A caravan of world-class performing artists is once again pulling into Madison for the annual World Music Festival, running Aug. 13-15 at the Memorial Union Terrace and Wisconsin Union Theater (all events are free).
This year, there is a focus on the music and culture of the Roma people, with scheduled lectures on Romani identity and musical performance and three Romani bands slated to perform, each with their own distinctive style. The New York Gypsy All-Star (Thursday, 9 p.m.) mix Balkan folk songs with the improvisational, American aesthetic of jazz (Gypsy jazz anyone?), while Romano Drom (Friday, 10 p.m.), hailing from Hungary, play traditional Roma songs with a world music twist, incorporating the Cuban cajon, Middle-Eastern tarambuke and European accordion. Rounding out the lineup is Dhoad Gypsies (Saturday, 8 p.m), a cabaret of dueling tablas, lyrical poetry, belly dancing and fakir fire-eaters that should not be missed.
Chirgilchin and Ilgi, from former Soviet-bloc Tavu and Latvia, respectively, will be playing music banned during Soviet rule for its ethnic individuality. Chirgilchin (Friday, Union Theater, 6:30 p.m.) will be demonstrating the art of Tuvan throat singing, often compared to yoik in Scandinavian Sami culture. On the other hand, Ilgi (Thursday, 6:30 p.m.), will be kicking off the festival with traditional Latvian songs brought up to date with bass guitar and a drum kit, and, hopefully, will have the same success as last year's Gjallerhorn, a band with similar aesthetics.
The festival's lineup has plenty of love for Spanish-speaking countries. Puerta Plata (Friday, 7:45 p.m.) will play traditional son, merengue and rumba rhythms. Estrella Acosta (Saturday, 5:45 p.m.) will evoke the Cuban countryside in her songs, while her backup band plays a South American, salsa-influenced accompaniment. Roberto Rodriguez and Maurice El Medioni Trio (Saturday, Union Theater, 7 p.m.) imbue their Spanish songs with Arabic grooves and African rhythms, and even The Gerard Edery Trio (Saturday, Union Theater, 9:30 p.m.) add a touch of Spanish and Arabic to Edery's songs celebrating Jewish culture.
The festival will close with Louis Mhlanga (Saturday, 10 p.m.) from Zimbabwe, who is on his first U.S. tour. Playing funky African pop music with guitar lines swiped from traditional African thumb piano melodies, Mhlanga is sure to bring the entire Terrace — from the hippie hula-hoopers to the middle-aged pitcher-drinkers — to their feet.
For the full performance schedule, as well as information on festival-related lectures and demonstrations, check the TITU and the official World Music Festival website at www.union.wisc.edu/worldmusic/index.html.
