Harrogate 1 July 2022

Harrogate International Festivals brings world to town with wealth of global influences

Harrogate International Festivals is bringing the world to North Yorkshire this summer with a wealth of global musical performers and continental influences – so there’s no need to queue for hours in an airport to get a taste of culture.

Making their debut at Spiegeltent are Kasai Masai, the UK’s finest Soukous band and London Afrobeat Collective a nine-piece afro-funk noise bomb. Joining them in in this year’s line-up is a host of international talent, including Argentinian pianist Silas Bassa, Singaporean classical guitarist Kevin Loh, flamboyant French group The Gypsy Queens, Canada’s Amici Ensemble, and Ukrainian pianist Alexei Grynyuk.

Based in London and led by Nickens Nkoso, Kasai Masai’s music reflects their journey from the rural to urban, performing music which has been passed on from generation to generation combined with their own contemporary style.

Written in Swahili, Lingala and Kimongo, the band’s lyrics portray the cultural diversity of Congo where more than four hundred languages are spoken. Their fast-paced style of soukous and rumba meld with Congolese folkloric traditions to create an infectious form of dance music.

Expect galloping rhythms, strong melodies, passionate beats, swinging guitars and moving saxophone as Kasai Masai make their Harrogate debut. Theirs is a sound that will transport you to a land where music is a way of life.

Saturday July 2. Spiegeltent. Tickets £16. Find out more and book here.

London Afrobeat Collective

Meanwhile, nine-piece ‘afro-funk noise bomb’ London Afrobeat Collective are fast becoming a household name in every European town who claims to know anything about a good party.

London Afrobeat Collective are Juanita Euka, vocals; Alex Farrell and Alexis Szyjanowicz, guitar; John Mathews, bass; Giuliano Osella, drums; Richie Sweet, percussion; Andy Watts, trumpet; and Klibens Michelet, baritone sax.

BBC Radio 2’s Jamie Cullum described London Afrobeat Collective as “An incredible live band ….seen them live a couple of times they’re a great ….good Afrobeat credentials there for sure”, whilst Trebuchet Magazine said: “All of the musicians are superb, they’re tight as hell, and they write and play great songs”.

Expect powerful vocals set to bold brass lines and uncontainable energy. From Europe to Africa, Glastonbury to ‘Felabration’, and now to Harrogate, they deliver party-music born of their truly global DNA.

Friday, July 8, Spiegeltent. Tickets £18. Find out more and book your tickets here

Book here for Spiegeltent
Odgens of Harrogate