Sippy Cups "I wanted to be Peter Gabriel at the time"

Catchy tunes

Sippy Cups bring kids' fun to county fair

"My professor was telling us what he thought we would end up doing and said to me, 'You should be doing sound and music for kids' cartoons,' " Godwin recalled. "I took it as a great insult. Of course, I wanted to be Peter Gabriel at the time." ...

• magic toast
• bike
  

Yungchen Lhamo The Voice of Tibet

Yungchen Lhamo The Voice of Tibet

OReilly Theatre July 17th 8pm

Yungchen Lhamo, Tibet’s internationally acclaimed diva and songwriter, will be making a return visit to Ireland in July 2005.

In concert, Yungchen performs a cappella and her beautifully evocative voice never fails to mesmerise her audiences – as those who attended her concerts in Limerick and Dublin last November can testify.

Born in Lhasa, her name was given to her when she was a baby by a Tibetan lama and translates as ‘Goddess of Song’ (or Melody). At the age of five Yungchen was sent with her family to a labour camp by the occupying Chinese authorities; her two eldest brothers died of malnutrition. She was brought up, and taught to sing, by her maternal grandmother, aunt and mother. At 13 years old, she had to begin working in a factory for a 60-hour week.

In 1989 she escaped from Tibet by walking the dangerous 1,000-mile journey across the Himalayas to reach Dharamsala, India, where she was encouraged to use her vocal talents by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and continued singing with the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts.

She later moved to Australia, where in 1995 she first performed with WOMAD (World of Music Arts and Dance) and produced her first CD, ‘Tibetan Prayer’, which was released through Natural Symphonies and won the Australian Recording Industry Award for Best World/Folk/Traditional Album.

Two more critically acclaimed albums, ‘Tibet, Tibet’ (1996), and ‘Coming Home’ (1998), have been released by Peter Gabriel’s Real World label. In September 2005, Real World will release her much-awaited fourth album, ‘Ma’ (‘Ah-ma’ is Tibetan for ‘Mother’), on which Annie Lennox and Joy Askew make guest appearances.

Yungchen’s music also appeared on Natalie Merchant’s platinum-selling ‘Ophelia’, the compilation release ‘Lilith Fair: A Celebration of Women in Music’, and on the soundtrack of Brad Pitt’s movie, ‘Seven Years in Tibet’. She now lives in New York.
...

http://www.oreillytheatre.com/

Musician has Jolie time at Live8 event

Award-winning Hounslow musician Johnny Kalsi introduced a host of celebrities at a Live 8 concert on July 2.

Mr Kalsi, previously a member of popular band The Asian Dub Foundation, co-hosted the event with Peter Gabriel at the Eden Project in Cornwall. He introduced Angelina Jolie, Dido and other superstars as part of the international effort to raise awareness about world poverty.

He said: "It was just incredibly electric and a brilliant venue. The crowd were really fired up when I said I'd like to thank all people at the smaller event in Hyde Park for turning out it made them feel the event was so special."

"I was very lucky to be allowed 45 minutes talking to Angelina and it was great to spend time with her son, Maddox."It was just an ordinary, humble conversation and I'd invited her round for a curry in Hounslow by the end!"There was obviously a serious intent behind the day, but I really enjoyed myself as well and donated all the expenses I was given to charity."

Mr Kalsi recently set up the Dhol Foundation, an institute dedicated to promoting performance of the Indian dhol drum.He claims his Hounslow roots are responsible for his love of the instrument, as he liked annoying intolerant neighbours by playing one as a teenager.

Ozomatli - Catch the Live Vibe!

With a reputation as one of the best live bands around and with a growing band of fans to prove it Ozomatli are coming back to give UK audiences a treat. Check out the forthcoming tour dates - including the two V Festivals. Unmissable!

Ozomatli's Real World Records website

The band's home website

listen/ecoutez

Kate McGarry - Mercy Streets -

She draws from many genres

Kate McGarry covers a lot of territory on her recent CD, ''Mercy Streets" her second for Palmetto Records.

There's the Peter Gabriel tune ''Mercy Street" from which the CD more or less takes its name. There are arty pop tunes by Joni Mitchell (''Chelsea Morning") and Björk (''Joga"). A handful of jazz standards.

A Brazilian piece by McGarry favorite Toninho Horta. And original compositions by McGarry (''Going In"), her guitarist-husband, Keith Ganz (''Snow Picnic"), and the CD's guest pianist on two tracks, Fred Hersch (his own ''Stars" and Björk's ''Joga")....

