, Afel now takes centre stage in delivering the music of Mali. The album presents a call for unity and of hope while still acknowledging tradition. The desert bluesology has a sense of craft and refinement, which is no surprise with Gold and Albarn producing.
Fantastic Negrito: – Have You Lost Your Mind Yet? – Grammy winner delivers another musical gallery of well-crafted songs. This album is both provocative and alluring, circling a range of genres from; folk, soul, blues, gospel and a nod to the socio-political albums of the 60’s and 70’s.
Shantel & Cumbus Cemaat: – Istanbul – German DJ and producer Shantel takes a detour from his usual Balkan beats to explore the music of Turkey. The journey includes psychedelic to neo-Antolian folk, subtle disco and Arabesk dub. It’s a more soulful and blues led album than his usual offerings.
A Certain Ratio: ACR Loco: – Manchester’s original exploratory fusionists don’t disappoint with this eagerly awaited latest album. They continue to create and innovate, blending and mixing, and experimenting to provide us with another great album. Listen to a mix of tracks from each of the albums here.
Listen to a mix of tracks from each of the albums here: Small Corner Mix Cloud
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