Kultour
January 21, 2010
Kultour is a national network of arts organisations established in 2001 by the Australia Council as an initiative of the Arts in a Multicultural Australia policy, to increasing awareness of Australian multicultural arts through an annual touring program. BEMAC are Queensland’s representative organisation to Kultour.
Kultour provides opportunities for Australian artists from diverse cultural backgrounds to tour their work to new audiences and inspires a stimulating culturally diverse arts industry – locally, nationally and internationally. Kultour’s annual program is a microcosm of contemporary artistic practice in multicultural Australia exploring the boundaries between contemporary and traditional, community and mainstream, established and experimental.
Talking Tapa: Pasifika Bark Cloth in Queensland
January 21, 2010
Works from the Melanesian nations and islands of Papua New Guinea, West Papua a province of Indonesia, The Solomon Islands and New Caledonia, and the Polynesian Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, and Wallis and Futuna are represented. Community loans hang beside museum pieces. Some have be used very recently in Queensland to decorate homes, wedding receptions, meeting halls, birthday parties, for use at funerals and perhaps most commonly for Fijians to wear at their weddings.
National itinerary – tour
2009 Queensland
- USQ (Springfield, Ipswich) 12 Feb –19 March
- Art space Mackay 27 Mar – 10 May
- Gladstone Regional Art Gallery 5 June – 11 July
Museum of Brisbane 24 July – 11 Oct NOW
- Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, 23 Oct – 6 Dec
- Cairns Regional Gallery 11 Dec – 31 Jan 2010
2010 Victoria
- Monash Gallery of Art 10 Feb – 11 April
- Ballarat Fine Art Gallery 17 April – 30 May
2010 NSW
- Mosman Art Gallery 5 June – 18 July
- Manning Regional Gallery 23 July – 5 Sept
- Taree
- Bathurst Regional Gallery 15 Oct – 28 Nov
Further venues may be included in 2011. If you know a venue that may be interested please let BEMAC know.
Catch TALKING TAPA where you can and enjoy this wonderful show.
Mandinka Sound Workshops
January 21, 2010
Mandinka Sound features two extraordinarily talented Melbourne based West African acts, Muhanamwé and One Africa.
Through music, dance and song, this unique show will take audiences on a journey that traces West African culture in contemporary Australia back to its roots in the ancient Mandinka empire of West Africa.
The show begins with a warm and intimate acoustic set from One Africa which brings together two of Melbourne’s most loved West African performers, King Marong and Lamine Sonko.
A subtle fusion of traditional West African culture and contemporary Australian influences, One Africa creates a hypnotically soulful repertoire of original songs. Providing the rhythm and groove, King Marong has been performing professionally since the age of 12 and since arriving in Australia in 1998, has built a reputation as a master of many African drumming styles and instruments.
Where : 120 Main Road , Kangaroo Point ( Parking available )
When : Saturday 14th August 2010 – Tuesday 17th August 2010
Time : TBC at a later date
Cost: FREE OF CHARGE
Karalbo
January 20, 2010
PRESENTED BY BEMAC
Friday 16th October
Young artists from across South East Queensland join to tell their stories through music and drama.
‘Karalbo’, an Aboriginal word meaning ‘togetherness’ is a fitting name for this project exploring the journeys of young Queenslanders from Indigenous, Samoan, Tongan, Sudanese, Somali, Iranian, Papua New Guinean and Afghani backgrounds.
These young people have collaborated with professional artists such as Brisbane musician Roz Pappalardo, and each other, to tell their stories through music and drama. The performance will trace journeys from around the world, meeting in the city of Brisbane and looking to the future.
Karalbo is the culmination of year two of BEMAC’s One 4 All project funded by the Australia Council’s Arts in a Multicultural Australia Initiative.
Columbian Dance Group QLD
January 20, 2010
“Dance is such an incredible instrument in motivating people to learn about other cultures in the world”.
CDG-QLD (Colombian Dancing Group) is committed to keep our culture alive and in the process, share with the community the joy from our colorful Colombia.
Our shows have up to twenty dancers on stage. The numbers of dancers and the program to be showcased will vary according to the venue requirements and the agreement reached with our Director. Specific details such as budget, rooming, stage size, etc. will also be a factor in determining the number of dancers that will participate.
For more information and quotes, please contact us at:
Weblink: http://cdg-qld.blogspot.com/
Pantastic Steelband
January 20, 2010
The Pantastic Steelband was established in Noosa (Sunshine Coast, Qld) in 1998 by Clive Stead and Matt Davies. Both grew up in Trinidad, home of steelpan instruments and calypso music. The band started life as a 5 piece but has grown into a 9 piece, with three Trinidadians in its ranks.
From the start, Pantastic has aimed at creating an authentic Trinidad-style of music tailored to suit local audiences. While calypso and soca music alone is fine in Trinidad, Australian audiences need to hear more familiar songs. Consequently, our repertoire incorporates a wide range of material from the pop, jazz, calypso, reggae and Latin repertoire, as well as some original pieces from our own band members.
The music exudes an atmosphere of sunshine and ‘good-vibes’ which has a captivating appeal to all ages, making Pantastic the perfect choice for parties, weddings, markets, festivals and any occasion that celebrates life. The strong rhythmical drive of the music can compel the most indolent to their feet!
Pantastic is unique in Australia, being the only professional Steelband of its size in the country. Since the middle of 2008 we have been very fortunate to have the services of Lennox Jordan, one of Trinidad’s leading Steelband arrangers, join our ranks. Lennox is a second generation steelpan maker/tuner and is responsible not only for keeping our instruments in tune but also for developing the bands authentic Trinidad style of arranging. He has been the musical arranger of Fascinators Steel Orchestra, one of Trinidad’s leading steel bands, for the past 10 years. As well as arranging material for us, Lennox is also a brilliant pan player and percussionist, bringing the authentic sound of Trinidadian steelpan music to the band.
