Mundial Montreal announced Tout le Monde!, a forum of the state of world music in Canada, hosted by Derek Andrews (Luminato, Mundial Montreal) and Jacob Edgar (Putumayo World Music, PBS’s “Music Voyager”). The forum will take place from 2:30 to 5:00pm, on Wednesday, November 16 at Le Petit Campus. With an overwhelming reception in its inaugural year, over 100 professionals have confirmed as delegates.
While Montreal is one of the most important and active world music markets in North America, Canada is producing a breadth of world music artists from across the nation. Panelists will discuss where things stand over 20 years after the introduction of the world music “brand”. Guest speakers include Laurent Saulnier (Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, FrancoFolies de Montréal), Hélène Dimanche (Nuits d’Afrique), Ralph Boncy (Espace Musique), David Dacks (Exclaim!, CIUT.FM & Polaris Juror), Tony Montague (fRoots, Penguin Eggs, Georgia Straight).
Tout le Monde! will discuss the current state of world music. Seen as new, exciting and fresh as it was when introduced in the 80s, the concept of world music retains integrity, value and strength. Some of the questions proposed for debate include: What does it mean when The Gipsy Kings, Cesaria Evora, Buena Vista Social Club, or Lhasa achieve commercial success? Have they escaped the “ghetto” of world music for the “meadow” of cultural understanding, affinity and universal harmony? Trend setting artists such at Paul Simon, Peter Gabriel, David Byrne and Ry Cooder brought world music sounds into pop culture, and now we see this influence in bands like Arcade Fire, Vampire Weekend, and much of the jam band scene. Does it matter that world music links to that commercial success and what is the value of ‘crossover’ potential?
Wednesday, Nov 16
Petit Campus – 57, Prince Arthur Street
2:30 – 5:00pm Tout le Monde! World Music Forum followed by a reception
Visit www.mundialmontreal.com
Author: World Music Central News Room
World music news from the editors at World Music Central