This weekend we went to the first ever Kora Festival in the UK (maybe in Europe) at Brighton. The kora is an amazing 21-stringed African instrument a bit like a harp. It sounds just wonderful and is very beautiful but difficult to play.

Some of the world’s best players gathered and ran workshops and performances all afternoon culminating with most of them on stage at the same time at the end.

It really was wonderful and we met up with load of people we knew there from the drumming and African music world.

We stayed in a b & b for a change as it would cost more in fuel than a hotel to take Moon Palace and on the way home we visited my dad and his wife which was lovely.

There are loads more great pictures of the Kora festival at this link:

Kora Festival

This must be the longest gap between blog posts but I’ve just been so busy! The summer always is busy for me as we attend or work at many and various festivals and drum camps.

We went to the amazing WOMAD festival at Charlton House where you get to see and hear top world music acts – Afro Celt Sound System to mention one of the best we saw plus a huge array of people from all over the globe.

Then I had an amazing two day felt making class (already posted pictures on Facebook which a lot of you have already seen) and I’m keen to do more of it as it was really fun, rewarding and creative.

The weekend of 6-8th Aug we had a camping party at our house with lots of friends and family and some wonderful music jamming and playing – bonfires and great company.

Then finally we’re just back from the Tribe of Doris annual inter-cultural summer school – here’s the link to some great photos:

Tribe of Doris

Right now we’re spending a few days in Bristol and I’m lolling about in bed with a horrible cold and have to get Moon Palace an MOT tomorrow then back to the Oxfordshire countryside for a few days before a new round of happenings on the horizon…..

watch this space………

I’m sitting on the boat where we’re staying in Poplar Dock in London for a few days. We’re in town for a week of sabar drumming evening classes with our teacher Modou Diouf from Senegal.

London is very sunny and hot and I hope it stays nice as we’re off family camping in Wales on the weekend.

We had a great time in Bristol the other weekend, went to a gig, a mini-festival and the Bristol Refugee Day in the park with some lively African bands and other performers from countries where people find themselves persecuted in various ways – we are very lucky here to have such relative freedoms.

We’ve also been watching the abysmal England World Cup matches – let’s say no more about that – it’s too depressing! Let’s hope tomorrow’s match is better -  it couldn’t really be worse – unless you are North Korea of course!

Anyway – got to go now – sorry it’s been so long – I’ll be back!

Here’s a picture of a band which was singing about the problems the indigeonous people from the West Papuan Islands suffer.

I don’t really know where to start with this post – too much to try and cover in a short post!

We were on site on and off from Weds till Monday and the event was a great success. The format was people could arrive from the Friday night and get their camping gear set up and have a meal. Saturday all day there were amazing performances of West African music from both students and professional artists. Each person could do one workshop of their choice in one of the marquees or in the main barn area for African dancing.

Apart from one or two things – the whole thing went off without a hitch and we’re hoping to do a longer event next year depending on a venue.

There are lots of photos up on various Facebook sites but for now here’s one to be going on with (I actually didn’t have time to take a single one – doh!)

This is us playing as part of Sankofa – a UK sabar group.

I can’t believe so much time has passed since I last posted something.

It’s been hectic to say the least!

I’ve been to and fro from Bristol and had family staying all weekend which was lovely – especially seeing my sister who lives in Australia which is always a very special treat.

Tomorrow we’re off in Moon Palace to start setting up ABC – the whole site has to be marked out, a stage built, all the preparations put in place for an amazing line up of drum and dance workshops and performances this coming weekend. It’s a real team effort (about 5 organisers and 20 crew and up to 200 punters) and if last year’s got anything to go by – it’ll be fantastic and worth all the effort.

I’ll try and get some photos in between everything else and see you all next week!