I believe ticket ordering info is now on the web site for Eisteddfod-2006. . I thought I might provide a bit more information on two of the groups whose names may be unknown to list readers. Zie Mwea play music from a particular tribe in northern Ghana, Cote D'Ivoire, and parts of Berkina Faso (how do you spell that?). . They play on a traditional marimba like instrument known is the ghyll (pronounced "zheel"). Bernard Woma is perhaps the acknowledged greatest master of the instrument. The vocals are quite stunning, of a call-and-response type typical of west Africa. I heard them at a concert in New York at El Taller Latino Americano (even though their music is not Latin at all) and was quite blown away. Bernard has a residency in the US for a year and that made it possible to get them. . . Really not to be missed. Serre L'Ecoute I heard at Mystic Seaport festival last June, where they simply brought the house down. For those who were not there, they do French Canadian traditional stuff, with Gabrielle Bouthillier the lead singer. She has a voice that can knock you over and a style that is quite thrilling. Ask anyone who was at Mystic. They have also collected extensively material from Brittany, so it is also terrific that we have managed to book them. . . (Anyone else looking to put them on during November? -- please email me at jerepst@att.net if you are). Jerry Epstein (festival director)
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