Matojeni Melo-Maniacs is a cultural music group from Zimbabwe Bulawayo.The group consists of 6 professional musicians :- Nomathamsanqa T Mkwananzi(Nkwali) Thandeka Patricia Jele(Thandy Dlana)Nolizwe Ngwenya,Blessings Nqo Nkomo,Mthabisi Moyo and Bekithemba Phiri(Beckx Marabha).

The purpose of this project is to promote and preserve our culture. It also seeks to give a platform to women to have access to opportunities, resources and their rights to have the power to control their own lives. “Our goal for performing traditional music is to bring people together through music. By singing and performing our traditional music, we have laid a strong foundation that none will take away. The foundation will give us the power to control our lives,” Blessings Nqo Nkomo is well-known for being a part of Insingizi ensemble, which has toured around the World with Dumisani “Ramadu” Moyo and Vusa Mkhaya. Thandy Dhlana is an Afro-Jazz specialist while the Nyawolwami hit- maker Nkwali, on the other hand, is a multi-award winner. MMM is prepared for the challenge at hand with Beckx Marabha performing the percussion with Bekezela “Sjure” Siziba, and guitarist Mthabisi Moyo rounding out the instrumental.

Lata Gouveia is a band leader, singer-songwriter and producer who started his musical journey in London in the mid-90’s. In his late teens he was already a regular presence at the 12 Bar Blues Club, at the Acoustic Café in Soho and other West-End Open Mic nights.

A European cousin to the Oklahoma Red Dirt and Tulsa Sound traditions, Lata Gouveia’s music has always had a tinge of JJ Cale and a strong Folk Rock influence. His early influences ranged from Bob Dylan and Tom Petty to Marc Knopfler, but it was only after a
number of years fronting South-East London bands that Gouveia moved to Oklahoma in 2007 and purified his songwriting style by living and spending time on and off stage with Rocky Frisco (JJ Cale Band) and playing often with Red Dirt Music legends Tom Skinner,
Randy Crouch and many others.

Lata Gouveia moved back to Europe in 2011 and he is now one of Luxembourg’s best known musicians. His band made a name for itself, headlining some of Luxembourg’s biggest open air Festivals and packing some of the country’s best known venues. Lata
was also the national opening act for Ayo, Charlie Winston, Alan Parsons, Bombino, Keiffer Sutherland, and Sting, amongst others.

In the last 8 years Gouveia also produced three LPs of original songs and Gouveia is also the founder of “The Grund Club”, the singer-songwriter collective that includes over 70 artists and musicians, and some of the biggest names in the country. This collective has
been endorsed by Centre de Musiques Amplifiees, funded by the Ministry of Culture. An accomplished artist, both in the rock band format and the acoustic format, Lata Gouveia’s lastest LP “Stay the same” was recorded live in the studio and was released in
early 2022. He is currently preparing a new project in Morroco, mixing his Red Dirt Music and JJ Cale influences with the desert blues sounds of the Sahara.

Luca Russo is a Milan Conservatory graduate who shifted his focus from piano to flute, studying with several renowned musicians. His passion for flamenco led to performances in prestigious theaters worldwide with acclaimed dancers like Antonio Canales and Rafael Amargo.

His compositions have been played in major concert halls across the globe, and he has published works such as Six Studies on circular breathing and Sonatina for flute and piano. He is a permanent conductor of the Cantù Youth Orchestra and has conducted other orchestras such as Bacau Filarmonic Orchestra, Lario Sinfonic Orchestra, and Como Lake Philharmonic Orchestra.

For several years he is studying bansuri and Indian music, also attending courses in Vicenza’s conservatory with Lorenzo Squillari, then studying ragas with Nicolò Melocchi, and traveling to India, at Hariprasad Chaurasia’s Gurukul in Mumbai and Bhubaneswar.

