Summerworld Brings World Music to Toronto in July 2008

Toronto, Canada – The Summerworld music series will take place from July 8 to 18. Continuing the tradition of discovery, Summerworld blazes a trail once again with five red hot shows in July, featuring debut performances of some of world music’s cutting edge artists.

Rachid Taha
Tuesday, July 8
@ The Phoenix Concert Theatre, 410 Sherbourne St.
w/ DJ medicineman (CIUT 89.5 FM – "No Man’s Land")
Doors 8 pm, concert 9 pm
Tickets: $30 advance @ www.smallworldmusic.com / & Soundscapes Records (572 College St.)The music of Rachid Taha is a musically and socially potent mix of styles such as the raï of his native Algeria, techno, rock and punk. Now based in Paris, Taha is considered to be Frances first true punk-rocker, his sound having evolved over the past two decades into one that can rock dancefloors and mosh pits alike. He is an artist whose personal experience has made him a powerful spokesperson for democracy, tolerance and altruism always speaking out against racism, fundamentalism and discrimination.

Black Umfolosi
Thursday, July 10
@ Hugh’s Room, 2261 Dundas St W
Doors 6pm, concert 8:30
Tickets: $22 advance / $25 door. For tickets and dinner reservations, call
416 531 6604 or info@hughsroom.com
Website: http://www.jproductions.com/bu.html

The group much loved around the world, offer their sweet sounds of stunning acapella harmonies and gospel singing as well as their captivating visuals, which includes the gumboot dancing of South Africa. The bare-torsoed, hard-hatted group never fail to captivate their audience while they deliver their performance with fun and joyful enthusiasm.

Javanese Shadows
featuring Gamelan Madu Sari & Ki Seno Nugroho
Saturday, July 12
@ Enwave Theatre, 231 Queens Quay W.
Concert 8pm
Tickets: $30 advance @ 416 973-4000 / harbourfrontcentre.com
Website: Review of Gamelan Madu Sari
YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tdQa2u1OAs

Small World Music presents the Toronto debut of New Javanese Shadows. This interdisciplinary performance and pan-Pacific collaboration brilliantly combines the ancient art of Javanese shadow puppet theatre, the sonorous gamelan music of Central Java, and cutting-edge computer video imagery.

Master Musicians of Jajouka featuring Bachir Attar
Tuesday, July 15
@ The Phoenix Concert Theatre, 410 Sherbourne St.
w/ DJ medicineman (CIUT 89.5 FM – No Mans Land)
Doors 8 pm, Concert 9 pm
Tickets: $30 advance @ www.smallworldmusic.com & Soundscapes Records (572 College St.)

The hypnotic drumming, chanting vocals and soaring pipes of Jajouka have been passed down for over four thousand years in the Rif Mountains of Morocco. Intense and untamed, the sound opened western ears in the sixties to one of the original world music experiences.

Psychotropical Orchestra
Friday, July 18
@ Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas St. West
Doors 10 pm
Tickets: $15 at www.smallworldmusic.com
Dinner reservations guarantee seating, by calling 416-588-0307

Described by Radio Canada’s Bande a parte as "Manu Chao on acid", the Psychotropical Orchestra embraces a true expanded view of rhythm and pleasure based on the essentials of groove and rock ‘n roll. A mix of Latin rhythms, psychedelics, afrobeat, dub and rock all sung in Spanish, the music is festive and alive. Their goal is to have audiences feel them, not understand them.