RhythmTree Festival
Blossoming between the Isle of Wight Festival and the Bestival the RhythmTree world music and didgeridoo festival is making its mark on the Island music scene.
Now in its second year and again to be found above the beautiful setting of Calbourne Water Mill the event is building on the great reception it received from Island attendees in 2009.
Bringing musicians from as far as West Africa and New Zealand, Poland, Croatia, Germany, Czech Republic and France this years event is another celebration of world and didgeridoo music that certainly brings a markedly different musical sound and festival atmosphere to its audience.
Friday night is headlined by the evergreen KangarooMoon, the superb French trio Nostoc and the amazing Linos Wengara Magaya with his own brand of Zimbabwean reggae featuring the Mbira.
Saturday is the up tempo get up and dance evening with ZubopGambia and their line-up of west african master drummers, the return of Airtist who brought Cowes week to a halt last year with their unstoppable rhythms, Secret Vibes, featuring an on stage fire show and the haunting sound of the Hang Project.
Sunday is a real high quality musical evening with the return of Croatian solo didge player Dubravko Lapaine who stunned audiences last year with his virtuosity and stage presence, Czech bands KusKusKlan and El Tenere, slide guitar and blues harp player Phil Henry and the Islands own Cepholadidge.
The whole event is headlined by the Afro/Celt fusion band BakaBeyond with their full eight person line-up featuring Fela Kuti’s niece Malora, French fiddle player extraordinary Paddy Le Mercier, Martin Cradick of Outback fame and his wife Sue Heart.
Starting at mid-day each day the event is full of off stage entertainment for all the family. Sit and relax in the Didge Cafe with its small open-mic stage, see everything from belly dancers to samba bands perform, join the drum circle at the Chai Chapel or sign up for various world instrument workshops. Youngsters will find lots to do in the Children’s orchard next to the healing area with numerous market stalls close by selling everything from didgeridoos to hand made jewellery.
Of course there is a bar and numerous high quality food concessions so no need to go hungry or thirsty.
RhythmTree Festival 16/17/18 July 2010 Calbourne Mill IOW
Tickets are available now from Strings Guitar Center Monkton Street Ryde, Volume One Music Shop The Arcade Shanklin, Music Central Newport, The Ventnorian Ventnor and the Calbourne Mill Ticket Office.
Visit the festival website www.rhythmtree.info for online tickets and lots more information.