Italian Tenor Teo Ricciardella was born in Puglia, Italy. He immigrated to the United States of America at the age of thirteen where he began his classical career in 2000.
Since then, he established himself as a crossover artist performing classical and pop pieces. Teo Ricciardella has performed in numerous concerts, both nationally and internationally, in the cities of New York, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. Teo has performed in Bologna, Italy and appeared on national T.V. in Padua, Italy as a guest singer on Cantando Ballando which airs on Canale Italia.
Teo has performed in front of distinguished and international public figures, such as the United Nations Secretary General, H.E. Ban Ki-Moon at a NYC reception in his honor; Governor George Pataki at a commemoration reception for Independence Day; New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg for
the NYC Police Benevolent celebration; Mr. Donald Trump for the Grand Opening Gala of Trump
International, Council Member Paul Vall one at the Columbus Day Celebration of Italian Heritage at New York City Hall, Bronx Borough Pres. Ruben Diaz’s Italian Cultural Heritage Celebration at the Bronx Zoo honoring Sen. Al D’Amato, John LaBarca’s Italian House Party: Legends of Italian Song at the Westchester Broadway Theatre, and many more. Teo released his latest CD entitled “Reflections”
which includes All I Ask of You, Be My Love, Spanish Eyes, and many more. Teo released his first three CDs entitled “Musica”, “Solo Musica” and “From Italy With Love”, with a tribute to the great Italian tenors of the 20th Century such as Franco Corelli, Luciano Pavarotti, Mario Lanza, Placido Domingo, and includes favorites like Nessun Dorma (from the Turandot opera), Torna a Surriento, Because, Granada, Con Te Partirò, ‘Na Sera e Maggio, Un’Amore Cosi’ Grande, Ave Maria di Franz Schubert,
O Sole Mio, and many more. Teo lives in Westchester County, New York.

Koi Fish is an experimental music performance band founded in 2018. The band consists of Elik Harpaz on Voila, Singing, Piano, Drum set, Guitar, and Melodica, and Chihiro Tazuro on Singing, Persian Ney, Piano, Drum set, and Melodica. Koi Fish’s improvisational style explores the world of sound from a unique perspective, examining noise before it is defined by association with objects. Through their diverse backgrounds, the band’s improvisational actions allow them to research sound uninhibited. Koi Fish has performed at various venues, including Yellow Submarine Jerusalem, Koom koom Festival Jerusalem, Fight Festival Israel, Mazkeka Jerusalem, and Besarabia Jerusalem. In 2020, the band was selected by COCA Project.

“Nuno and the End” is a Cinematic / Avant Garde project resident in Berlin.

The latest album “Infinity” is inspired by “The Little Prince” by Antoine de Saint Exupéry, where a single character leaves planet Earth and delivers himself to the infinity of the stars, in an atmospheric and dreamy soundscape.”

“Nuno and the End music plays the fine line between being meditative and continuously surprising the listener at the same time. The soft electronic sounds combined with rhythms immerse the listener in a dreamy soundscape, where much more seems possible than in everyday life. The feelings conveyed by the vocals and lyrics are personal and refer to struggles very much familiar to all of us such as desire, betrayal, and overcoming one’s own limitations.

In the moment that the listener feels he is familiar with this soundscape, a subtle change is introduced, inviting the listener to stay tuned in and challenging him to adjust, rethink and go with the flow.”

Østerlide swept onto the Norwegian folk music scene in late 2020, and quickly received international acclaim for their eponymous debut album. Their unusual arrangements of the traditional folk melodies give new perspectives and display a wide range of moods and textures – from a mere whisper to the brutally noisy. Through open musical landscapes, or cramped and claustrophobic musical spaces, the listener is always carried on by the tireless and timeless folk melodies that have been shaped and honed through the centuries.
Liv Ulvik – Vocals
Andreas Haddeland – Guitars
Ulrik Ibsen Thorsrud – percussion
Østerlide swept onto the Norwegian folk music scene in late 2020, and quickly received international acclaim for their eponymous debut album. Their unusual arrangements of the traditional folk melodies give new perspectives and display a wide range of moods and textures – from a mere whisper to the brutally noisy. Through open musical landscapes, or cramped and claustrophobic musical spaces, the listener is always carried on by the tireless and timeless folk melodies that have been shaped and honed through the centuries.