Panschool is a unique programme based on the Sunshine Coast, offering, for the first time, an opportunity for students to learn to play steelpans.
With Lennox’s expertise, Panschool directors Sharon Brown and Matt Davies are confident that their goal of establishing strong, community based steelbands throughout the South East Qld will become a reality in the near future. Learning to play a steelpan is relatively easy and adults too can pick up the skills quickly. In fact, our regular classes attract a high proportion of mature-aged students.
How a Workshop is conducted
We supply all the various steelpans needed for a workshop. Typically, we set up enough instruments for 15 participants and, after a short introduction on the origin of the instruments and their proper care, we get them to choose which steelpan they would like to play. The band is divided roughly into three sections with each of us taking responsibility for a section. The back line comprises of the bass instruments; the middle section contains the mid-range pans, which usually provide the harmonic structure and; the front line is made up of the lead (melody) and harmony pans. This is a very rewarding experience for most people, especially if they have never played an instrument before, let alone, in an ensemble.
In Summary participating in a Panschool workshop:
* is lots of fun
* appeals to all ages
* is quick and easy to learn
* requires no previous musical skills
* gives participants an immediate sense of satisfaction
* is a stimulating introduction to steelpan music.
If you would like to know more about the Panschool programme please call either Matthew Davies or Sharon Brown on 5471 1165 for full details.
Mantist
January 20, 2010
Never has the name of an artist been so apt, growing up in Southern Sudan, Hip Hop, MC, Mantist and his crew, No Pain No Gain, know a thing or two about pain. Having lost his father before he could even remember his dad’s face he was sent to live with his alcoholic Grandmother at the age of 6. Because of her drunken state Mantist was often left hungry and had to head out with his 8 year old brother to find food.
Music was a release and at the age of 12 he started to write songs. Free-styling in local villages and refugee camps in his native tongue was an outlet for his pain and when he came to Australia he began to write songs that told his story, spoke of hope and freedom. Showing that out of pain there IS gain.
Web link: http://www.myspace.com/mantistnpng
Zhiva Voda
January 20, 2010
It has been said that to hear Bulgarian singing is to drink from magic waters, which can quench our thirst for beauty.
Renowned for their performance of Bulgarian traditional music and song, Zhiva Voda (‘Water of Life’) offers a unique and vibrant musical experience.
Inspired by the beauty of their home land’s traditions, Reni Pavlova-Bojilov and George Gaydov join with Australian born Ann Bermingham to create soaring solos, spine- tingling harmonies and virtuosic instrumentals, underpinned by exciting rhythms, and universal stories of love, longing and everyday life.
Both Reni and George have worked professionally as musicians in Bulgaria, and performed throughout Europe and in North America. Reni was a soloist and choir member with the world renowned “Philip Koutev” State Folklore Ensemble, and a leader of women’s and children’s choirs. George played with wedding orchestras and dance groups and contributes his skills on traditional instruments the gaida (bagpipe) and gadulka (strings) and clarinet. Ann brings to the mix her experience as a singer and choir leader, and her longstanding love of Bulgarian vocal music.
Since forming in 2002, Zhiva Voda has been evolving a presentation that honours the authentic music of Bulgaria, while also celebrating its continuing life and relevance in 21st century Australia.
Jaider De Oliveira
January 20, 2010
Having had a successful career in his homeland Brazil, Jaider De Oliveira arrived in Sydney in 1970 and quickly made a name for himself in the local jazz scene. His Band JAY AND THE BRAZILIAN COCKROACHES were featured at the Sydney International Music Festival, supporting blues greats Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, and supported Freddie Hubbard at the Birkenhead Point Festival. Another highlight of Jaider’s career was sharing a gig with superstar Isaac Hayes and his band during an Australian Tour in 1980.
In 1984 Jaider arrived in Perth and soon formed the enormously popular BRAZILIA and during his seven years in Western Australia had various performances for the Burswood Casino, Channel 7, 9, and 10 and has completed various recording at the ABC Radio Stations and Live to Air programmes throughout the country as well as performing for the JAZZ YATRA in India and the HOUSTON INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL IN 1988 (USA).
WOODFORD FOLK FESTIVAL. 95 to 99 then in 2001 performances with his 6 piece band JAY AND THE BRAZILIAN MALANDROS, Percussion Workshops and various SOLO PERFORMANCES.
For more details please check my home page http://www.jaider.com/
Free MP3 www.triplejunearthed.com
Videos at www.youtube.com
Mzaza
January 20, 2010
This six-piece Brisbane group combines sounds from East and West with ease and sensuality, creating a sound that is one of a kind.
Mzaza’s repertoire spans from classical Turkish tunes fused with jazz-style improvisation vocals, to French chanson, and interpretations of Sephardic/Spanish songs. Born in Morocco to French parents, Pauline Maudy sings in French, Spanish and Arabic. Bill Anderson plays ud, and wind instruments including, ney, kaval and tin whistle. Greta Kelly plays violin and kemanche (a spikefiddle with Persian/Turkish origins). Miranda Deutsch, on guitar, plays with a manouche flavour, Steven Cutriss is on accordion, and percussionist Jordan Stamos plays darabuka and bendir.
Mzaza engage and thrill their audience with world music rarities to French chanson favourites. We are versatile enough to perform a lively party set for large stages or a soulful suite for an intimate dinner event (we are playing the Brisbane Festival Albert St dinner in Sept 09). The experience we gleaned from performing regularly over the last 5 years makes us a professional act (I.e. despite our large numbers of instruments we get on and off stage quickly). Some events we’ve played include The Valley Fiesta, The Queensland Multicultural Festival and The Woodford Tree Planting.