Haymanot Tesfa, Mina Salama, Arian Sadr, Tony Bowring

Haymanot Tesfa, Mina Salama, Arian Sadr, Tony Bowring

at The Lantern Theatre, Sheffield
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Talking Gigs

TalkingGigs is delighted to present an opportunity to hear and find out more about three rising stars on the UK world music scene – Haymanot Tesfa (Ethiopia), Mina Salama (Egypt) and Arian Sadr (Iran). Individually they are hugely talented musicians, each with their own fascinating musical and personal journey which has led them to the UK. But the combination of the traditions and influences that they bring delivers a compelling and mesmerising experience that you will not forget. They are currently collaborating on Haymanot’s debut solo CD album … so be there at the beginning … this will be a fascinating evening!

As well as hearing their stunning music, all three will share more about their stories, their cultures and themselves in conversation with Tony Bowring, Rafiki Jazz bandleader and MD of Konimusic. And of course you will have the chance to ask questions about whatever aspects interest you most.

Haymanot Tesfa – (Ethiopia) experimental Amharic singer

In Haymanot’s own words: “All my songs are in the Amharic language and most of the time I sing in pentatonic scale. Songs like Tizeta and Ambassel are old and public songs which were played by many people. When I sing these songs I always sing them differently depending on what I get from the musicians I play with and the whole atmosphere. I like to be free! So the way I sing is always new even if I’m playing on the same scale and using the same words. Sometimes I play something new which I don’t even remember when I leave the stage. What makes me happy is that I know that I gave them something they can take with them. People tell me that my singing is therapeutic for them and they thank me for singing, but the truth is that I am also happy while I’m singing.”

Author & critic Catriona Troth comments:
'Haymanot Tesfa's range is extraordinary - at times deep and powerful, underpinning the rest of the music, and at times dancing across the top of it Her voice wraps itself around table after table, drawing them into her spell...people close their eyes, the better to listen and pick out the different strands of the music'

Haymanot performs regularly with two London-based ensembles, Mook & Newanderthal. She has appeared at WOMAD, Celebrating Sanctuary Southbank, Journeys Festival Leicester, Platforma Festival Manchester, and for the House of Commons at the Partners for Change Ethiopia event last year.

Mina Salama – (Egypt) ney & kawala end-blown flutes, oud, vocals

Immersed in Coptic liturgical, Arabic and European classical & filmscore music, and with a blossoming international career as a multi-instrumentalist with the Alexandria Opera House Orchestra, Mina improbably found himself seeking asylum here in 2012. To our delight he is now surfacing as a talented and in-demand musician with his virtuosity, drive and sensitivity leading to commissions & collaborations across our polyglot UK world music scene, including performing, composing and recording with MIRO Manchester International Roots Orchestra and Rafiki Jazz.

Mina has performed at the Edinburgh Festival, Celebrating Sanctuary Southbank, AHRC Connected Communities Festival, Journeys Festival Leicester, Platforma Festival Manchester.

Arian Sadr – (Iran) Persian daf frame drum & tonbak goblet drum

A young Iranian virtuoso percussionist bravely bringing the weight, complexity & pulse of Persian religious & ceremonial heritage music into contemporary cross-genre settings, Arian is emerging as a skilful and popular innovator working with the two principal hand-drums of the ancient Middle East - the large circular goatskin frame drum known as daf historically played by groups of women and dating back to pre-Islamic times, and the emblematic tonbak goblet drum so characteristic of Persian popular & classical music but again with a history linking its use to ritual ceremony.

Arian performs with MIRO Manchester International Roots Orchestra, and with Musicians Without Borders, as well as delivering inspiring daf & tonbak workshops across the North of England. His most recent performance was at the Asia 2014 Triennial Manchester.

Tony Bowring – Rafiki Jazz bandleader; MD of Konimusic world music development agency; Chair of Arts on the Run the regional Arts & Refugees Network

TalkingGigs is a series of gigs which allow you to listen to music from the UK and around the world – but will also allow you to discovers more about the countries, cultures, musicians, instruments and history behind the music.

Listening to music will be the core of all the events – but they will also give you the chance to hear more from the performers about their stories and influences, and the chance to ask questions about whatever aspect of the music interests you. They will feature some stunning performers from a variety of places – all with something special or interesting to say and play.

Haymanot Tesfa

Mina Salama

Arian Sadr

Rated Excellent

The Lantern Theatre

18 Kenwood Park Road
Sheffield
S7 1NF

Disabled Booking:
0114 255 1776

See all events at The Lantern Theatre

The Lantern Theatre

18 Kenwood Park Road
Sheffield
S7 1NF

Disabled Booking:
0114 255 1776

See all events at The Lantern Theatre