Mercy Street - MP3

Womad au theatre antique

Pour la troisième fois Womad, le festival de world-music créé par Peter Gabriel et Thomas Brooman sera à Taormina.

Le 'Womad en Sicily', présenté au salon des congrès, commencera demain au Théatre Antique de la splendide cité. Jusqu'à samedi alterneront sur place des artistes provenant de chaque partie du monde.

Parmi ceux-ci, le guitariste Al Di Meola, le "griot" africain Geoffrey Oryema, l'ex-Police Stewart Copeland avec son orchestre de 24 musiciens et Van der Graaf Generator reformé. À Taormina il y aura même le Co-fondateur et directeur artistique de Womad Thomas Brooman.

"Le théatre grec de Taormina - a déclaré Brooman - est l'emplacement idéal pour cette musique. Chaque anné qui passe voit grandir le festival. Je suis enthousiaste, tous les artistes sont de haut niveau et chacun a une particularité qui le rend unique ".

La note de Peter Gabriel (Co- Fondateur) :

"En 1980, lorsque pour la première fois nous avons organisé une festival dédié à la world music, j'étais plein d'enthousiasme et d'idealisme, avec un peu d'optimisme naïf et même d'ignorance. Chaque WOMAD a été une aventure, et dans tous les festivals auxquels j'ai participé j'ai fait des rencontres et des découvertes merveilleuses.

C'est un festival qui croît en diversité, il fleurit sur nos différences. Lorsque tu te trouves avec des personnes dont tu ne comprends pas la langue, et qui proviennent d'un pays dans lequel pas tu as jamais été, tu trouves une mode pour créer et vivre la musique ensemble avec elles, c'est quelque chose de fantastique.

Beaucoup de personnes ont expérimenté cela dans ce festival. c'est même pour cela que nous avons une équipe d'organisateurs fantastiques, des personnes qui année après année combattent toutes sortes de frustration en ce qui concerne la communication, les autorités preposées à l'immigration et les problèmes linguistiques pour faire de sorte que ces évènements uniques aient lieu.

La musique, l'art et la dance sont des langages universels. S'ouvrir ainsi aux voix de tant de cultures est vraiment une bonne façon pour explorer le côté humain de la globalisation. La musique, en particulier, peut ouvrir des brèches dans les coeurs et prouver avec clarté la stupidité et l'ignorance de chaque forme de racisme."

Splendeurs d'Afrique : Daby Touré à Montreal

14 juillet 2005 , Ralph Boncy

Daby Touré : Splendeurs d'Afrique

"Je chante en soninké, en pular et en langue imaginaire. [...] Avec les quotas, la loi t'oblige quasiment à chanter dans la langue officielle si tu veux être diffusé."

Daby Touré, une des belles exclusivités du FINA cette année, nous rend une première visite à Montréal. Belle gueule, bonne vibe, révélation du Womex en 2004, le chanteur arrive chez nous avec son excellent album Diam.

C'est l'histoire d'un jeune Africain né en Mauritanie. Son père, Hamidou Seita Touré, médecin dans un village perdu, joint en 1989 ses frères du groupe phare du Sénégal, les Touré Kunda.

Après avoir passé une partie de son enfance au Mali en Casamance, entre le désert sablonneux et les berges paisibles de la rivière Sénégal, Daby s'envole pour Paris à 18 ans avec dans le cœur du vécu, de la musique et beaucoup d'ambition. Mais malgré une voix superbe et un évident talent de guitariste, personne ne veut le signer en France. Alors, il s'exile en Angleterre où l'étiquette Real World l'accueille à bras ouverts.

"Je chante en soninké, en pular et en langue imaginaire. Ils voulaient tous que je traduise mes chansons en français. C'est pas facile! Avec les quotas, la loi t'oblige quasiment à chanter dans la langue officielle si tu veux être diffusé. Tant mieux pour la France! Mais Paris n'est plus la plaque tournante des musiques du monde. C'est l'idée qu'on s'était faite il y a quelques années quand la gauche est arrivée avec des Jack Lang et Mitterrand. Il suffit de regarder le paysage télévisuel français aujourd'hui. C'est évident qu'ils n'ont plus besoin de nous comme en 80! Il nous faut d'autres moyens."

Réaliste, le garçon! Après avoir mis fin au duo Touré Touré dans lequel il partageait la vedette avec son cousin Omar, Daby devient de plus en plus déterminé. Il a écouté Weather Report, Sixun, Pat Metheny et rêve d'une nouvelle fusion africaine moderne, un peu à la manière de Baaba Maal, mais avec une touche encore plus personnelle, plus originale, qu'il travaille pendant trois ans avec un complice branché: Cyrille Dufay.

