BASSEKOU KOUYATE & NGONI BA (Mali)

Bassekou Kouyate is one of the true masters of the ngoni, an ancient traditional lute found throughout West Africa which has been the main instrument in griot storytelling going back to the 13th century.

The sensational album "Segu Blue" which was released in Europe in the Spring of 2007 is his first solo album and features the first and only ngoni quartet. The repertoire is Bambara music from the region of Segu - pentatonic in nature and as close to the blues as you can get in Africa. As Taj Mahal puts it "Bassekou is a genius, a living proof that the blues comes from the region of Segu."

Bassekou was born in a village called Garananear Segu in the remote countryside on the banks of the Niger River. He was raised in a traditional musical environment, his mother a praise singer and his father and brothers exceptional ngoni players. Bassekou moved to Bamako when he was 19 years old where he met the young Toumani Diabate, and they recorded their first albums together in the late 80s.

Bassekou was one of the key musicians on Ali Farka Toure's posthumous album "Savane" which was released July 2006 having previously toured with Ali Farka Toure, He has played in the Symmetric trio alongside Toumani Diabate (kora) and Keletigui Diabate balafon), was also a part of Taj Mahal's and Toumani Diabate's "Kulanjan" project and features prominently on Youssou N'Dour's latest album "Rokku mi Rokka" and Dee Dee Bridgwater's "Red Earth".

In the summer of 2007 Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni ba featuring the beautiful and emotive voice of his wife Amy Sacko, (The Tina Turner of Mali) wowed audiences across Europe at major festivals and venues on their amazing debut tour. Now they are coming to Cilycwm.

"First there was African tribal music which evolved into slave songs which became the blues which gave birth to the funk. Bassekou and his band tell the whole of this journey in one chapter. The most delicious mix of the finest musical ingredients make a stew that warms the heart and shakes the hips. Trust me, it tastes good!"

"... a fantastic example of how music can lift your mind and soul at the same time ... the perfect proof of how inspirational African music can be, how it can touch so many people on so many levels."

BRIGYN (Wales)

BRIGYN are brothers Ynyr and Eurig Roberts from Snowdonia, Wales. Their sound is a mixture of modern folk music, crafted rhythm loops and lush, expansive orchestral samples.

This unique blend of musical influences has allowed Brigyn to share a stage with artists ranging from world famous tenor Jose Carreras to The Incredible String Band. To date they have performed at The Green Man Festival, Llangollen International Eisteddfod, Small Nations Festival, Sesiwn Fawr Dolgellau, and also at popular Welsh language festivals such as Maes B and Gwyl y Faenol (Brynfest). Following the success of the eponomously titled debut album in 2004, Brigyn released their second album 'Brigyn2' during Autumn 2005. Successful tours of San Francisco and Ireland followed in late 2005 and April 2006 respectively. A unique re-mix concept album ('Ailgylchu') was released in August 2007.

The eagerly awaited third album 'Brigyn 3' will be released on May 26, 2008.

EMBER (Wales)

Proclaimed by BBC Wales in 2007 as "one of the UK’s hottest underground folk acts", the ladies have rounded off their busiest year yet, with tours of the UK and Netherlands, and studio time culminating in their widely-acclaimed fourth CD "Open All the Doors".

Emily Williams (mid Wales) and Rebecca Sullivan (Utah, USA) have overcome the geographic challenges of their backgrounds to become one of the most discussed duos on the British acoustic circuit. Performing regularly at dozens of UK clubs and festivals, including Glastonbury, Sunrise Celebration and Big Green Gathering, the singers are known for their unusual voices, skilled accompaniment on guitar and violin, and catchy songs about subjects as diverse as prison, gardening, love and floods.

Ember will be joined by mind-blowing world percussionist Job Verweijen for their July tour, whose many ethnic and custom-made instruments bring a heady mix of spice to the music. From sunny African rhythms to colourful South American beats, Verweijen brings life to old beer bottles, water jugs, strings of keys and his unique Esperanto hand drums.

"Harmonies to die for"

"These girls can pack quite a punch"

"Acoustic magic"

GEORGIA RUTH WILLIAMS (Wales)

Details to follow.

POCKET PROMISE (Northern Ireland)

Pocket promise are an alternative rock band from northern Ireland who play melodic, passionate and urgent music. Infused with this passion are emotive lyrics, interesting rhythms and intricate melodies played on every instrument they can get their hands on. Their music ranges from soaring instrumentation to haunting and memorable song writing. The band are currently touring Ireland and the UK to promote 'Waving at Strangers' - a five track ep recorded in the summer of 2007 with David Odlum (Glen Hansard, The Frames, Gemma Hayes, Redneck Manifesto, David Kitt, Josh Ritter). The five tracks are taken from a 15 track session which was recorded over the period June to August 2007 in Blackbox studios in France.

Having spent two years on the London live scene the band have wowed audiences in venues such as The Water Rats, The Old Blue Last, The Dublin Castle, University of London, The Pleasure Unit and The Metro, amongst others; and shared the stage with acts such as Simple Kid, The Wombats, The Frank & Walters and The Television Personalities. Irish dates have included The Village, Dublin; The Spirit Store, Dundalk; Cyprus Avenue, Cork; and The Empire, Belfast. Last year (2007) the band appeared alongside Bloc Party, getcapewearcapefly, Tom Vek and Maximo Park on a compilation album celebrating the music of now defunct indie rockers 'Cable'. The band have played sessions, appeared on and/or had airplay on the following stations; BBC Radio One, BBC Radio Ulster, XFM, Channel Four Radio, Phantom FM, Cork Campus Radio, 2FM, Balcony TV, NVTV, TnaG.

"well crafted bit of brooding indie guitar swing with piano trimmings that sound not unlike something 'the national' might come up with only with a melodic Northern Irish accented crooner at the mic"

"a delerious whirl of strings and lo-fi keyboards, as close to anything keeping indie euphoria alive while belle and sebastian are away - 8 / 10"

SAMBA GALEZ (Wales)

Samba Galêz has become one of the largest community-based Samba bands in the UK with over 60 members of all ages coming from different cultural backgrounds and ranging from accomplished musicians to those with no previous musical experience. Since its early days the band has been under the direction of Simon Preston, who has performed throughout the United Kingdom, and studied in Brazil, Cuba and Africa.

The musical repertoire is based on afro-centric rhythms spanning the world from Brazil to Cuba (rumba, rumba francessa), to Senegalese sabar and Tanzanian nines. Our strength lies in being able to multi-layer them through a system of top secret signals that can shift grooves sideways, backwards and even metrically-modulating them on occasions which is as much fun for the players as it is for the audience.

Ah but do they have lots of gorgeous women dancing with very few clothes on? Wait and see!