globalFEST



Photographs courtesy of Rock Paper Scissors, Inc.
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Summary Info Festival StoryFestival EventsOther SourcesPractical Info

Country and Region United StatesNew York
Type of Festival Music
Location of Festival New York, New York, USA
Festival Address Information

Dmitri Vietze
Rock Paper Scissors, Inc.
P. O. Box 1788, Suite 137
Bloomington, Indiana 47402-1788 USA
Phone: (01) 812-339-1195
Fax: (01) 801-729-4911

Festival Description

For seven years globalFEST has been the springboard festival for world music artists on the brink of North American national mainstage success, performers known in one community but ready to cross into others, and the marquee stars of tomorrow. globalFEST 2010 showcases French Gypsy jazz with breakbeats, cumbia-fied downtempo Argentine club sounds, soul-stirring Afro-Colombian roots, new generation Louisiana fiddling, Africa unplugged, Irish traditional song, Senegalese roots reggae, Central Asian avant rock, Romanian hybrid blues, New York salsa upstarts, and an Algerian songstress all under one roof at New York City’s Webster Hall (125 E. 11th St.) on January 10, 2010 at 7:)0pm.

Festival Dates January 10, 2010
Festival Links

http://www.globalfest-ny.org

Festival Story:

The festival-which has presented over 75 artists since its inception in 2004-is buoyed by a renewed sense of the United States’ place at the global table in the wake of Barack Obama’s election to president, confirmed by his recent Nobel Peace Prize. “This year’s globalFEST looks towards a new sense of internationalism and accessibility,” says Isabel Soffer of World Music Institute, who along with Bill Bragin of Acidophilus: Live and Active Cultures and Shanta Thake of Joe’s Pub at the Public Theater, direct the annual festival. “The U.S. is being re-embraced by the world,” says Bragin. “There is a reinvigorated interest in artists trying to connect with the U.S. market.”

As always, the three festival directors seek out artists that may be discoveries or even revelations for their audience, a mix of music fans, and performing arts professionals-including concert presenters, agents, managers, artists, labels, and press-on the lookout for new talent. “We continue to bring several local U.S. based bands as well as international ones, some smaller bands that may be easier to tour in clubs and cabarets, and other larger groups for major festival markets,” Thake explains.

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Festival Events:

Participating artists 2010:
  • Alif Naaba, West African acoustic song (Burkina Faso)
  • Cara Dillon, striking Celtic vocalist (Ireland)
  • Caravan Palace, swingin’ electro manouche jazz (France)
  • Cedric Watson, Creole Zydeco heir from Louisiana (USA)
  • Federico Aubele, bolero and cumbia meets electro downtempo (Argentina/USA)
  • La Cumbiamba eNeYé, Afro-Colombian roots from NYC (Colombia/USA)
  • La Excelencia, old-school salsa dura revivalists (USA)
  • Meta and the Cornerstones, African roots reggae export (Senegal/USA)
  • Namgar, Siberian shaman rock from the Central Asian steppes (Russia)
  • Nguyên Lê, acclaimed French-Vietnamese guitarist leads a Pan-Asian jazz trio (Vietnam/Japan/India/France)
  • Nightlosers, Transylvanian blues-rock/Gypsy chameleons (Romania)
  • Souad Massi, Algerian folk-rock songstress (Algeria/France)

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Other Sources:

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Practical Info:

Venue:
  • Webster Hall
    125 East 11th Street
    New York, New York
Tickets:
  • Available online from Ticketmaster
    http://www.ticketmaster.com/, or +1-866-448-7849
  • Note: promoters caution music lovers to buy early—prior globalFEST shows have sold out in advance.

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