"Mes influences et mes modèles sont toutes les musiques que j'ai écoutées depuis que je suis petit, mais il y a une figure dominante qui impose le respect, c'est Bob Marley. Je ressens profondément ses moindres vibrations et il me semble que je comprends tout ce qu'il fait."

Rien d'étonnant, en effet. Ses chansons parlent des bergers, de la paix, de liberté. Elles disent aussi combien il est important de respecter ses racines et celles des autres. L'une, Mansa, rend hommage à l'empereur Almany Samory Touré, qui a défendu le peuple wassoulou contre l'invasion occidentale.

"C'est complètement autre chose sur scène! Beaucoup plus méchant et rock'n'roll que le disque en tout cas. J'arrive avec deux percussionnistes et un bassiste."

Capable d'affronter la scène tout seul avec sa voix très étendue et son jeu de guitare remarquable sur le plan rythmique, Daby débarque avec du renfort, question de casser l'humeur très planante de son premier album aux allures méditatives. Il tenait à nous prévenir. Nous voici avertis!

Le 18 juillet
Au Club Balattou

Staind grows but stays true to its roots

Thursday, July 14, 2005

By GEORGE LENKER
glenker@repub.com

Except for a shaved head or two, Staind doesn't have much in common with art-rock pioneer Peter Gabriel. But that perception may change with the release of Staind's new CD, "Chapter V."

CLICK HERE and listen to the single "Right Here"

Staind is currently touring in advance of the Aug. 9 release and will be at The Dodge Music Center (formerly the ctnow.com Meadows Music Theater) in Hartford Saturday night, opening for 3 Doors Down.

Fans of the Springfield-based hard rock quartet need not worry. Staind isn't changing into a world-beat pop combo. The Peter Gabriel connection comes by way of some of the sonic treatments on the new album, which was produced by Gabriel's longtime-studio wizard, Dave Bottrill.

Bottrill, a Grammy-winning producer and engineer who also counts Tool and King Crimson among his clients, creates an aural landscape where each sound is well articulated. "We really wanted to get as much distinction in the sounds as possible to make it sonically different from our other records," said guitarist Mike Mushok during a telephone interview last week. "That was our goal when we started looking for a producer."

That goal was achieved as Bottrill's pristine sound sculptures allow the details of each part to stand in stark relief against one another. While this sort of precision works well with the polyrhythmic playing of King Crimson and Gabriel, some fans might question whether it complements Staind's often volcanic music.

But Bottrill showed he could wield a sonic sledgehammer as well as a producer's paintbrush. Songs such as "Paper Jesus" and "King of All Excuses" rock as hard as anything the band has ever done.

"He knew what we sounded like and he had an idea of what things should sound like. He was a real stickler but it paid off," Mushok said. "On our last record, we were missing some of the aggressive songs, but this one melds everything we do, the harder songs and the quieter ones. I'm really happy with it." ...

Womad in Taormina

Womad in Taormina

14/07/05
Maceo Parker
Geoffrey Oryema
Mimmo Cuticchio e Ut Comma

15/07/05
Van der Graaf Generator
Stewart Copeland:

La Notte della Taranta
Asteriskos

16/07/05
Al di Meola e Andrea Parodi
Youssou'Ndour

Somali star's road to Eden

By Polly de Blank BBC

African Perspective Performing at Live 8's Africa Calling concert in a traditional dress in the blue and white colours of her national flag, Somali singer Maryam Mursal is pleased that music is once again putting the spotlight on Africa.

Maryam drove a taxi to feed her five children. Her own story is a familiar one in Somalia.

In the early 1990s during the height of the civil war, Maryam - one of Somalia's most enduring stars - fled her country. For more than seven months she and her five children trekked through four countries, until she finally found refuge in the Danish Embassy in Djibouti.

This journey through the East African desert is chronicled in her song Qax (Refugee), and although it is based on her personal experience, it resonates with Somalis all over the world.

"Because so many Somalis are refugees, when they listen to that song they cry. They weep because we all have the same story."

But, before she became a refugee, Maryam lived a very different life. From the age of 16 she shared a lifestyle with the rich and powerful of Mogadishu as a singer at the National Theatre. It was only after singing her song Ulimada that her life started crashing around her.

Status lost

Ulimada is ostensibly a love song but its hidden meaning - criticising the Somali government - was not lost on her audience. Overnight she lost her job, her status, and her livelihood. Still, she does not regret speaking out against the regime that was in power at the time.

