Monday 8 February 2010

Royal & Derngate present... African Soul Rebels

African Soul Rebels make their mark

The sixth chapter in the celebrated African Soul Rebels concert series is the most eclectic

and thought-provoking yet, bringing together some of the continent’s most spectacular performers who will appear

at Northampton's Royal & Derngate on Sunday 21 February.

The tour features musicians who have used their roots to ignite discussions

on the nature of the societies that nurtured them. Oumou Sangaré is one of the

biggest stars in Mali, a towering, regal diva whose uncompromising lyrics in

praise of women have made her the funkiest feminist icon on the planet.

On their first tour of Britain (after 45 years together), Benin’s Orchestre

Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou are the undisputed heavyweights of voodoo rock.

Completing the line-up with a dystopian urban groove are South Africa’s Kalahari Surfers

and their special guest, the dub poet, Teba Shumba.

Oumou Sangare’s outstanding CD releases on World Circuit have gained

her a great reputation over the years, with her latest album Seya (Joy) nominated in this year's GRAMMY Awards.

Her live shows are even better, driven by her majestic presence and spellbinding voice.

A huge force for women’s rights and economic development in her native Mali, Oumou and

her super-tight band bring an irrepressible energy and joie de vivre to their performances.

Though they spent almost four decades unknown beyond the boundaries of Benin,

the Orchestre Poly-Rhythmo de Cotonou are making up for lost time.

First heard in the bars of the country’s biggest port, they mixed the latest sounds demanded by the transatlantic sailors

– be it funk, Afrobeat, rock, soul and rumba – with the bewitching rhythms and chants of their native voodoo tradition.

Added to their horns and guitars this creates the captivating sound which makes their recordings so sought after by vinyl hunters.

The Kalahari Surfers formed in South Africa in 1982 and their energising mixture of rhythm

and outspoken social commentary promptly resulted in the banning of their first three albums under the apartheid regime.

Having been influenced by Robert Wyatt and Henry Cow, the Surfers’ prime mover Warrick Sony relocated to London.

Projects with Brendan Jury and Massive Attack followed,

and as well as a longer term collaboration with rebel Sowetan poet Lesego Rampolokeng.

Brought to the UK by Music Beyond Mainstream, the African Soul Rebels show will be
a spellbinding experience, taking to the Derngate stage on Sunday 21 February at 7.30pm.
Tickets are on sale now, priced £18.50 and £16.50. To book, call the Royal & Derngate Box Office on 01604 624811 Or book online via the red buy tickets button below.

African Soul Rebels

Sun 21 Feb
Venue: Derngate

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Join in the beat get into

the African groove at free

Drum Circle sessions‏

As a forerunner to the arrival of the African Soul Rebels tour at Royal & Derngate on Sunday 21 February, the theatre is organising two Drum Circle events over the next few weeks to give people in Northampton a chance to get into the African groove. There’ll also be another Drum Circle session at the theatre before the performance itself.

The first of the Drum Circles will take place at The Racehorse, on Abington Square, on Thursday 11 February from 8pm. The session will be lead by professional percussionists from Kyreme Arts, including their Artistic Director Kwame Boakye.

The Racehorse, on Abington Square

Northampton

They will be bringing along a wide selection of pan-African drums to demonstrate and encouraging everyone to join in and try their hand at replicating the rhythms they hear and creating their own beats, as part of an informal and fun evening of drumming. No experience is necessary.

There’ll be second chance to take part in the Drum Circle on Thursday 18 February at the Picturedrome, in Kettering Road, again from 8pm. The events are free of charge and you can just drop in and have a go. If you’d like to know more, contact Janet Gordon at Royal & Derngate on 07789 373989.

There will be a final chance to join in a Drum Circle at Royal & Derngate from 6pm on Sunday 21 February, prior to the African Soul Rebels concert at 7.30pm. For more information about the African Soul Rebels tour, featuring international star Oumou Sangare from Mali, Orchestre Poly-Rhythmo de Contonou from Benin and Kalahari Surfers from South Africa, call the Royal & Derngate Box Office on 01604 624811 or visit

http://www.royalandderngate.co.uk