Sinan Cem Eroğlu
"Sinan Cem Eroglu is some of the best instrumentalist and the first modern virtuoso of kaval in today's Turkish Folk Music..." - Songlines Magazine - Francesco Martinelli
"There is no doubt that Eroglu performs in all roles with a significant degree of skill that may be considered prodigious." - Songlines Magazine - Michael Galea
Chuchito Valdes
“In its nearly 40 years of bringing world-class entertainment to southern Washington State, Water Music Festival presented Diego and Chuchito who were hailed by many audience members as the best concert they have ever attended.” - Diane Marshall, President, Water Music Series
Gunhild Carling
“Gunhild Carling, Swedish musical sensation performed an outstanding set of swingin’ jazz, which consisted of a mix of originals and jazz standards.” – Big City Rhythm and Blues Magazine
Warsaw Village Band
“Traditional Polish songs, with their cutting vocals and meshed fiddles are the foundation of Warsaw Village Band’s repertory. But while their lineup is primarily acoustic – hand drums, hammered dilcimer, violins, cello – their sensibilities are modern. They hear dance -club drive and trancey echoes in the songs and they use recording studio techniques to heighten the central drones and eerie percussive sounds in their songs. Hints of reggae and guests like a scratching disc jockey should further infuriate purists” - The New York Times
QWANQWA: Psychedelic Roots From Addis Ababa
Beaming in from the sizzling Addis Ababa nightlife scene, this group shines an experimentalism based in the virtuosity of rooted traditions. QWANQWA, the Amharic word for “language,” is a project creating dialogues between cultures.
Filipe Sambado: Desire for transgression and elimination of sonic barriers
Filipe Sambado composes remarkable songs that start from an indie pop matrix and consolidate a sonic universe that questions us, summons our memory and projects it in an exercise of reconfiguring current Portuguese identity.
Haepaary
HAEPAARY is an alt-electronic duo, consisting of HYEWON (sound producer/instrumentalist) and MINHEE (vocalist/executive producer). With ambient music and techno sounds, they have reinterpreted the melodies and lyrics of Jongmyojereak, the royal shrine music of the Joseon dynasty, and Namchang Gagok, a Korean traditional vocal genre that has always been performed exclusively by men. Their tracks demonstrate Hyewon and Minhee's brilliant disentanglement of formality and disciplines of Confucian music with their rearticulation of rave and trance. Their soundscape of refinement will invite intimate strangers to its secluded party.
Maryna Krut (KRUTЬ)
🌟 Exploring the Resilient Heart of Ukrainian Music: A Deep Dive with Maryan Krut/KRUTЬ🌟
Maryna Krut, more famous as KRUTЬ, is a renowned Ukrainian singer and songwriter. Sole innovator of bandura (Ukrainian traditional string instrument) in the soul genre. The Voice of Ukraine and The X Factor participant. A unique combination of atmospheric voice and extraordinary musical elegance of bandura.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Ladysmith Black Mambazo has performed for millions of people, singing a message of peace, love and harmony. With their 2024 release, Soothe My Soul…Songs From Our South African Church, the group puts their own spin on gospel music.
Lois Landgrebe: Storyteller hailing from the Tulalip Tribe
Lois Landgrebe, a storyteller hailing from the Tulalip Tribe, carries the torch of her ancestors' wisdom and traditions. As Chairwoman of the Northwest Indian Storyteller's Association (NISA) in 2017 and 2018, Lois played a pivotal role in preserving and promoting indigenous storytelling. She draws inspiration from the words of her beloved mentor, Vi Hilbert, who emphasized the significance of sharing stories as a means to honor and remember the invaluable gifts of ancestors. Through her performances, Lois weaves together the vibrant history and traditions of the Tulalip Tribe, transporting audiences to a world steeped in cultural richness and ancestral knowledge.
The Afronauts
The Afronauts, based in Krakow, Poland, is a colourful and dynamic group set on delivering energetic performances to their audiences.
Ablaye Badji Band
Ablaye Badji, a multi-instrumentalist, showcases world music with a prominent West African influence and the unique sound of the kora!