"We as artists are responsible if something wrong is taking place in our society. It's very important for us to speak up, even though we may have to do it with a double tongue. We have to speak out for our people."

One of the few assets she managed to salvage from her previous life was a car. As a single mother, she quickly had to find an alternative source of income in order to feed her children. So she became a taxi driver. In fact she became the first female taxi driver in Somalia.

Unfinished song

"Everyone who got in my taxi used to ask me: 'Why did such a big star like you become a taxi driver?' They thought I must be a very bad, low class person because as we say in Somalia, 'Everyone wants to reach the top of the stairs in their career.' People wanted to know why I'd fallen all the way to the bottom."

Taxi driving is not the first barrier that Ms Mursal has broken through.

"I was always the first woman. I was the first woman singing Somali jazz, I was the first star, and I was the first to drive a taxi! I was the first to drive a lorry, and now I'm the first woman from Somalia to have an international record. "I want to show Somalis that women can be anything they want, even taxi drivers."

Last weekend, Maryam was at the Eden Project in the south-west of England to take part in Africa Calling, one of the Live 8 concerts which aimed at making poverty, especially in Africa, a thing of the past.

"I thank Bob Geldof and Peter Gabriel for organising Live 8 and giving me the opportunity to use the power of my music for the good of Africa."

She says she hopes to go back to Somalia, as soon as the political and security situation there has stabilised.

"I will be the first person to go back. At the moment my song Qax isn't finished yet. I'm still a refugee. I'm still travelling. "I don't know where I'll be next year, or in 10 years. It's only when we come back to Somalia that the song will be finished."

Le bonheur retrouvé de Judith Bérard

photo Danièle Francis

Après avoir traversé des moments difficiles, Judith Bérard renoue avec la sérénité. "J'ai appris beaucoup sur moi et sur la vie au cours des dernières années", dit-elle.

Le bonheur retrouvé de Judith Bérard

Michel Tassé , La Voix de l'Est, GRANBY

Elle est là, toute fraîche et souriante, à poser gentiment pour la photographe. À regarder Judith Bérard, qui a franchement l'air épanoui, on ne dirait pas que les dernières années ont été si difficiles....

"Peter Gabriel est mon idole et il a déjà dit, un jour, qu'on ne peut avancer dans la vie sans douleur, mentionne celle qui approche la mi-trentaine. Et de la douleur, tu sais, il y en a eu beaucoup... Je me suis réveillée, un matin, et j'avais tout perdu. Véritablement tout. Tu sais, c'est très dur quand tu te rends compte qu'il ne reste plus rien de ce dans quoi tu avais tant investi..."Judith ira même jusqu'à parler de "tsunami personnel". Ça vous donne une idée...

Video-game music goes on tour

Orchestras trade Mozart for 'Myst.'

....

Video Games Live is the brainchild of composers Tommy Tallarico and Jack Wall. "Tommy and I noticed that the music in the games just kept getting better and better," says Wall, who was a producer for rock acts David Byrne and Peter Gabriel before he switched over and wrote themes for the "Myst" and "Splinter Cell" series. "And we started to see that people who played the games were really paying attention to the music, and that they were on the Internet or wherever asking where they could get ahold of a CD of the game soundtracks," which Wall described as "radio for the 21st century." So they decided to gather together the best work and take it on a national tour.

Africa Calling: BBC Five Live interview

Peter Gabriel (6 min) Broadcast on Five Live - Sat 02 Jul - 10:21

Peter Gabriel, one of the organisers of the Africa Calling concert at the Eden Project, speaks frankly and openly about the event's relationship with Live 8

Gabriel plans train trips to overcome writer's block

09/07/2005 01:39

Rocker Peter Gabriel has the perfect way to overcome writer's block - he hops on a train.

The former Genesis frontman discovered many years ago that lyrics and song ideas flow when he's taking train journeys, so if he's ever struggling to complete songs he goes travelling.

He says, "I have this theory that the brain is stimulated by peripheral motion." Gabriel also has other little tricks when he needs to come up with song lyrics. He adds, "I really have to leave home and go off to some bed and breakfast, an obscure place where I'm on my own - no washing to put in the machine or garden jobs."

Daniel Lanois : méditation et autocontemplation

Discret pendant la décennie qui a suivi la sortie de son superbe album For the Beauty of Wynona, le réalisateur, auteur et compositeur Daniel Lanois semble pris d'une soudaine envie de faire carrière.
....