Fiárock is a band that celebrates the traditional music of Ireland with a new and refreshing sound. With a wide palette of colours from bright and driving to lush and intricate, the group’s masterful arrangements reflect the depth and diversity of each of its members. Hailing from both sides of the Atlantic, the quartet brings together their combined experiences in several musical traditions to weave a rich tapestry that is both authentic and unique, bound together with a passion that can be felt in every tune and song.
Clíona Halley
Clíona Halley is a concertina, fiddle and traditional piano player from Castlemartyr, Co. Cork. Besides Irish traditional music, she is also fully trained on classical violin and piano. Clíona has performed worldwide and was part of the Comhaltas Tour of Ireland, Britain and Canada in 2014. In 2019, she performed on the main stage at Disneyland Paris for St. Patrick’s Day. She recently represented Ireland, performing Irish music at the World Expo in Dubai. Clíona has many accolades to her name, which includes being part of the 2019 Oireachtas na Samhna winning traditional music duet. Clíona completed her Masters in Irish Traditional Music Performance at the University of Limerick in 2019 and graduated with a First Class Honours. She enjoys teaching concertina workshops at festivals around Ireland and has recently been a tutor at the renowned Meitheal Summer School.

Darragh Carey-Kennedy
Darragh Carey-Kennedy is an Irish traditional banjo player from Roscrea, Co. Tipperary. He has won numerous All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil titles in a range of different instruments, including the mandolin and miscellaneous competitions. Darragh recently graduated with a First Class Honours Bachelor’s degree in Irish Music from the University of Limerick. He was also a recipient of the FLCM from the London College of Music in Irish Traditional Music Performance. Darragh recently received his TTCT qualification from Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann and achieved the high achiever’s award in this course. He has been teaching Irish traditional music from a very young age and has given workshops on the banjo at various festivals, including Scoil Éigse at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in 2019 and 2021 and Meitheal Irish Traditional Music Summer School in 2022. Darragh is currently the Youth Officer of his local Comhaltas branch and loves promoting Irish traditional music to the younger generation.

Evan Powell
Evan’s love for the piano reaches back to his early years, but his journey into Irish traditional music began while studying jazz performance at Florida State University. His style of accompaniment bears the subtle tracings of his jazz roots, where the intricate harmonies of artists such as Bill Evans and Keith Jarrett hold a strong influence. Evan is also a passionate educator. He has given workshops at various Irish music festivals and has been a guest lecturer on the topics of harmony and improvisation at universities both in the United States and abroad. He currently resides in Austin, Texas.

Nicolle Fig
Nicolle Fig was born in Mexico City. Years later, she moved to Texas and then Ireland, where she developed a passion for Irish culture, its music, and its people. Nicolle specialises in bodhrán and traditional singing. Nicolle’s distinctive lyrical style of bodhrán playing has made her a highly sought-after musician and accompanist, both at home and abroad. She is also an in-demand teacher. Her success is reflected by her large following on YouTube, where she has developed a strong professional reputation as a welcoming and skilful teacher. Nicolle attended the University of Limerick, where she studied under renowned masters of music. She graduated with Honours in 2016 and later in 2020 and earned both a BA and an MA in Irish Traditional Music Performance. Recently, Nicolle had the honour of representing Ireland at the World Expo in Dubai 2020 and toured in Spain with Crisol – Flamenco Celt.

Debapriya is a National Award and President’s Award winner, A graded artiste of All India Radio. He is one of the finest vocalists of the country of the younger generation, with a silken voice and uncanny command over the octaves his style of singing is marked by both elegance and grandeur that transcends the audience to a rare height of emotional excellence. His perfection of thoughts, and understanding of voice to keep even intricate elements soothing to ears got him admirers from around the world.

Born and brought up at Sindri in Jharkhand initially he got his music nurtured and nourished from his very childhood at the hands of his mother Smt. Anita Adhikary who was a disciple of Pt. Shivnath Jha popularly known as Taanraj. Seeing her child’s interest she took him to Pt. Samaresh Chawdhury of Senia Gharana where he learnt for long 13 years, after she groomed her son the rudiments of Classical music. Debapriya also got a change in his approach towards music with the very guidance of Pt. Kumar Prasad Mukherjee Agra Atrauli Gharana whom he got for a very little time and also learnt with Pt. Vijay Kichlu ji for a while. Both enriched his gayaki with both khayalang and dhrupadang.

His continued taalim for last 11 years with the legendary Padmav Vibhushan Girija Devi of Benaras Gharana as a Gandabandh disciple has helped him acquire master on thumri, tappa, dadra, kajri, jhula etc alongwith the subtleties of khayal he gets from her. With all these Debapriya has earned a name and fame in his land and abroad. He is a topper with Masters in Music from University of Calcutta and empanelled artiste with ICCR.

