Astar and Theatr Mwldan are delighted that Catrin Finch and Seckou Keita has been one of three Welsh music acts selected for a prestigious Horizons Stage appearance at Womex 2013 in the Welsh capital Cardiff.
This stunning shared musical journey between two world class virtuosos – Welsh harpist Catrin Finch and West African kora player Seckou Keita, blends the Manding music of West Africa with Welsh melodies to make ‘gorgeous, eloquent, elegant music’ (Thomas Brooman CBE).
The announcement comes just as preparations are underway for the launch of a major autumn UK tour for Catrin Finch and Seckou Keita, which starts at Hall for Cornwall in Truro on 20th October before going on to another 17 venues around the UK. This Autumn also sees the launch of their new album 'Clychau Dibon' on 14th October.
The Catrin Finch and Seckou Keita project reflects the vital role of the harp in the incredibly rich cultures of both West Africa and Wales. Remarkably, both nations share centuries-old bardic traditions of intricate oral history, expressed through music, song and verse. Together, Finch and Keita have risen to the tough challenge of blending two completely different musical cultures and creating something sublime, relevant and entirely new.
WOMEX received more than 850 proposals from all around the world. 38 were shortlisted for the Horizons stage for the nine slots by a panel of the UK and Ireland partners and independent music professionals. They represent the very best and most exciting world music talent emerging from each nation right now.
Tickets for the WOMEX Showcase Festival nights are £17 in advance and £22 on the day. If you wish to attend all three of the WOMEX Showcase Festival evenings, you can purchase a three day ticket for £45 from the Wales Millennium Centre Ticket Office by calling 029 2063 6464. A limited number of concession tickets are available in advance for Students and Over 60s. Please call the Ticket Office for more information.
Press and publication Quotes:
‘Old Welsh harp songs, Manding kora staples, Latin dashes, Celtic arias and more woven together to create something new that also possessed enough depth to sound sage, even timeless.’ Andy Morgan
'Gorgeous, eloquent, elegant music' Thomas Brooman CBE
'If you closed your eyes you might just have glimpsed the late medieval Welsh harpist Robert ap Huw landing on a West African shore, trading his slate-grey skies for the shimmering light of Africa and the busy dark flow of the Taff for the lazy effortless meander of the Gambia river.' Andy Morgan
‘the marriage of harp and kora seems blessed to be long, warm and fruitful.’ Andy Morgan