Après avoir passé des années en studio à faire des disques fabuleux avec U2, Peter Gabriel et Bob Dylan, pour ne nommer que ses collaborations les plus prestigieuses, il a visiblement la bougeotte. «Si je reste trop longtemps assis dans un studio, me retrouver sur scène finit par me manquer, raconte le musicien, joint il y a quelques jours à Toronto. Je suis mon instinct. Ça me plaît de sortir plus de disques en ce moment. Je suis plus à l'aise avec qui je suis et avec la beauté de mon travail.»
........

Jorane et Lanois

Jamais à court de surprises, Jorane en a causé toute une en offrant une version d'une très belle chanson de Daniel Lanois, Pour ton sourire, sur Évapore et, plus tard, sur The You and the Now. Encore mieux, le célèbre réalisateur a même consenti à chanter et à participer à l'enregistrement de sa chanson. «Ce n'était pas prévu», admet-il.

Mais comme c'est un ami à lui, Michael Brooke, qui réalisait le disque, il s'est investi plus que prévu.«J'ai été très heureux d'entrer dans l'univers de Jorane pendant un moment», affirme-t-il. Suffisamment heureux pour accepter d'apparaître dans le clip... qui a d'ailleurs été tourné dans son appartement torontois.

«De quoi ai-je l'air?» demande-t-il, puisqu'il n'a pas vu le clip en question. En vérité, le courant a l'air de passer entre les deux artistes, sur disque comme au petit écran. Daniel Lanois affirme que ce n'est pas par envie de tout contrôler qu'il s'est investi dans ce petit projet. «Non, c'est mon côté généreux, je veux aider, dit-il. Je ne suis pas très protectionniste avec mon travail. Si quelqu'un veut faire une de mes chansons, c'est correct! Emmylou Harris a d'ailleurs enregistré Where Will I Be?, que je n'ai jamais mise sur un de mes disques. Mais on va la faire à Montréal.»

Batteur né

Photo: Gilda Hémon

7 juillet 2005

Manu Katché

Ralph Boncy

Manu Katché: "Je suis tout sauf un sideman frustré!"

Manu Katché, le batteur le plus précis et le plus recherché des temps modernes, a travaillé avec Sting, Peter Gabriel, Dire Straits, Francis Cabrel. Entouré d'un énigmatique quartette jazz, il présente un projet baptisé Tendances.

Lorsqu'on obtient une entrevue par téléphone avec un artiste qui doit se rendre prochainement à Montréal pour un concert important, il n'est pas rare que celui-ci vante exagérément les vertus de notre ville, question, dirait-on, de flatter le lecteur dans le sens du poil... Dans le cas de Manu Katché, c'est légèrement différent.

Le batteur branché ne se contente pas de lâcher "Ouais, Montréal, c'est cool", il devient même assez sérieux à ce sujet. "C'était à un point où je voulais m'installer là-bas pour de bon. J'y suis même carrément déménagé au début des années 90. C'était à l'époque où je travaillais avec Peter Gabriel sur la tournée signée Robert Lepage. J'ai vécu au Québec pendant plus d'un an et demi."

La dernière fois que j'ai vu Katché ici, c'était avec Sting, en juillet 2000, sur la tournée Brand New Day. Mais il affirme être revenu récemment pour le Drumfest et avoir vraiment pris son pied. Avec Sting, il a aussi enregistré ce live All This Time, le 11 septembre 2001. Il me raconte l'ambiance terrible, ce soir-là, en compagnie du contrebassiste Christian McBride et des choristes américaines. En fait, Manu a des histoires plein la besace. Une collection de tours du monde, des collaborations mémorables... et quelques projets personnels, pour se faire plaisir: "À un moment donné, j'ai voulu chanter. J'ai enregistré mon album solo, j'en ai vendu 60 000 copies. Voilà, j'étais content."

C'était l'album It's About Time, il y a 12 ans. Un peu plus tard, un autre projet plus lucratif: la musique du film Un Indien dans la ville cartonne en France. Dans le trio KOD, le K, c'est Katché. Comme dit la rengaine: "Chacun sa route, chacun son chemin. Passe le message à ton voisin."

"Les années rock ont laissé comme image du batteur la caricature d'un gars en short qui martèle le rythme le plus basique comme un forcené. Je suis de l'école des batteurs plus mélodiques."

Et pour cause! Papa ivoirien chanteur de gospel, maman française de famille musicale, Manu a débuté au piano à sept ans, a pratiqué la danse classique lorsqu'il était enfant et est rentré très jeune au Conservatoire National Supérieur à Paris dont il ressortira avec un premier prix en percussion, avec aussi ce règne absolu sur les cymbales qui fera sa réputation.

