Galle Music Festival goes live from 3 March

The Galle Music Festival 2012 being held over the weekend of 3 to 4 March offers a unique opportunity to see local and international folk and contemporary music groups.

The Samanala Grounds in Galle will be transformed into a traditional village setting where the folk music groups will share, exchange, and interact with other performers and with members of the audience during the day from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on 3 and 4 March.

The Folk music groups will be Sanni Yakuma – Paravahera, Kolam – Mirissa, Rookada – Ambalangoda Sampradaika Jana Gee –Alawwa, Kaffer Manja – Sirambi Adiya, Kali Kambatam – Akkaraipattu Vasanthan Koothu – Kadduwan, Kovalan Koothu – Mullaitivu, Vaasappu – Mannar and Aadivaasin – Dambana.

The evening programme is from 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on both days of the festival and will feature the folk groups as well as the contemporary groups Sangeeth Bhawana, Evolution Choir – Choir of the UVPA, Centigradz, Ravibandu Vidyapathi, K-Roe and BnS with Ashanthi, Umariya and Randheer and introducing to Sri Lankan audiences the international groups

Chhayanaut Baouls are a group of leading musicians from Bangladesh who promote Bengali culture. They are Nadira Begum (vocal), Chandana Roy (vocal), Md Maniruzzaman (flute), Ratan Kumar Roy (Dotara), Dasharath Dash (dhol) and Swarup Hossain (tabla). Chhayanaut began as an organisation in 1961 at a very difficult time to promote and nurture Bengali culture which led them to promote Bengali musical traditions.

Raghu Dixit Project is one of Indiaʼs foremost bands has fast become a shining beacon in the burgeoning Indian independent music scene. Raghu lends a towering voice to traditional Indian folk music, which is subtly infused with Western Rock, Arabic, Latino and Reggae textures and rhythms. The group’s music transcends national borders.

In 2010, Raghu’s debut self-titled album went on to become India’s highest selling non-film music release. Having toured the UK for most of the summer 2011, they quickly won hearts and minds wherever they played. Their debut album was released in the UK by Wrasse Records. Raghu also recently signed a worldwide publishing deal with Sony ATV. They will be playing at the South Bank Centre in London this April.

Sabreen from Palestine focus on live and public performances, networking with musicians, public productions and music in schools in the Palestinian territories including Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza. The musicians performing will be Charlie Rishmawi a multi-instrumentalist who enjoys many musical genres; John Robert Handal who is a percussionist; Joseph Duqmaq who is an accomplished saxophonist/pianist and Mohammad Abu Hamdah who specializes in Folklore Dabkeh and contemporary dance.

Litjtausa from Norway has two very energetic fiddlers Marie Forr Klapbakken and Julie Alapnes Normann. In the last few years, the two fiddlers have had countless assignments in Norway as well as abroad. In 2010 they made it all the way to the semi-final of a nation-wide talent show on Norwegian TV. Their performances are energetic and charming and have received excellent reviews. In their own compositions, the girls mix traditional folk music with more modern influences.

Entrance is free to all events. This event is brought to you by the Royal Norwegian Embassy, USAID, Concerts Norway, Sewalanka, Aru Sri Art Theatre. For more information on the programme please visit www.gallemusicfestival.org.