The year is flying by furnishing us with a new set of musical memories. Thrilling discoveries on Glastonbury’s fringe stages, grooving to great African dance bands at WOMAD or simply relaxing to an acoustic set with a beer on the Larmer Tee lawns. Just as you heave a sigh and mourn the end of the festival season, don’t fret…there’s one more festival that will give you the chance for a final fling, to lift your spirits before the nights start to draw in, in earnest. Its also the perfect excuse to escape the city and follow the very English and Victorian tradition for concerts and dancing by the seaside. Text and images : Jill Turner

Melstar travelled to the Africa Oye festival in Liverpool, to meet Carlou D. On the eve of his album launch in London, Carlou D rocked the crowd, yet away from the stage he was quiet and unassuming. Read how their encounter, one Sunday in Sefton Park, unfolded.
Text : Melstar Images : Jill Turner

You know when you are creating a stir when you get a mention in "Exposed" , Sheffield's monthly listings magazine. It was quite a surprise to see the column inches with some kind comments made...not quite so sure about the picture though... a bit cliched although it does have the ring of Hezdoleh Soundz about it ..you can see what Exposed wrote in the full article.

The fifth Wychwood Festival usually marks the start of the green field festival season. Bathed in sunshine with some great acts including, Dub Colossus, Kissmet, Justin Adams and Juldeh Camara, Bellowhead amongst others, Adrian Phillips and Lisa Coleman sent their report for GondwanaSound.

This article, by William Hastings, was originally published on the website, Jambands.com. It resonated with me for a number of reasons but mainly because I have I found it hugely difficult to schedule a two hour broadcast of global roots and grooves, whilst witnessing the most terrible scenes on television. How can we dance when there is only sadness, what do I play to keep our spirits up or do we just get angry.... It has also been a confusing time for me as a broadcaster, wanting so much to comment on the humanitarian abuses and atrocities but ever conscious of the need to hold onto that sometimes untenable ideal called impartiality whilst also being told that people don't like to mix politics with music...

I was delighted to receive permission, from the author to reproduce this article in full below.

It was a pleasure to welcome two locals, Ian McMillan and Luke Carver Goss into the studio. The idea was to promote their new album, Sharp Stories plus their tour dates. Somehow it didn't quite go to plan, I blame the coffee!

The two of them are masters of improvisation putting together Ian's skills as a wordsmith and Luke's quick thinking musically. The whole interview had an air of mischief and this extract is typical. It includes the now infamous improvisation specially for GondwanaSound. The subject was the bane of my broadcast life, squeeky chairs...

Just as we were easing into 2008 news came in that Andy Palacio had lost his fight for life and had been flown to his home country of Belize where he died on January 19th. The news was even more difficult to comprehend as he had such an extraordinary year in 2007 with so many awards an accolades.

GondwanaSound first broadcast this tribute on January 2008 and you can read the full script below.

Listen to the GondwanaSound Andy Palacio tribute.

Jill Turner had the pleasure of meeting and talking with Costica "Cimai" Trifan and Radalescu Lazar, two members of the mighty speed brass band, Fanfare Ciocarlia from Zece Prajini in Romania.

Listen to the GondwanaSound interview with Fanfare Ciocarlia

Chiwoniso's album received high praise from Charlie Gillet, it went to number one in the European World Music Charts. Attracting attention on a number of levels not excluding the fact that its an album with strong Mbira playing from a woman, bucking the accepted norms. DJ Debbie caught up with her during her London date at Momo's.

After hosting the first Awards for World Music in January 2002, the BBC announced in august 2008 that they were being axed. Had they run their course, would someone step in to save them, do we actually need awards ? Jill Turner set out to find some answers.