a taste of last summer
the LINE-Up so far
Antonio forcione
Antonio Forcione is an artist in every sense of the word, hailed as one of the most charismatic and unconventional guitarists in today’s musical world. With multiple international awards and 21 albums released, he continues to captivate audiences, earning him the title “Jimi Hendrix of the acoustic guitar.”
His music transcends genres, blending jazz, Spanish, soul, African, Brazilian, and improvised elements with ferocious virtuosity, passion, and humor. He has supported music legends such as Phil Collins, Bobby McFerrin and Van Morrison.
Over the years Antonio has released 20 albums of largely original material and has performed in festivals and theatres from as far as Australia and Indonesia to the USA, Africa, and all over Europe, especially in France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and the UK. He has performed at numerous charity events and his festival appearances include Womad, Glastonbury, Edinburgh, Melbourne, Koln, Verona, Granada and Hong Kong Arts Festival, amongst others.
a taste of last summer
the LINE-Up so far
the zawose queens
There is spirit and fire in the music of The Zawose Queens. There's the vibrations of the ancestors, coming through on traditional instruments — soaring chizeze fiddle, buzzing illimba thumb piano, ngoma drums that chatter and thunder — and voices that go deep, high and out there. There's the connection to nature, to ceremony and ritual, in their dance-inspired fusion, their blend of the organic, harmonic and modern-day electronic. There are lyrics that tell, in their native kigogo, of the passion for music, the wonders of life. Of pride in environment, in tradition. In their East African roots.
Pendo and Leah Zawose showcase the fluid polyrhythms and rapturous polyphonic singing of the Gogo (aka Wagogo) people of the arid, hilly Dodoma region of central Tanzania. The most famous exponent of this musical tradition is the late, great Dr Hukwe Zawose (Pendo’s father and Leah’s grandfather).
Maisha, the debut album by The Zawose Queens, marks the first time that women from this famous musical family take their place as lead vocalists and performers.
iain ballamy
Iain Ballamy is a key figure in contemporary European jazz with a distinctive musical voice merging avant-garde experimentation with accessible melodic sensibility.
Listed in the BBC's '100 Jazz Greats' between Count Basie and Chet Baker, Ballamy has been described as urbane, original, and uncompromising. His work merges both strong jazz and classical references but remains un-encumbered by formality and tradition.
Saxophone concerto premieres with major orchestras include BBC Philharmonic, Liverpool Philharmonic and London Sinfonietta.
As saxophone professor at Royal Academy of Music, RWCMD and the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, Ballamy has developed innovative approaches to teaching improvisation and composition.
Ballamy's musical essence combines improvisational spontaneity with a profound appreciation for harmony and form, creating performances that unfold with narrative purpose and emotional depth.
kanekt
Kanekt, a group of talented musicians from diverse backgrounds, brings together the distinctive sound of the sitar with clarinet, violin, guitar and percussion.
With influences from jazz, Eastern European, Celtic and Indian classical music, Kanekt was formed by Devon-based sitar player, Ricky Romain. He is joined by Shaftesbury’s own Karen Wimhurst on clarinet, violinist Sudhi Salooja who has Welsh and Indian roots, Brazilian percussionist Caio Mamberti and John Robertson, with past collaborations including Grace Jones, Joss Stone, Dave Stewart and Morcheeba, on electric bass guitar.
Lauren
collier band
Talented, emerging Scottish musician Lauren Collier is making a name for her virtuosity on the fiddle and captivating vocals. Lauren released her highly-anticipated debut album Uddevalla in December 2023. The album takes listeners on a musical journey from Haiti, through Sweden and India, and onto Indonesia and Greece, all the while offering a unique blend of traditional and electronic music that is incredibly diverse, yet wholly cohesive.
With her band of well-known faces, this fresh and captivating music is well worth seeing live.
quimantu
Since Mauricio Venegas-Astorga formed his Anglo-Chilean band Quimantu in 1981 they have been the ambassadors of Chilean and Latin American music in the UK and Europe, creating a unique blend through their exceptional use of the hundreds of traditional folk styles of that vibrant continent, which they skilfully incorporate with contemporary influences, from Western Classical music, to Celtic, African and Indian styles to name just a few.
Currently based in London, Quimantu have performed regular concerts in various notable venues including the Queen Elizabeth Hall, the Royal Albert Hall, the Royal Festival Hall and Purcell Room and the Barbican Hall. With a very strong commitment to the power of music to connect people and build bridges between communities, rural touring has regularly been a part of Quimantu’s agenda.
