Ashley Maher’s Music of Hope and Beauty
In the midst of stressful times, why not take a break, relax, sip some tea, and listen to Tree to Tree. This is Ashley Maher’s…
Artist Profiles: Fatoumata Diawara
Fatoumata Diawara (a.k.a. Fatou) was born of Malian parents in the Ivory Coast in 1982. As a child she became a member of her father’s…
Artist Profiles: Sekouba Diakite
Sekouba Diakite originates from Odienne (the Republic of Ivory Coast). Like his elder brother Isaac Ismael, Sekouba also sings in Malinke, Bambara, Diula, English, and…
Splendid Musical Tribute to Mother Earth
Ricky Kej – Shanti Samsara (Zee Music Company, 2015) Shanti Samsara, the magnificent album by composer, producer and keyboardist Ricky Kej brings environmental awareness to…
Artist Profiles: Robert Maseko
Born in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and raised in the UK, Robert Maseko is part of the new wave…
Artist Profiles: M’bilia Bel
Soukous singer M’bilia Bel, known as the Queen of Congolese rumba, was born in 1959 and brought up in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.…
Artist Profiles: Lokua Kanza
Lokua Kanza was born in Bukavu, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (former Zaire). His father is one of the Mongo people, known for…
Åkerblomrörelsen by Captain Cougar
Captain Cougar – Åkerblomrörelsen (Pinetree Records, 2014) Finnish band Captain Cougar, from Jyväskylä, uses contemporary folk music in the nicely-crafted album Åkerblomrörelsen to recount the…
Artist Profiles: Kiala Nzavotunga
Afrobeat master Kiala Nzavotunga is a founding member of the band Ghetto Blaster (1984 – 2006) and Fela Kuti’s band. Kiala Nzavotunga was born in…
Artist Profiles: Papa Wemba
Papa Wemba was born Shungu Wembadio Pene Kikumba in Kazai, in the former Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo). From humble village beginnings in…
Vancouver Folk Music Festival This Weekend
The Vancouver Folk Music Festival is taking place this weekend, July 15-17, 2016 at Jericho Beach Park in Vancouver, British Columbia. The festival schedule reflects…