Dave Paskell ventures over to Leeds on a freezing cold night and takes refuge in the bar of the Leeds Irish Centre with a couple of pints of guiness whilst he waits for the doors to open for the Imagined Village and a night of traditional English folk, political song and a Slade cover version. Here's how it all went...

The very first AfroTurf was a successful night of drum skin bending, tequila slamming and tail feather shaking courtesy of DJ Jen Wah Zee who has a foot in the London scene and her heart set on entertaining Sheffield's city centre party crowds. The Bungalow's and Bears crowd were entertained by two live acts, Sheffield based Mim Suleiman and London based band, The Worm plus DJ Jen Wah Zee who kept the crowds dancing to her blend of Afrobeat.

Adrian Phillips reaches for the cod liver oil as he recuperates from a Staff Benda Bilili gig. "I’ve been to some amazing gigs and, hopefully, I will go to more, but for raw, pulsating energy and sheer joy of the music I don’t think I’ve ever experienced anything quite like Staff Benda Bilili at the O2 in Oxford on Friday night.

Dave Paskell juggles the work life balance and gets to the Boardwalk just in time to find the best spot to watch Martha Tiltson and the Woods, there’s a fair size crowd of mixed ages. Nearly everyone is seated for tonight’s performance, around tables in an intimate atmosphere, close to the stage where four chairs await tonight’s headline act.
Photo credit Paul Handley.

Sue Miller joined the audience at the London's Barbican for Eliades Ochoa in Concert. Support came from the London Lucumi choir led by its creator Daniela Rosselson and Cuban singer and dancer Martha Galarraga with a bata drum ensemble led by Dave Pattman.

Robin Bream relays his delight at a truly memorable concert where he witnessed perhaps one of the longest encores, as the York audience for Daby Toure were reluctant to go home.

Melstar reports back from Manchester's Royal College of MusicMesmerising from start to finish. The ambience, the atmosphere was amazing. Bassekou Koutyate appeared in a long bright yellow robe, especially embroidered and made for him by his brother. The words Ngoni Master emblazoned on the front, with good reason, as we were to find out during the evening. Accompanying him on stage was his wife Amy Sacko, two percussionists playing clabash and talking drum and his ensemble of n'goni players in matching shimmering golden brown gowns that caught the lights and their electric movements.

“This is an amazing space isn’t it ?”, said Reem Kelani, as she stood next to the Steinway grand piano surveying the simple splendour of Sheffield’s Upper Chapel. Whether it was the setting, the warmth of her Sheffield welcome or something in the water of Dubai, from where Reem had just returned after attending a panel debate on the occassion of the visiting Tate Gallery exhibition of British Orientalist paintings. Whatever the cause, there was definitely something magical about the evening………

Lawrence Heath gets out of his seat to the sound of Warsaw Village Band who made their intentions clear as soon as they hit the stage .....this was going to be EXHILERATING!

Live Review from Sue Miller.
Buena Vista Social Club concerts are always a treat and this performance was no exception. Every BVSC concert becomes more and more poignant as the musicians pay tribute to past members who are no longer with us.