Explore the world at Billingtons Oldham

An exciting new programme of diverse music gigs are to launch this July at the newly-refurbished Billingtons Oldham.

The five events are all part of the World Music Club, which previously ran at The Continental in Preston prior to the COVID pandemic.

Each event is being promoted as part of a ‘musical cruise’, with audiences are invited to experience the music and culture at each ‘port’.

The idea is to encourage Oldham residents to explore the traditional musical genres of local cultures.

The programme will run from July 2023 through to February 2024 and will combine live music performances and cultural workshops, the latter of which will be subsidised by Arts Council England.

The events are being curated by Oldham-based social enterprise Lingua Franca World Community CIC (LFWC).

Lingua Franca World Community CIC (LFWC) is a collective of diverse creatives who want to share their arts and culture to increase cross-cultural understanding.

The organisation’s stated aim is to create a world where different cultures live in harmony and show each other respect.

Event organiser and Founder of LFWC, Geli Berg, is excited to partner up with Billingtons in this venture.

She recently told the Billingtons, in The Heart of Oldham podcast: “I have chosen the artists with the diversity of the local communities in mind, so we have musicians from West Africa, Latin America, Pakistan, the Caribbean and India.”.

The first ‘stop’ of the cruise will be Freetown, Sierra Leone on July 29, 2023, where two native musicians, Papa Sam Alafia and Zozo Shaiubu will introduce the sunshine music of West Africa.

As Papa Sam explains: “In West Africa, we use song and rhythm to share news and tell stories, even if it’s bad news, the rhythm is never sad!”

The pair will also be facilitating an Introduction to Djembe Drumming workshop earlier in the evening.

The full programme of events is as follows:

Stop 1: Freetown, Sierra Leone - Saturday, July 29, 2023

The Sunshine Music from Sierra Leone and West Africa with Papa Sam Alafia & Zozo Shaiubu

Workshop: An Introduction to Djembe Drumming

Stop 2: Santo Domingo, The Dominican Republic - Saturday, September 30, 2023

July Julay and The Mambo KIngs - authentic Salsa, Merengue and Bachata from this award-winning singer from the Dominican Republic and his Latin band.

Workshop: Salsa Dance for Beginners

Stop 3: Karachi, Pakistan - Saturday, November 8, 2023

British Pakistani Sarah Yaseen aka Sarah the Sufi sings traditional and original Sufi music with a contemporary twist.

Workshop: Learn a Sufi Song

Stop 4: Montego Bay, Jamaica - Saturday, December 9, 2023

A Caribbean Christmas hosted by Jamaican George Linton aka Mento-B and friends. If you like your Christmas celebrations with a little spice, this one’s for you!

Workshop: The History of Caribbean Music

Stop 5: Mumbai, India - Saturday, February 24, 2024

Classical Indian Music and Dance with Hamit Walia on tabla, flautist Noman Raja and acclaimed Kathak dancer, Kanchan Maradan.

Workshop: An Introduction to Konnakol (Indian Vocal Percussion)

Tickets are available by calling Matt Dean at Billingtons on 07868 201 867 or Geli Berg at Lingua Franca World Community CIC on 07816 648 288, or via Eventbrite here

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