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A variety of tastes at global festival

Wednesday, 13 August 2008

A colourful and diverse range of international music acts are set to captivate the imaginations of young and old at the Festival of World Cultures in Dún Laoghaire once more later this month.
Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council has announced the line up for Ireland’s largest global music festival, which will take place from Friday, August 22 to Sunday, August 24.
In the tradition of the great reggae artist Bob Marley, Africa’s “silent rebel” Tiken Jah Fakoly will pump out his trademark African reggae and hard-hitting lyrics to crowds at the festival.
This free concert, on the giant outdoor stage at Newtownsmith Green, will offer a rare opportunity to hear Africa’s top social critic and is only one of approximately 150 events at the three-day festival of global music.
Originally from the Côte d’Ivoire, Tiken Jah Fakoly’s fusion of reggae grooves with politically and socially charged lyrics have captured the imagination of an entire generation.
Entertaining audiences in excess of 250,000 this year, the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council event features artists from 60 countries in 40 venues over the three-day period.
Along with Tiken, the festival features a galaxy of musical talent and showcases acts from Algeria, Brazil, China, Ethiopia, Mali and Morocco and many more.
The skies and piers of Dún Laoghaire will also resonate with Balkan beats, Tibetan chants and Rio funk, among other planetary sounds. Every inch of the town will be set alight with heart-stopping, original and full-on energetic live concerts.
With over 250,000 people in attendance at last year’s three-day festival, this year’s line-up is sure to entice and tease some more, presenting jaded Irish ears with some of the most exciting new sounds of 2008.
Opening the weekend will be the highly anticipated Irish premier of the uncrowned kings of Abyssinian swing – Éthiopiques - featuring Mahmoud Ahmed, Mulatu Astatqé, Alemayehu Eshèté and The Either/Orchestra. And a new wave of atmospheric, ethereal electronica arrives in the shape of beguiling beauty Sa Dingding.
Joining Tiken, Sa Dingding and Éthiopiques on this menu of international delights are further treats from around the world including Tibetan singer Yungchen Lhamo; Balkan funk from Balkan Beat Box; and the legendary godfathers of Parisian Arab rock, Orchestre National de Barbes.
In addition you can treat yourself to soulful Brazilian funk with Seu Jorge; and rhythmic dancing and deep, emotive praise singing with West African Griots Banaya.
Other unique features at the festival this year will include the opportunity to experience the ethereal beauty and enchanting grace of the Japanese Geisha.
One of the last vestiges of ancient Japan, this will be the first time that Geisha have performed in Ireland, offering the chance to catch a glimpse of a world that until now has existed only in books or on the screen.
Passers-by will, quite literally, not believe their eyes when they see the mesmerising 3D pavement art of renowned German artist Edgar Muller.
Working on a giant outdoor canvas, Muller will transform a huge slice of the East pier into a dramatic 3D ice age scene.
The event is one of the best value-for-money festivals (over 70 per cent of events are free) and the ticketed events will be among the most sought after.
Log onto: www.festivalofworldcultures.com or tel the box office on 8721122.

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