TAMALA ALBUM RELEASE PARTY

Mesmerising Gambian griot/Welsh folk.

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A WONDERFUL MUSICAL EXCHANGE BETWEEN MAGNIFICENT TRADITIONAL WEST AFRICAN GRIOT KORA SONGS AND ENCHANTINGLY COOL CYMRU FOLK.

Bunja Conteh: kora
Liz Conteh: vocals, acoustic guitar
Bonito: vocals
Chandra Moon: flute
Terry Payne: mandolin, flute
Marc Smith: bass guitar
Omar Sagna: calabash drums

World fusions come no more eclectic than that of AfroWelsh Connection, with its griot-druid meld of West African and Welsh folk traditions.

This outstanding septet intercut the profoundly beautiful ancient music of the traditional Gambian kora with heartfelt contemporary folk, soaring from the hypnotic and ethereal to the propulsive and joyful. A magical musical union, its spirit and invention is unflagging and uplifting.

Tonight's show celebrates the release of the highly anticipated debut album by AfroWelsh Connection, Tamala. A captivating album of beautiful, hypnotic, kora-driven original music and Mandinka traditionals, Tamala is available on CD at concerts, and digitally via online distribution platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, and Amazon.

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Whilst the Gambia and South Wales share few obvious similarities, Bunja and Liz Conteh, husband and wife, have found an enchanted middle ground between their birthplaces and traditions. Born into a famous griot family in Brikama Town, Bunja is a skilled player of the 21-stringed African harp kora, in the tradition of Mandinka griots - the musicians/ storytellers/ oral historians/ mediators/ entertainers and praise singers whose craft is passed down from generation to generation. His grandfather, Alhajie Bai Konteh, was the first to travel and introduce the kora to American audiences in the 1970s. Liz Conteh, herself a fine exponent of the African djembe drum, here brings dynamic and melodic guitar accompaniment to the live performance, with Chandra Moon on flute, Terry Payne on mandolin/flute, Marc Smith on bass guitar, Omar Sagna on calabash drums, and Bonito on backing vocals.

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Support: The Rob Lear Band

Rob Lear: vocals, acoustic guitar
Liz Conteh: accordion, djembe, vocals
Terry Payne: mandolin

Rolling, joyous, melodically infectious folk-Americana mingles lyrically arresting songs, beautiful vocals, striking fingerpicked mandolin, and characterful accordion to great effect.

'Elegance with acoustic aplomb.'
Country Music People Magazine

'Funky and full of clever melodic hooks... one of this country's finest songwriters.'
R2 Magazine

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For further concerts in the 2024 Cotham Club season, visit: hdfst.uk/cotham-club

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Cotham Club: a brilliant, eclectic, monthly live global music club with a passion for community at its core.

Music, with all its subtlety and spirit, has immense power to unite people. It is the universal language of mankind. The sounds of Africa, America, Eurasia and Oceania have always found a home in Bristol and there are few better examples of the city’s cultural cross-pollination than Cotham Club, a celebration in sound of what unites rather than divides. Each month we showcase some of the most diverse and brilliant musicians from Bristol and beyond, linking audiences to great music and to each other.

'Community-focused gigs welcoming an array of global musicians and gig-goers of all ages, genders, neurotypes and ethnicities.' Bristol 24/7

epic cross-generational gigs (+) grassroots vibes (+) warmest crowds (in) brilliant space (w/) unique atmosphere (+) intimate feel (=) great night out

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Venue address:
Cotham Parish Church, Cotham Road ( top of St Michael's Hill ), Cotham, Bristol BS6 6DR

Eat & drink:
choose from a selection of wine, beer, cider, hot drinks, soft drinks and snacks from 30 minutes before performance start and during the interval | free nibbles/ sweet treats available at selected events

Toilets:
accessible toilets available

Travel:
bus: Firstbus service 72 (Bristol Temple Meads Station to UWE Frenchay Campus): firstbus.co.uk

train: 10 minute walk from Clifton Down Train Station: gwr.com | 15 minute walk from Redland Train Station: gwr.com

walking: 15 minute walk up St Michael's Hill from Christmas Steps | 10 minute walk from Everyman Cinema, Whiteladies Road | 15 minute walk from The Arches, Cheltenham Road

Car parking:
on-street parking available | limited on-site accessible parking available for Blue Badge holders

Entry requirements: no age restrictions — Read more — Read less