Presently Debapriya is getting nurtured by the Maestro of Dagar tradition Pt. Uday Bhawalkar with rudiments of Dhrupad.

He has been also performing duet of Vocal and Sitar with an excellent young sitarist maintaining the traditional way of Raag badhat with detailed alapchaari and other angas (phrases) of North Indian Classical music. They are presently the most sought-after duo of the country as being the only consistent duo of their kind and also first ever duo of Sur Bahar and Vocal

He composed additional music and performed live with Samanwaya Sarkar, for an Australian film “The Sleeping Warrior” based on Indian and Aboriginal spirituality got released worldwide in 2012.

He is the Director alongwith Samanwaya, of the documentary film Girija “A lifetime In Music” that received 65th National Award as the Best Documentary on Art and Culture by Govt of India and also got Awarded as the Best Documentary on Art and Culture Feature by Los Angeles Independent Music Festival.

He is also one of the founder trustees of the non profit trust SUR that stands for “Sublime Urge to Rejoice”. Surindia 

Like many songwriters, Marye Lobb composed melodies in her carseat – singing before she could talk, but it wasn’t until she studied abroad in the south of Chile that she realized music was her calling. After learning Patagonian folk music, and hearing the  contagious rhythms of the Cueca, Tango, and Bossa Nova, Marye was hooked.

Her songs are ballad-heavy easy listening, with hints of folk, new age, Latin, and jazz. She counts as her biggest influences Ella Fitzgerald, Regina Spektor, and Astor Piazzolla, among others. Her highly polished vocals carry the lush and soothing melodies of her devastating and equally uplifting stories. Marye has performed at the The Knitting Factory, Stonewall Inn, The Birchmere, The Bitter End, and other venues both large small across the US, in Mexico, South America, and Europe. She is currently exploring how to widely share the health benefits of music and creativity for all while she records and produces her 4th album in her new home studio.

Guitar and multi string instrumentalist/composer Asgeir Asgeirsson plays many styles of music, including pop, rock, jazz and different kinds of World music. Asgeir has been very active on the Icelandic music scene for nearly 30 years and has featured on over hundred albums in that time. He has played with all of the most known musicians in Iceland as well as many internationally recognised musicians including: Dave Weck, Guthrie Govan, Chris Cheek, Seamus Blake, Ingrid Jensen, Manosh Bardhan, Borislav Zgurovski, Matt Penman  and Claudio Spieler.

Asgeir graduated from FIH music school in 1999 and went abroad to study at Conservatorium van Amsterdam, he has also studied jazz privately with Peter Bernstein, Justin Haynes, Jonathan Kreisberg, Steve Cardenas and Brad Shepik. In 2009 marked the beginning of his study of Balkan and Eastern music and has Asgeir travelled to study music of the East every year since. Asgeir has study with Todor Vasilev in Bulgaria, Nikos Tatasopoulos and Vangelis Trigas in Greece, Yurdal Tokcan, Enver Mete Aslan, Zeynel Demirtas and Berkant Kaya in Turkey, Negar Bouban and Hamid Khansari in Iran and Tareq Jundi in Jordan.

Asgeir has released five solo albums, two with original jazz music, Passing through recorded in New York in 2006 featuring Chris Cheek, Matt Penman and Erik Qvick and Trio from 2015.

Asgeir has also released three albums with Icelandic folksongs blending them with eastern tonalities.

The first one Two sides of Europe, released in 2017 he worked with some of Turkey´s finest musicians led by oud virtuoso Yurdal Tokcan.  The second one released in 2018 featuring some of Bulgaria´s finest led by accordion virtuoso Borislav Zgurovski, also featuring on that album is bouzouki virtuoso Nikos Tatasopoulos, Indian tabla maestro Manosh Bardhan and flamenco specialist, cajon player Claudio Spieler as well as a long time collaborator on the Icelandic music scene, clarinet player Haukur Grondal.

In 2020 Asgeir released the third and last album of the folksong trilogy Persian Path with some of Tehran finest musicians led by oud virtuoso Hamid Khansari.

On all of the three albums one of Iceland´s finest female singer Sigridur Thorlacius handles all vocal to give it a unique blend of Icelandic language blended with eastern rhythms and tonalities.

On these three folksongs albums Asgeir plays many different types of Eastern string instruments icluding bouzouki, tamboura, oud and saz.