Bristol’s month in World Music – May 2025

Evocative instrumental sounds from India, Syria and Palestine and respected veteran performers returning to the stage vie with big beaty stuff from Cuba, Egypt and Ghana to catch your worldly-wise ears this month. And there’s lots of interesting double acts, too.

Older readers may recall the haunting vocals and infectious beats of wonderful Syrian wedding singer Omar Souleyman’s gigs in Bristol some years ago. Exiled Kurdish/Syrian bouzouki player and singer Mohammad Syfkhan (Jam Jar, Fri 16) comes from the same tradition of dabke, combining strong rhythms with superb musicianship. It’s a great value double bill, too, with Carnatic veena player Durga Ramakrishnan performing a set of classical Indian raga and songs. The Beacon has another South Asian highlight – the ecstatic traditional Pakistani vocal and percussion from the Rizwan-Muazzam Qawwali party (Sun 25) led by two nephews of the legendary Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. And more dabka (albeit fused with modern jazz) is on offer when Farish Ishaq, Palestinian virtuosos of the ney flute, joins oud player Knud Stuwe and the others in BEJE (St Paul’s Church, Sat 31).

Cuban diva La Dame Blanche (Jam Jar Thur 15)  is a glittering performer with a striking voice who stormed WOMAD in 2023 with a fusion of Latinx, hip-hop and reggae and she’s supported by similarly dynamic MC Fedzilla. Other Latin treats include a Baile Funk DJ Party at Lost Horizon (Fri 9), Cumbiadelica combo Ritmo Cascabel (Old England, Sun 4) and electro-cumbia grooves from Zubieta & The Suaves (Canteen, Wed 28/Crafty Egg, Fri 30). Biggest Latin sound can be expected from 15-piece salsa orchestra Tristan Butler y Timba Britanica (Trinity, Tue 20), while Andy Hague’s Sextet Gringo (Canteen, Wed 14) no doubt offer the jazziest and Peruvian singer Ludetka’s Latin/pop fusions come to the Fringe (Thur 8).

Two contrasting Egyptian-rooted combos arrive this month: Tashkezar (The Bell, Wed 28) offer horn’-heavy Egyptian funk’ with definite psych overtones while the acoustic duo of oud player Tarek Elezhary and harpist Tamsin Elliot (Bristol Tree Craft, Thur 8) is a more delicate exploration of folk fusions. There’s a similarly captivating vibe to the harp/kora duo of Catrin Finch and Suntou Susso (St George’s, Sun 4), while the Jam Jar has a duo featuring a legend of Lebanese music: singer Roger Fakhr was a star in Lebanon until the early 80s before the civil war. His recordings were recently re-released by Habibi Funk to great acclaim and he has teamed with the younger Lebanese guitarist Charif Megarbane to resume touring after a 40-year hiatus. More relentless, the mighty Oi Va Voi (Strange Brew, Wed 21) formed some 25 years ago and have been performing and recording their high-voltage contemporary take on Jewish musical traditions to delighted audiences ever since. Their Bristol visit promises ’special guests’. A less familiar name – KermesZ a l’Est – hits the Jam Jar (Sun 11) with their anarcho-Belgian take on Balkan beats and tasteful support from the more decorous Opa Rosa. In a similar vein, The Bell feature Balkan Gypsy outfit Marama Cafe Band (Sun 11), El Rincon have long-standing Bristol favourites Troyka (Thur 29) and the Bell also have the wonderfully uncategorisable ‘interplanetary folk-jazz’ fusion of Annunaki Fan Club (Mon 5).

There’s an immediate spine-tingle associated with that ‘desert blues’ guitar sound from the Sahel region of North Africa epitomised by the cool rolling Bombino (Old Market Assembly, Fri 30). The sound was co-opted by Robert Plant for his Space Shifters band, notably by WOMAD favourite guitarist Justin Adams and that excellent band (minus RP) have reassembled as Free Four and they’re coming to The Bell on Sat 10. Dar Disku’s music (Strange Brew, Fri 16) gives a high-production sheen to a fusion of North African sounds and modern electronic dance, as does catchily upbeat Cameroonian/French singer Pat Kalla with his Le Super Mojo band (Jam Jar, Fri 30).

Afrobeats has been a phenomenon of contemporary West African music for a few years now and Afro-electronic artist Bryte launches his second album Stay Connect at Jam Jar (Fri 9) with full live band. Jam Jar also welcome back the amazing Ghanaian vocalist Florence Adonis (Sat 17) with her contemporary fra-fra sound, while Jembaa Groove bring hi-life to Strange Brew (Sat 10) and Harare bring – guess what?! – Zimbabwean sounds to Canteen (Fri 16), the venue also hosting Kenyan Vonj and his band (Fri 23).

And it’s time to celebrate another great Bristol legend: Mr Buggsy Durrant formed his Black Flamez ska band here in 1973 – they played at the equally legendary Bamboo Club in those days – and he joins with Troy Ellis (son of yet-another reggae legend Alton Ellis) for Bristol Homegrown Musical Explosion (Beacon, Sat 31). Respect is most certainly due. It’s an unfortunate clash with Easton Community Centre’s sound system event Roots and Culture Day Party but that does start early … The Cotham Club has reggae/jazz vocalist Chloe Rose Laing as their guest this month (Cotham Church, Fri 30) and Canteen have classic reggae sounds from Golden Guild (Fri 30) as well as the cumbia-reggae fusion of Bomo Swing (Sat 31).