Le batteur à la casquette à l'envers s'exprime maintenant dans un quartette instrumental français avec trompette, contrebasse et piano. Les titres positifs qu'on peut écouter sur son site Internet s'appellent So Groovy, New World, Good Influence et aussi Miles Away, qui n'est pas sans rappeler la période Miles avec le funky Marcus Miller.

Son gérant n'a pas voulu autoriser qu'on nous en remette la moindre copie à l'avance mais l'album Neighborhood de Manu Katché est bel et bien prévu pour cet été. On y retrouve le prodigieux saxophoniste norvégien Jan Garbarek, et deux musiciens polonais. "Un vrai projet jazz avec solo de batterie, plaisante Manu. Une musique de climat avec une attitude très black, ce qui est rare chez ECM, l'étiquette nordique par excellence. Il y a des relents d'Afrique et une attitude, une rythmique dans mon travail."

Car parmi les 200 albums indispensables que Katché a ponctués de sa présence, il y a ceux dont on parle moins. Comme les cinq qu'il a faits avec Garbarek, jusqu'au dernier de la série, le très atmosphérique In Praise of Dreams qui était en nomination pour un Grammy en 2005. À ces occasions, Manu s'est naturellement lié d'amitié avec Manfred Eicher, le patron du label. D'où ce projet qui éclot à son rythme, comme à point nommé...

"On ne sait jamais vraiment à l'avance le bon moment de prendre un virage comme celui-ci, dit le batteur, intuitif. Ce n'est même pas que je voulais faire un ego trip ou endosser absolument la position de leader car je suis tout sauf un sideman frustré! J'ai énormément reçu de ces gens extraordinaires que j'ai accompagnés. En plus, ils étaient des bourreaux de travail, la plupart du temps. Il fallait donc que je redonne un peu de tout ce que j'avais emmagasiné."

Le 7 juillet Au Spectrum

Africa Calling 2005 reviews-Introduction-

Introduction

Live 8 - Africa Calling 2005

reviews 05-07-05

What a venue to hold an event such as this. In fact it has to rate as one of the best venues in the world and in this idyllic setting of environmental transformation 5,000 of us gathered to watch the only line up of all the Live 8 events outside of Africa to be showcasing the music of the continent, celebrating Africa as well as highlighting her problems. With two stages Eden was able to offer the same number of acts who could play longer sets.

I’d suspect we were the only one of the live events who had campaign stalls (make poverty history, amnesty international, control arms, send a cow, Oxfam, Wateraid, (Intermediate Technology Development Group, Uneeka, Christian Aid, Co-Op, Traidcraft and Dandaro Cylch) in any numbers, rather than burger bars and enough space to dance and no queues for the toilets.

Here the majority of those in the audience (of all ethnic persuasions I may add) were there acutely aware of the problems Africa faces rather than arriving merely to celebrate the music and celebrity of the Hyde Park event. Dare I say this was the real deal, rather than a bunch of music lovers listening to 15 minute greatest hit sets. Worryingly many of the press I overheard around the site appeared to not be there for the right reasons, many not looking forward to the day and moaning about how far they were from London! Shocking!

Press Call

Which leads me to the press call. Peter Gabriel, co-founder of the World Organisation of Music and Dance (WOMAD) and Tim Smit (founder of The Eden Project) introduced four African artists - Chartwell Dutiro, Mariza, Geoffrey Oryema and Emmanuel Jal. The media briefly asked if the artists were disappointed that more African music was not on the stage at Hyde Park. The artists all replied that they were a little disappointed, but hoped that Live 8 would still bring Africa’s problems to global attention in a celebratory way.

In answer to what effect all the events happening for Live 8 would have on Africa’s problems they emphasised that it is important that people are not just entertained for a day, and then move on and forget about Africa, but that instead pressure for change in Africa is still on going after Live 8.

Voice of Africa Radio asked where they thought Africa would be 20 years from this big day. What a shame it would be if a further event like this would be needed still twenty years on. The artists all placed the blame for the continuing crisis in Africa squarely with corrupt African leaders, the banks and the multinational companies that support them.

They challenged the media to report what is going on in Africa now, to actually go there and see first hand what they are writing about. Rather than 20 year old images of starving children in famine, it was today more a case of AIDs pandemics, malaria, wars, genocide and greed. Have to say that most of the media bristled at this and from what I saw of the media most are pretty much immune to any concerns of Africa as far as I could see.

