Kora Festival in Brighton

This weekend we went to the first ever Kora Festival in the UK (maybe in Europe) at Brighton. The kora is an amazing 21-stringed African instrument a bit like a harp. It sounds just wonderful and is very beautiful but difficult to play.

Some of the world’s best players gathered and ran workshops and performances all afternoon culminating with most of them on stage at the same time at the end.

It really was wonderful and we met up with load of people we knew there from the drumming and African music world.

We stayed in a b & b for a change as it would cost more in fuel than a hotel to take Moon Palace and on the way home we visited my dad and his wife which was lovely.

There are loads more great pictures of the Kora festival at this link:

Kora Festival

Party, WOMAD and Tribe of Doris!

This must be the longest gap between blog posts but I’ve just been so busy! The summer always is busy for me as we attend or work at many and various festivals and drum camps.

We went to the amazing WOMAD festival at Charlton House where you get to see and hear top world music acts – Afro Celt Sound System to mention one of the best we saw plus a huge array of people from all over the globe.

Then I had an amazing two day felt making class (already posted pictures on Facebook which a lot of you have already seen) and I’m keen to do more of it as it was really fun, rewarding and creative.

The weekend of 6-8th Aug we had a camping party at our house with lots of friends and family and some wonderful music jamming and playing – bonfires and great company.

Then finally we’re just back from the Tribe of Doris annual inter-cultural summer school – here’s the link to some great photos:

Tribe of Doris

Right now we’re spending a few days in Bristol and I’m lolling about in bed with a horrible cold and have to get Moon Palace an MOT tomorrow then back to the Oxfordshire countryside for a few days before a new round of happenings on the horizon…..

watch this space………