New World Folk Music series launches
Friday 9 December 2022, Birmingham.
An exciting new series of concerts at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire highlighting music from around the world begins on Friday 9 December 2022 with an appearance from Afla Sackey and Afrik Bawantu.
Formed by Ghanaian vocalist and djembe drummer Afla Sackey, Afrik Bawantu blend traditional Ghanaian music with sizzling Afrobeat grooves, topped off with an irresistibly funky twist. Their vibrant mix of African rhythms with fast, animated horn sections and heavy bass lines brings a whole new definition to the Afro-Funk genre.
Afla started his creative life as a young dancer with the Bukom Ensemble of Ghana, known for their infectious folk-driven rhythms. He later moved to London with Kakatsitsi Master Drummers of Ghana, and went on to found Afrik Bawantu in 2007. The band released their acclaimed debut album, Life On The Street, in 2014.
An in-demand musician, Afla’s also collaborated and recorded with many well-established artists, among them Sun Ra, Ginger Baker, Seun Kuti, Sons Of Kemet, Tony Allen, Yaaba Funk, Dele Sosimi and Ibibio Sound Machine.
An inspiring educator, Afla was an Afrobeat teacher at the Royal Academy of Music, and he continues to be a guest lecturer in universities as far flung as Japan, Singapore and Argentina.
Afla Sackey and Afrik Bawantu marks the first of a series of special performances under the banner RBC Presents: Global Traditions. These concerts – which will showcase artists from from folk and global music disciplines in spaces usually reserved for classical recitals and jazz concerts – continue into 2023 with appearances from the Kevin Dempsey Trio (19 March 2023), and The Conservatoire Folk Ensemble (Saturday 27 May 2023).
• Afla Sackey and Afrik Bawantu appear at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire’s The Bradshaw Hall on Friday 9 December 2022 with support from Birmingham-based composer Millicent B James. For tickets and more information, see: http://www.bcu.ac.uk/conservatoire/
LISTINGS
Friday 9 December 2022
RBC Presents: Global Traditions
Afla Sackey and Afrik Bawantu
A night of uplifting Afrobeat from the infectiously joyful Afla Sackey and his incredible band. With support from vocalist and rising star of the composition world Millicent B James.
The Bradshaw Hall, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, 200 Jennens Road, Birmingham B4 7XR
8pm
£15 (£10)
Tickets: https://www.bcu.ac.uk/conservatoire/events-calendar/global-traditions-afla-sackey-09-12-2022
The RBC Presents: Global Traditions series then continues with …
Sunday 19 March 2023
Kevin Dempsey Trio, Thorpe & Morrison, and Potts Music
Eastside Jazz Club, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
Time TBA
An afternoon of folk and original music from legendary figures of the UK acoustic music scene. Three concert sets and a session in the bar (and all finished by 7.30pm so you can still get out of bed on Monday morning).
Saturday 27 May 2023
The Conservatoire Folk Ensemble
Bradshaw Hall, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
8pm
Royal Birmingham Conservatoire’s internationally renowned 70-piece folk orchestra perform their complete concert show for a home crowd before setting off on their annual national tour.
About RBC Presents: Global Traditions
RBC Presents: Global Traditions is a ground-breaking new series of concerts taking place at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. With the aim of showcasing leading global / folk music artists, the performances take place in spaces typically reserved for classical recitals and jazz concerts.
For more information, see:
instagram.com/globaltraditions/
facebook.com/globaltraditionsRBC
MEDIA ENQUIRIES
For all press and media enquiries, including review and interview requests, please contact us.
Four Four Eight 