The Three Seasons of the Andes highlights Bolivia's distinctive and unique climate. Bolivia experiences three seasons within its annual cycle—Lupi Pacha (the dry season), Jallu Pacha (the rainy season), and Thaya Pacha (the cold season). These seasons of the Aymara annual cycle (Kimsa Pachanaka translates to three times) have been greatly disrupted by climate change, affecting farming communities and the nation's biodiversity.
Bach to Folk – the debut album of ground-breaking classical / folk triumvirate Lodestar Trio – releases 23rd September 2022.
Lodestar Trio is an exciting new collaboration steeped in the sounds of classical and folk music. Formed by three highly regarded musicians from seemingly different worlds but bonded by their mutual desire to explore musical avenues and unearth new qualities in centuries-old traditions, Lodestar Trio brings a bold spark of innovation as they blend genres and influences to create a unique listening experience. Why their music is so compelling could be down to the very makeup of the band. British-German violin virtuoso Max Baillie, having graduated from the renowned Yehudi Menuhin School, is deeply immersed in the classical tradition yet is also a keen collaborator. His eagerness to explore led him to work with diverse talents like John Williams, Bobby McFerrin, Steve Reich and Björk.
Spanish folk quintet Vigüela have a new album to celebrate, A la manera artesana, ‘In the artisan way’. A bold blend of Spanish songs and dances from the pueblos (villages), farms and rural ciudad (cities) in Castilla-La Mancha. Preserving time-honoured rhythms and vocal melodies of the traditional songs and dances that were first sung there, A la manera artesana is a definitive folk dance and songbook of rural Spain, a well-crafted journey through the music of the terrain featuring acoustic and a cappella recordings.
Inspired by the 1950s finger-picking guitar style of Omutibo, SHINDU SHI focuses on good time music grounded in culture, community and love for Africa and its people. An upbeat album of Omutibo, acoustic folk, pop, dance and world music inspired by the Luhya people of Western Kenya and the late pioneer of Omutibo - George Mukabi.
Otava Yo turns Russian folk songs into powerful dance music with its new Russian Beat. The band “can take great concert halls by storm with their Slavic temperament and fire... an authentic example of what happens when the classic Russian Ivan gets into a groove." (Kiviberg, Viljandi Folk Festival)
