Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation

atlantic Waves 2008 logo

The very best in contemporary and traditional Portuguese and Lusophone music

Atlantic Waves 2008 features a magnificent line-up of Portuguese and Lusophone music encompassing a vibrant, engaging mix of fado, alternative folk, cinematic pop, bossa nova and contemporary African music. Noted for presenting new artists and for premiering new work, this year’s festival includes some of global music’s brightest stars who confidently revitalise and recast traditional music for the 21st century. The festival offers the chance to hear performers who have rarely, and in some cases, never, performed in the UK.

“In its eighth year, the Atlantic Waves festival confirms that Portuguese music embraces its traditions as warmly as it celebrates the new. It is clearly international, innovative and involves a vibrant and varied range of artists, all of which reflects the qualities Gulbenkian seeks in the projects it supports.” Andrew Barnett, Director, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation

Atlantic Waves kicks off in fine style with the undisputed Queen of Fado, Mariza, whopremieres her new album Terra at the Barbican on November 1st and 2nd. Other highlights include a double bill of folk with a contemporary edge at Bush Hall on November 4th from two of Galicia’s most popular acts: award-winning world music group Berrogüetto and
Galician diva Uxía. Also at Bush Hall, Gaiteiros de Lisboa is set to light up bonfire night with their unique take on Portuguese folk music, featuring adapted and invented instruments.

Like Mariza, Madredeus have made a huge impression on UK audiences and Atlantic Waves is pleased to welcome the band’s co-founder Rodrigo Leão and his sweeping cinematic sounds to the Barbican on November 6th. Hailed by Pedro Almodóvar as 'one of the most inspired composers in the world', his work has attracted collaborators from Ryuichi Sakamoto to Beth Gibbons. Manchester’s The Durutti Column make a rare London appearance in support.

Celebrated for his cross cultural collaborations, Lebanese oud maestro and composer Rabih Abou-Khalil and his group have teamed up with talented young Fado singer Ricardo Ribeiro and will be playing music from their new album Em Português at St John’s on November 9th. The following night features sublime Brazilian singer-songwriter Vinicius Cantuária in a special concert at the Queen Elizabeth Hall exploring the past and future of bossa nova. Sharing the bill is one of Portugal’s new generation of Fado singers, Mafalda Arnauth, whose breathtaking performance was a highlight of last year’s festival.

Atlantic Waves festival closes with a rare UK appearance from the great Waldemar Bastos, also at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, on November 11th. Hailed as the voice of Portuguese Africa and a national hero in Angola, his unique ‘Afropean’ music has seen him collaborate with the likes of Brazilian singers Djavan and Chico Buarque, and record for David Byrne's label Luaka Bop. The evening also features the debut appearance of passionate, soulful singer Neco Novellas from Mozambique.

For further information please contact Riotsquad Publicity:
Siân Williams 020 7223 7456 / sian@riotsquadpublicity.com
Kerstan Mackness 077756 55573 / kerstan@riotsquadpublicity.com

www.atlanticwaves.org

FULL PROGRAMME:

Atlantic Waves 2008 showcases some of the great successes of Portuguese music who, thanks in part to the festival, have already made a huge connection with British audiences, and brings new talents to the London stage.

Mariza

Saturday 1 & Sunday 2 November 7.30pm
plus special family show Sunday 2 November 2.30pm
Barbican • Silk Street, London EC2
020 7638 8891 • www.barbican.org.uk

Three special UK concerts by the queen of fado, the breathtakingly lyrical and melancholic music of Portugal. Adored worldwide for her heartbreaking voice, compelling stage charisma and performances that are full of musical passion and drama, Mariza returns to London for her first UK concerts in two years to premiere material from her eagerly anticipated album Terra, out this autumn on EMI – a richly cosmopolitan mix of flamenco and morna, jazz and folk music through which resonates a constant Portuguese sound. Her special family concert is for young people and accompanying adults.

“When Mariza sings, time stands still.” Charlie Gillett

Berrogüetto/Uxía

Tuesday 4 November 7.30pm
Bush Hall • 310 Uxbridge Road, London W12
www.bushhallmusic.co.uk
08700 600 100 • www.ticketweb.co.uk • www.wegottickets.com

Folk with a contemporary edge courtesy of award-winning world music group Berrogüetto, who combine a passion for traditional Galician music with contemporary experimentationnand influences well beyond the borders of Galicia – playing an eclectic variety of instruments from the bagpipes to the synthesized guitar: and Uxía, the Galician diva whose passion for mixing cultures results in a fusion of rhythms and sounds. Uxía’s songs are always tinged with the touch of traditional music, whether latent or explicit, making her one of Galicia’s most valued and popular artists.

