Under the direction of multi-instrumentalist and producer Tom Excell, a combination of virtuoso players, talented producers and creative composers come together. A 10-piece big band with influences from jazz, hip-hop, afrobeat, Latin, soul, reggae and dance music may be expected to play with razor-sharp skill. Special guests on the new album "Freedom Fables" include Ego Ella May, K.O.G., Pat Thomas, Cherise, Ria Moran and... read full bio
African musical history comes to life when master drummer Obo Addy steps on stage. As a prominent member of the first generation of African musicians to bring their traditional and popular music to Europe and America, this versatile magician of the drums embodies the past, present and future of Ghana's musical culture. An original and respected composer whose music reaches... read full bio
Steven Umoh, better known as his stage name Obongjayar, is a Nigerian musical artist who performs a mixture of Afrobeat and spoken word. Obongjayar was born and raised in Calabar, Nigeria, and was raised by his grandmother as his mother had to flee to the United Kingdom to escape from Obongjayar’s abusive father. While growing up, Obongjayar found an escape... read full bio
OKAN draws their name from the term for heart in their Afro-Cuban religion of Santeria. They blend Afro-Cuban origins with jazz, folk and world rhythms in songs about immigration, resistance and love. OKAN is fronted by Cuban-born violinist and vocalist Elizabeth Rodriguez and drummer and vocalist Magdelys Savigne, who are both Grammy and Latin Grammy nominees. They sing in Spanish, English and Spanglish. Espiral,... read full bio
Olan's music, which she performs as a producer, DJ, singer and multi-instrumentalist, is just as intriguing and difficult to describe as she is. Olan, who was born Luzana Flores in Georgia to a Dominican mother and a Puerto Rican father, credits her early musical training in the church. She spent her adolescence polishing her bass, guitar and songwriting abilities while listening to Paramore in... read full bio
Olga Tañón is a multi-million-selling, Grammy-nominated Puerto Rican tropical and Latin music singer, songwriter and set designer. Seven gold and five platinum albums have been given to "La Mujer de Fuego" (the woman of fire) during the course of her career. With the sale of more than 500,000 copies of the album Nuevos Senderos, she became the first female Puerto Rican... read full bio
Ondatrópica is a Colombian band, representing the classic and modern sounds of Colombiana music. The band started when a concert took place at the River of Music in England. Mario Galeano and Will Holland have brought together a cast of talented musicians to deliver Ondatrópica’s sound. Using classican Colombian styles like cumbia, porro, gaita, and champeta, and mixing with modern... read full bio
ONIPA are the result of a passionate partnership between some of the biggest names on the UK live scene and longtime friends Kweku of Ghana and Tom Excell (musical director of Nubiyan Twist). The five-piece live act consists of Finn Booth (Nubiyan Twist) on drums, KOG on vocals, balafon and percussion, Tom on guitar, percussion and electronics, Dwayne Kilvington (Wonky Logic) on synthesizers and MPC. We No... read full bio
Oumou Sangaré is a celebrated and award-winning fighter for women's rights in her home Mali and all of Africa. She is also a singer, songwriter, business pioneer and activist. Wassalou, a well-liked musical genre rooted from folk traditions in the rural southwest of the country, is Sangaré's preferred musical genre. From her first Moussolou, which had a traditional wassalou sound, to... read full bio
Homero Palomo began playing romantic ballads combined with traditional Mexican music. After assembling his own band, Palomo started getting involved in the tejano scene, covering hit songs and paying tribute to Ram_n Ayala. The groups album entitled, No Llores Mas, included the hit single Te Vas Con El." The group became one of the most popular regional Mexican bands after... read full bio
Rav & Dee, a successful DJ and production team, make up Panjabi Hit Squad. Since their founding, the duo—who are credited with creating and popularizing the now-famous Desi Beats sound—have been at the forefront of the Asian music scene. Dance floors around the globe have been energized by Panjabi Hit Squad's highly sought-after DJ sets at some of the most talked-about... read full bio
Passafire has gone through several phases of redefining their sound, style, and lineup. The band's biggest 'reset' occurred for their fourth album release, Start From Scratch. Passafire got new band member, Mike DeGuzman on the keyboard, a new producer Paul Leary, and a freshly made band-owned label, FlameGuy Records. Their fourth album stands apart from the rest by having a... read full bio
The current kings of Ghanaian highlife music have returned! Pat Thomas & Kwashibu Area Band's sophomore album, "Obiaa," is being released through Strut with pride. The record, once again produced by Kwame Yeboah and Ben Abarbanel-Wolff at Lovelite Studio's analogue headquarters in Berlin, is a passionate journey into the heart of Ghana's native highlife music that honors Pat Thomas, the... read full bio
For the last 19 years, The Reggae Revolution has toured and worked along side highly acclaimed stars such as sting and steel pulse, among many others. In 2001 they became the first Reggae act ever to appear on stage at the Sidney Opera House, enticing a usually sitting crowd to get on their feet and dance for joy.... read full bio
Paul Byrom has been praised as Ireland's premier tenor. His unique vocal talent and sound has been in the works since the age of seven and has been trained by renowed vocal teacher Dr. Veronica Dunne. Byrom's first recording was of him at the age of fourteen signing soprano. He reached the number 2 spot on the... read full bio
Formed by Winter in 1967, the Paul Winter Consort became one of the earliest exponents of world music, combining elements from various African, Asian, and South American cultures with jazz. The Consort has evolved with time, changing its voice but not its aims. Early members such as David Darling, Paul McCandless, Ralph Towner, Glen Moore, Collin Wolcott, Nancy Rumbel and... read full bio
In terms of music, PawPaw Rod is well-known. The Capricorn in cowboy boots has already formed a musical personality that magpies from elements and mutates genres as if Gil Scott-Heron were trying to fill the dance floor, with only three singles and a debut EP under his belt, the simply titled "A PawPaw Rod EP." Rodney Hulsey is several things at... read full bio
Meet Pepper; Bret Bollinger, Kaleo Wassman, and Yesod Williams, three young innovative minds mixed with divine inspiration from the Hawaiian Islands. Their first album ""Given It"" recorded in Kailua-Kona combines their unique style of dancehall, reggae, punk, hip-hop, and pop. Concentrating on live performances and culminating rich sincere relationships with each and every fan, Pepper has toured with 311... read full bio
Latin America's American Idol, Dancing with the Stars and Comedy Competition, packaged into one power-house TV reality series of child stars! The most acclaimed family TV show in Latin America and in the US now touring. Over 45,000 children were casted for the Pequenos Gigantes #2 2012 season and only 28 of the most gifted and talented latin children entered... read full bio
Peter Gabriel has earned a worldwide reputation for his innovative work as a musician, writer and video maker. When he was still in school, Peter co-founded the group Genesis, with whom he gained international fame. His albums, live performances and videos since then have won him a succession of awards. Gabriel has released ten solo albums, with the album So... read full bio