The organisers and artists of Africa Calling said their main appeal to the world leaders of the G8 would be for them to put pressure on African leaders to end corruption and dictatorships by supporting the International Criminal Court. Rather than an appeal for money which with it being Live 8 many people confused this issue for because of the event to help Ethiopia 20 years ago.

Towards the end of the conference we were introduced to a lady who would actually speak at the G8 and would be presenting our case before the most powerful men in the World. It was reassuring to see her determination, to see she had such passion for the cause and that the message we were supporting today would get through.

The weather was brightening slightly as we wandered down through the lush vegetation to the main stage area. But it was still being put together feverishly so we wandered into the biomes to walk amongst huge banana trees in sweltering humidity and listen to African music from speakers hidden in the giant tropical undergrowth.

Finally 1pm rolled around and they let us into the arena and shortly afterward Peter Gabriel and Johnny Kalsi appear before a crowd representing a diverse mix of ethnicity, age and social background to welcome the first act.

review by Scott Williams

Africa Calling 2005 reviews - the Afternoon

The Afternoon

Live 8 - Africa Calling

2005 reviews 05-07-05

Ayub Ogada and Uno

Playing a tradional lyre, the West Kenyan whitles and sings along to some rootsy African rhythms, with an excellent soulful voice and the sound enriched with his backing band Uno. He says his people have been calling for a 1000 years and it’s taken a long time for people to hear him calling. The songs are peaceful, soulful and full of peace. It’s hypnotic stuff and with the flags and plants all around us a fitting start to celebrating another continent.

Chartwell Dutiro

We dash to the temperate biome, which has restricted numbers although the performance is also transmitted to the big screens in the arena to catch Chartwell Dutiro in ceremonial dress playing the bizarre looking mbira a large hollowed out gourd bowl with metal paddles inside it – which make a distinct noise. It sounds a bit like rain drops and is also mesmerizing and you can tell it’s an ancient and powerful instrument which is used in spirit medium ceremonies. With his voice and the mbira Chartwell’s music is infectious and in the humid lush location again Africa has come to Cornwall.


Mariza

Mariza is next up on the Main stage. Playing fada which is traditional Portuguese music born 2000 years ago as mixture of music from African slaves and Portuguese sailors the singer born in Mozambique is stunningly attractive and exquisite at singing. With it’s bluesy, Mediterranean rhythms and her lush vocal the crowd are clapping from the start. Mariza cuts a distinctive figure with her short cropped blond hair and full length evening gown. The music is beautiful and breath taking at the same time and powerfully delivered, dripping with feeling and it lifts our spirits as drizzle dissipates. The highlight is the single Mil Fada Mil from her new album Transparent a lilting tune with strings which raises the temperature of the crowd.


Mayram Mursal

Accompanied by two woman chanters, with three male chanters and a three piece band. The biodome reverberates with magical sounds and chanted rhythms as the crowd start to liven up and join in with the celebration of African sounds and culture.

Thomas Mapfumo and the Black Unlimited

It’s Thomas’ birthday and the eight piece band bring us songs from Africa. There a people dancing in the crowd and a real atmospheres starting to develop at Eden. Thomas is an exile from his homeland of Zimbabwe and his appeal to “Help to do away with dictatorship in Africa!” is resounding cheered by the crowd many of whom are echoing the sentiment with their ‘Make Mugabe History’ shirts. Seconds later the cheers are just as loud as the sun breaks out and all the crowd start to dance. While Jan (of Jan’s van fame) keeps the kids entertained with ribbons on sticks and it’s good to see so many kids here. The set finishes with the whole crowd singing Thomas a Happy Birthday.

Coco Mbassi

Agelina Jolie introduces the Cameroon singer and thanks us for being there and celebrating the beauty and strength of people and the music on this day when the needs of Africa are highlighted. Coco normally has an eight piece band but today only has an acoustic guitar and some form of maracas for company. Her soaring vocals and the rhythm from her hand is delightful and well appreciated by the crowd. As the media all race off to trail after Angelina and her son.



Shikisha

The WOMAD favourites entertain us with their vibrant dancing and loud vocals from the five girls who bounce and giggle and dance and kick. They get everyone in the biodome dancing with their crazy rhythms while two men on drums provide additional beats. As the singing reverberates around the dome there is some serious swinging of hips as the girls dance themselves into a frenzy!



Madou Diouf and O Fogum

Modou and his family come from a long line of musicians from the Serre people’s of Senegal. With Sabar and Tama drums the family dressed in electric blue traditional dress play with intensity and the explosive rhythms and Madou is all smiles and dance and it’s invigorating stuff. The dancers are able to dance at such pace and perform awesome displays of agility as the sun appears and the arena fills up even more.