Gaiteiros de Lisboa

Wednesday 5 November 7.30pm
Bush Hall • 310 Uxbridge Road, London W12
www.bushhallmusic.co.uk
08700 600 100 www.ticketweb.co.uk • www.wegottickets.com

Acclaimed Portuguese alternative folk group Gaiteiros de Lisboa (‘Lisbon bagpipers’) make a long awaited return visit to London. This folk-world band of multitalented musicians play songs and tunes from Portuguese and other cultures alongside their own compositions, blending the music of their original wind instruments and vocal polyphonies in a continuous search for new sounds.

Rodrigo Leão/The Durutti Column

Thursday 6 November 7.30pm
Barbican • Silk Street, London EC2
020 7638 8891 • www.barbican.org.uk

Rodrigo Leão, co-founder of Madredeus, was hailed by Pedro Almodóvar as ‘one of the most inspired composers in the world’. There is a cinematic scale to his work which has attracted collaborators from Ryuichi Sakamoto to Beth Gibbons, and which comes out in his first retrospective work, O Mundo, in which he and his band draw together much of his greatest music as part of an imagined soundtrack. Special guests The Durutti Column, Vini Reilly’s legendary Manchester band, play a very rare London show in support of the forthcoming 30 Years of Factory Records box set.

Rabih Abou-Khalil Group featuring Ricardo Ribeiro

Sunday 9 November 7.30pm
St John’s • Smith Square, London SW1
020 7222 1061 • www.sjss.org.uk

A programme of Portuguese song from Rabih Abou-Khalil’s new album Em Português, featuring the voice of young Fado star Ricardo Ribeiro.

Master Lebanese oud (Arabic lute) player and composer Rabih Abou-Khalil takes inspiration from Portuguese poetry and from the free-spirited, amazingly mature voice of young Portuguese fado star, Ricardo Ribeiro. Weaving music around words and words around music, with long term partners Luciano Biondini (accordion), Michel Godard (tuba and bass) and Jarrod Cagwin (percussion), the warm sounds of oud and voice create moods that are nothing less than exquisitely beautiful, where the saudade of fado and the yearning of Abou-Khalil’s Middle Eastern melodic sense combine to create a completely new music – a kind of imagined folklore that seems to have existed all along.

Vinicius Cantuária + Samba Carioca Quartet/Mafalda Arnauth

Monday 10 November 7.30pm
Queen Elizabeth Hall • Southbank Centre, London SE1
0871 663 2500 • www.southbankcentre.co.uk

One of the greatest living singer-songwriters, Vinicius Cantuária’s seductive, restless music places him in a lineage that includes great Tom Jobim and Caetano. His music has the subtle, beauty of the greatest bossa nova songs and for this very special show Cantuária presents Samba Carioca a journey back to 1950s Brazil. Mafalda Arnauth sweeps away audiences with her singular voice and youthful spontaneity. Her unique re-interpretations of the classics combined with her own original songs make her an essential part of the new fado scene.

VC: “The epitome of post-modern Brazilian cool.” The Independent

MA: “A nearly perfect balancing act between the tradition of fado and a discreet, controlled innovation.” Expresso, Portugal

Waldemar Bastos/Neco Novellas

Tuesday 11 November 7.30pm
Queen Elizabeth Hall • Southbank Centre, London SE1
0871 663 2500 • www.southbankcentre.co.uk

Waldemar Bastos is the great voice of Portuguese Africa. A national hero in Angola, he went to Brazil, working closely with Djavan and Chico Buarque, and then made his mark across the world recording for David Byrne’s label Luaka Bop in what he calls his ‘Afropean’ style – because he takes influences from many cultures and makes them his own. London shows are as rare as hen’s teeth, so don’t miss this special concert, which also features the first show here by Neco Novellas, a passionate singer from Mozambique who’s made a similar journey round the world with his soulful songs.

“The remarkable sound of Waldemar Bastos ... A fusion of intense balladry and joyous dance music.” Independent on Sunday