Emily Burridge
with Martyn barker
Emily Burridge is a virtuoso cellist, composer, performer & producer whose deft improvisational and compositional skills create sublime music, fluidly crossing genres both classical and contemporary.
In the hands of Emily, this instrument becomes a voice for her personal experiences, her emotions, and her thoughts as she amalgamates in her productions and collaborations melodies, rhythms, sounds from her field recordings, and various instruments.
“In her compositions, Emily is capable of gathering, in a truly spontaneous way, elements derived from her classical upbringing, together those coming from the ethnic musics she has lived with.”
Her music was described in The Musician as “fascinating and unique” and in Europe – European Progressive Music “music that is deep, thoughtful and also lifts your spirits”
supernormal
Supernormal is a 5-piece originals band based around Bristol/Bath, with the pianist hailing from Semley.
Funk adjacent delivering lots of fun and a big sound
louis cardozo
with the jam collective
Louis is an independent Bristol-based artist with a taste for fast-paced lyrics and Spanish guitar. Influenced by vintage Blues, soul, jazz and Latin records, he blends catchy, foot tapping melodies with sentimental lyrics, bringing both energy and soul to his shows.
Bursting on to the scene in 2020 with his debut single, Amaneciendo en Cuba, Louis has released a number of singles since, all of which lean into his jazz and Latin sound as well as his quirky Spanish guitar that permeate a number of his tracks.
The singer-songwriter kickstarted 2024 with his brand new single, Fly, a cinematic piano ballad accompanied by a music video of the first authentic flying piano.
ibni rocks
In a world increasingly defined by screens and gadgets, ten-year-old Ibni Rocks is charting an extraordinary path that inspires awe and admiration. Ibni is not your average kid; he’s a multi-instrumentalist, composer, performer, teacher, and even a magician. He has developed a strong ability to play by ear and from the heart, engaging audiences worldwide while maintaining his screen-free, homeschooled background in Mere, just 8 miles from Semley
Ibni started very young. He banged on cardboard boxes and pots at two years old, drummed at three, and performed with the Master Drummers of Ghana at seven. Today, he plays the piano, drums, tabla, and handpan, proving himself to be a master of instruments and genres with a tremendous amount of skill and passion.
lussa
Lussa is a new upcoming traditional band, consisting of four members.
During their time studying at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, the band discovered their natural connection and formed Lussa in 2023. Inspired by the Latin word for “Light” their style is bright, joyous, fresh and their arrangements draw inspiration from their different traditional upbringings from across the Globe
bobby & steve
Acclaimed DJs, pioneering promoters, long running radio presenters, record producers and business partners in the iconic Groove Odyssey brand, Bobby & Steve have reached legendary status in the soulful house and disco scene.
Their Zoo Experience show on Kiss FM from the late 1980s helped popularise garage music in the UK and inspired the names of their first record labels.
They have been regular guest DJ’s at the biggest club nights across the globe with residencies at Ministry of Sound, Fabric and Go Ibiza.
festival voices
Come and sing with us – an informal group of music lovers led by choral director Karen Wimhurst.
If you love to sing, you can add your voice to our choir from scratch – whatever your level of experience. We want passion, not perfection.
Rehearsals in Semley Church on 16/23/30 June from 7 - 8.30pm will prepare for an a cappella performance of world music on the main stage on Saturday.
This is free to all ticket holders. For more details and to book your place contact us:
07711 617 563
friday evening Who's on & when
7.15 - 8.15pm
lussa
8.30 - 10.00pm
louis cardozo
with the jam collective
10.15 - 11.35pm
omega nebula
saturday
Who's on &
when
12.00 - 12.45pm
festival voices
1.00 - 1.45pm
emily burridge
2.00 - 2.45pm
ibni rocks
3.00 - 3.30pm
words & music for
the planet
3.45 - 4.45pm
baka beyond
5.00 - 5.45pm
karen wimhurst/helen porter jazz duo
6.00 - 7.15pm
sari schorr
7.30 - 8.30pm
tia gordon
8.45 - 10.00pm
stone foundation
10.15 - 11.30pm
bobby & Steve
11.30 - 12 midnight
unplugged
Sunday
What's on
11.00am - 7.00pm
The day will feature...
feeling good
family ceilidh
yoga
tai chi
sound healing
Hypnotherapy
meditation
spa treatments
Sheema mukherjee - Sitar
feeling green
eco fashion workshops
children's art workshops
storytelling
poetry & soundscapes
film screenings
All timings and running order to be confirmed