Then Peter Gabriel introduces us to the Father of Eden Tim Smit who tells us about Eden being the most exciting development from nothing and that the reason why Eden works is that it’s built by us the people not as some government request and that more businesses need to get involved in Africa instead of governments. The woman who is the delegate we spoke to earlier and off to the G8 summit addresses us afterwards with shameful figures of child death, poverty, AIDs and it’s crushing and emotional and we all agree it’s time to make a change. I’m glad it’s her taking our message to the G8 as if anyone can make the world leaders listen it’s her.See the whole thing on the BBC website here.

M6 et la dépendance

LE MONDE 04.07.05

L 'Afrique serait-elle virtuelle ? En tout cas, M6, opérateur français du Live 8 avec NRJ, n'a pas poussé l'amour du continent noir jusqu'à sacrifier des parts de marché acquises grâce à Smallville et Largo Winch, qui passèrent d'abord le 2 juillet.

Présentateur confiné aux coulisses, Laurent Boyer annonçait les écrans publicitaires ­ - Nokia, l'un des sponsors officiels du Live 8, en tête. Puis les dosettes jetables pour café instantané, voitures high tech et jus de fruits reconstitués, de quoi faire avancer la cause africaine et le commerce équitable ! A lire les programmes de télévision, il y aurait eu ce jour-là Renaud, Johnny Hallyday, Manu Chao à Versailles.

Il y avait tromperie sur la marchandise : ces trois-là n'ont jamais manifesté la moindre velléité de se présenter aux portes du château où fut élaboré, en 1685, le Code Noir de Colbert, qui commençait ainsi : "Comme nous devons également nos soins à tous les peuples que la divine Providence a mis sous notre obéissance..."

Où en sommes-nous de la dépendance ? Evénement télévisuel, le Live 8 s'est attiré l'ire des musiciens africains. Mal filmé, mal ficelé, le concert vu par la lucarne M 6 était un assemblage de chansons sans feu ni lieu, mises bout à bout, avec slogans imprécis ­ - "Plus d'excuses". D'excuses à quoi ? Zapping à Londres pour la reformation, pâlichonne, de Pink Floyd, "le plus grand groupe de rock du monde" avant U2 : Roger Waters, rondouillard au crâne d'œuf, David Gilmour, grande gigue à la morgue affichée.

Le temps passe. Sur le mur noir et blanc qui servit de pochette au manifeste abrasif et révolutionnaire que fut The Wall, un autre slogan pris dans le florilège bobgeldofien : "A bas la pauvreté".

Les Africains d'Afrique étaient pendant ce temps dans la profondeur des Cornouailles devant 5 000 spectateurs aux pieds nus. Avec Peter Gabriel en chef de file, l'une des rares rock star à avoir pensé que le continent se sauvera en travaillant et qu'il est bon de l'y aider ­ - comme il l'a fait avec le festival Womad, créé en 1987, et son label RealWorld.

La fête était planétaire, il eût fallu la suivre sur Internet plutôt que sur les vieilles télévisions. Sur aol. fr, par exemple, en temps réel et à la carte. De quoi estomper la vacuité étalée et de lire en creux ce que le Live 8 aurait pu réussir : que Bob Geldof serrât la main au bluesman Ali Farka Touré, maire de Niafounké, plutôt qu'à Bill Gates, ou que Bono invitât un Nègre mal connu à partager, trois minutes durant, une parcelle de sa gloire.

Véronique Mortaigne

Article paru dans l'édition du 05.07.05

MobiTV & ABC News Now Bring Live 8 Concert Broadcast To Mobile Phone Users Across America

4th July, 2005,

MobiTV, provided live broadcast of the Live 8 "Africa Calling" concert from Cornwall, England. Africa Calling, organized by musician Peter Gabriel, featured an all-African line-up of performers and was part of the Live 8 concert series designed to raise awareness of poverty in Africa.

The Live 8 concerts took place on the same day in London, Paris, Berlin, Rome, Toronto, Tokyo, Johannesburg, Moscow, Scotland, and in Philadelphia. Gabriel and Senegalese musician Youssou N'Dour hosted the Africa Calling event, and the concert included African performers such as Maryam Mursal, Salif Keita and Thomas Mapfumo.

MobiTV is the most popular mobile television service in the market today, providing subscribers a variety of the best news, sports, and entertainment programming. U.S. customers can purchase MobiTV through Sprint PCS, Cingular and other regional carriers. The service is available on a wide range of phones, and on the new 3G wireless networks offers customers a near broadcast-quality viewing experience.