The 15th Musicport World Music Festival - Indoor Festival of the Year 2013 (Fatea Awards) - held in the beautiful seaside North Yorkshire town of Whitby, plays host to a number of folk and world music artists and singer/songwriters this October.
Musicport was established in 2000 to promote live music and music education in Whitby and the surrounding area with its primary event being Musicport World Music Festival each autumn. Over the last fourteen years the festival has grown year on year and has established itself as a prestigious event in the festival calendar attracting major names such as Rachid Taha, The Buena Vista Social Club, Levellers, Hugh Masekela, Chumbawamba, Altan, Kate & Anna McGarrigle, and Los De Abajo.
2008 saw a major change with the festival moving to Bridlington from Whitby but in 2012 it returned to its spiritual home in Whitby where it will remain.
This years Musicport Festival is taking shape with top national and international award winning artists having been added to the line-up, including a rare opportunity to see the Songlines Award Winner (Best Group 2013) Lo’Jo from France in concert in the UK, the new young stars of Saharan music and hypnotic desert blues Tamikrest from Mali, and the stunning meeting of top Welsh harp player Catrin Finch and master Senegalese kora player Sekou Keita, and many, many more.
Folk artists include BBCR2 folk award winner and cutting edge folk singer Lucy Ward, the sharp-tongued, social surrealist rebel poet and songwriter Attila The Stockbroker, the acclaimed Yorkshire duo O’Hooley and Tidow with their powerful, thought provoking and deeply moving songs, and husband and wife duo Haddo, who combine the melodeon and harmonica of the brilliant Will Pound with in-demand fiddle and viola of Nicky Pound, to name but a few.
As well as performances from some of the nations best world music artists, educational and musical workshops will also be held across the weekend at Whitby Pavilion for all ages. The festival, which is run by a largely volunteer crew, will build on its fourteen years of experience of bringing the highest quality cultural experience to the Yorkshire coast in a friendly fun-packed weekend that will end the 2014 festival season on a wonderfully high note.
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Photo Credits:
(1) Musicport Festival,
(2) Seckou Keita & Catrin Finch,
(3) Lucy Ward,
(4) Lo'Jo (unknown/website);
(5) Tamikrest (by Walkin' Tom).
