FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS

Raka

Raka is an 8-piece ensemble that plays traditional music from the Balkans. The unmistakable groove of Raka brings everyone to their feet. Their music strongly focuses on the folk traditions of Bulgaria and Macedonia and the Romani music that spans far and wide across the Balkans. Their meandering musical tributaries have all led them to one communal river: the love and commitment to understanding and interacting with the music of the Balkans. They bring to life a genuinely authentic repertoire wherever they are, from sweaty back rooms of North London clubs to concert halls on the banks of the Thames.

They take their name from a traditional Bulgarian dance, the ‘Raka’. A heart-rending lament can move the body as much as a pounding Bulgarian Pravo, and in Raka, they have made space for both and everything in between.

"Absolutely magnificent, no one can sit still listening to Raka!"

DJ Ritu

A World in London - Resonance FM

“Raka burst with traditional Balkan flair, the group earn their title as the essential act of the Raka weekend.”

Eva Hibbs Nightshift Magazine

Ayan De First and The Oduduwa Talking Drummers

The Oduduwa Talking Drummers are a wellestablished multi-cultural troupe formed by Ayan Ayandosu, known as Ayan De First, who present authentic Yoruba, Ibo and Hausa music from Nigeria and music, culture and heritage from other African countries such as Kenya, South Africa, Zimbabwe and the Congo.

The Talking Drum is a unique traditional musical instrument that mimics the human voice and synthesises language. The Yoruba people are best known for their music and dance; they are one of the major tribes of Nigeria, and the Talking Drum is one of their great traditional art forms, including door and house-post carving, terracotta pottery, cast bronze and forged iron sculpture.

The Oduduwa Talking Drummers work within the educational sectors with links to globalisation and the National Curriculum, promoting community cohesion and inclusion through the arts of Africa.

Yemeni Cultural Group

The band was established in 2011 in Birmingham and is composed of five members with Yemeni heritage. Their mission is to elevate Yemeni music and bring awareness to the rich musical traditions of the various regions of Yemen. All the band members come from different parts of Yemen, and the singer, oud, drums and percussion instruments accompany Mohamed Hassan to highlight rhythms in subtly expressive ways. The audience can look forward to a taste of live traditional Yemeni music.

Pagrav Dance Company, led by Urja Thakore

Pagrav means ‘the sound of feet’. Through the Indian classical dance form Kathak –which expresses stories through movement, especially footwork and facial gesture – we celebrate an ancient tradition and its potential to empower people and enhance lives.

Temoor Alam

Temoor Alam is a Milton Keynes local and singer of South Asian ghazals. He is inspired by Jagjeet Singh and Mehdi Hassan, who sing ghazals worldwide in concerts and charity events. A ghazal is originally an Arabic poem about love, longing, religious belief, and philosophical questions. They are often composed and sung by musicians of Iranian, Indian and Pakistani origin. The form originates from 17th Century Arabia but gained prominence in the 13th and 14th centuries with poets such as Rumi and Hafiz. With syntactically and grammatically complete couplets, the form also has an intricate rhyme scheme.

MK Music Hub + Members of the London Syrian Ensemble

MK Music Hub has been working with members of the London Syrian Orchestra to compose a new piece of music, which will be performed at Art in the Park in 2023. This was for young musicians to explore different musical cultures, combined with an opportunity to perform alongside the Syrian musicians they had been working closely with.

Milton Keynes Music Education Hub is an organisation led by Milton Keynes Council’s Music Faculty consisting of schools and key partners responsible for the music. The Hub ensures that all young people can receive excellent music education and have opportunities to develop their music skills through high-quality instrumental and vocal tuition and progressive wide-ranging musical experiences.

The London Syrian Ensemble is an influential collective of some of the Damascus Conservatoire’s finest musicians. Now in the UK, they mix traditional Middle Eastern instruments with violins, violas, double bass and percussion. The ensemble skilfully recreates 20th Century Syrian classics and modern-day music in the form of instrumental pieces, improvisations and songs.

Kinetika Bloco

The Kinetika Bloco is a performance group with an exuberant mix of young brass and woodwind players, drummers, steel pan and dynamic dancers all in costume, creating a “unique new British Carnival sound with a decidedly London edge” (BBC Radio 2). They draw influences from the Caribbean, Brazil, Africa and New Orleans. Performances have included Notting Hill Carnival, Bestival and London Jazz Festival; performing for Nelson Mandela, who called them ‘enchanting’ and representing the UK at Beijing Olympic Festival!

Kinetika Bloco’s mission is to get young people from South London engaged in long-term creative activity advancing their education, skills, and capacity. Through music, dance, design and leadership activities, they enable young people to have creative engagement, determine company policy and direction, and follow pathways for leadership and career development. Kinetika Bloco aims to embody and promote a positive representation of youth in London.

The Anatolia Music Group

MK Anatolian Music Club was founded in 2021 by Turkish music enthusiasts who live in Milton Keynes. It results from a new, thriving Turkish community in the city. They have eight permanent group members, with more joining for practices. They focus on classical Turkish music, Sufi and Mevlevi music, and Turkish folk music.

They welcome all interested in Turkish music to get in touch with them, no matter how much they know about it or their musical background, as they love to share their art and music culture with other communities.