So not as to clash with the Inland Waterways Association’s 2010 National Festival next week, canal loving folkies Skinny Lister embark on a Narrowboat tour this weekend, ending with a special gig at Camden’s Lock Tavern on the 25th.

Thinking about a Big Chill re-union of sorts already? Well, not only has The Warehouse Project gone and booked “bady girl” M.I.A but also the Magnetic Man. Add to that David Guetta, Chase & Status

Day 3: Waking up to a beautiful sunny Sunday morning with Big Chill Radio playing Dudley Perkins’ ‘Flowers’ and a full day ahead of awesome music listening pleasure, I almost felt as excited as a teenager - would it last?

Day two of the 2010 Big Chill extravaganza was my first full day on site and by the time I was up and about the action was already well underway.

Big Chill Radio are interviewing Katrina Larkin, the co-founder of Big Chill Festival, “It’s not like a bar where you’re open all year and it doesn’t matter if you have one bad night, Big Chill has one weekend to get it right and it’s one of the hardness job’s there is as there’s so many audiences to please”; and it’s Hectic’s mission this weekend to find out if she does.

Special@ is the strand of CDR which takes the key players from the CDR community, and their invited guests, who bring their unique flavours to special events and parties. It’s called Special for a reason (ahhh…).

With the Vijay Iyer Trio’s Historicity one of the big albums of last year, there’s going to be roadblocks to get into the Vortex this week.

You can turn out the lights at the Vibe Bar as the Stac album launch party will be road blocking the famous Brick Lane area tomorrow (19th June) but if you can’t make it, get the album Turn That Light Out so that you’re on it before that Peterson bloke.

This Wednesday at Koko, Scroobius Pip’s favourite music and spoken word collective, OneTaste, and their friends, will be presenting what’s sure to be one of the gigs of the summer. Featuring Portico Quartet, Oi Va Voi and Jamie Woon as well as Polarbear, Kate Tempest, MC Xander and even more, it’s going to be the perfect way to welcome in festival season!

The first couple of dates of the Michael Rosen and the Homemade Orchestra tour as they perform their collaborative project Nonsense.

What with Glade Festival being postponed this week, Big Chill stepped up to the plate for free ‘transfer’ for ticket holders and announced the latest additions to the growing line-up of Big Chill acts.

You can trust the Wah Wah 45s team to have their eyes firmly on the ball but they’ve surpassed even their high standards with this one, Emanative with a live band and Nicola Conte doing a DJ set!

Those of you that keep an eye on Stone Thow Records web site will know all about this project already but definitely worth catching up with what Dublab regulars can produce with a 100 old records at a mere $1 each.

If you’ve just recovered from the Camden Crawl on the first May Bank Holdiay, here’s something to look forward to for the late May Bank Holiday and it’s totally in the round for a mere £10!

Paul Weller’s 10th album Wake Up The Nation will be released on April 19th and is available as a limited edition deluxe set plus new concert dates for 2010 have just been announced.

On Friday January 8th, Simon Goss, the Daddy of the Wah Wah 45s record label, was sadly taken from us at the mere age of 44. Simon, the creator and owner of Wah Wah and the big man who rocked many a Wah Wah session, died within just 3 months of receiving his lung cancer diagnosis.

East-West classical stars premiere at Darbar Festival of Indian classical music

Nervous Records proudly prensent Anané’s Ananésworld at Ministry Of Sound with the help of Gilles Peterson, Louie Vega and Norman Jay!

The founder of The Specials and 2 Tone records, the writer of Ghost Town and Free Nelson Mandela, announces the first ever UK tour of JERRY DAMMERS’ SPATIAL A.K.A. ORCHESTRA , which includes such luminaries as Mercury Prize nominated Zoe Rahman, Denys Baptiste, Jason Yarde, Larry Stabbins (Working Week, Centipede), Finn Peters, Nathaniel Facey (Empirical), vocalists Anthony Jpseph and Francine Luce and many more

Wychwood Festival has announced that legendary Salford band the Happy Mondays have been confirmed as the Saturday headliner at the sixth annual event taking place at Cheltenham Racecourse from the 4-6 June.

“I bet the whole of the Norwegian Embassy staff are here tonight” I overheard some wag say in the foyer before this gig, well it they were, it was hard to tell as the place was definitely full of Nils Petter Molvaer fans

The new album Blackmagic is out now on Brownswood Recordings and as we’re so in love with it at FLY, it was time for chat with the man himself.

When a festival is being put together by Rob da Bank, be prepared for some extreme highs and the news that Richie Hawtin is going to be playing live as Plastikman is extreme!

Anyone who has passed a main-line train station in the capital in the past week will know that London is currently hosting the latest Red Bull Music Academy; a phenomenon that has been “Exploring music beyond the beat since 1998”

One of the world’s great songwriters and a thrilling live performer, Brazilian superstar Caetano Veloso returns to the UK to play a rare concert at the Barbican

From 17-26 March, the Human Rights Watch Film Festival returns to London for its 14th edition. This year’s compelling line-up of insightful documentary and fiction films bears witness to human rights violations and celebrates courageous individuals on both sides of the lens. Throughout the 10-day festival, many filmmakers and special guests and panellists will offer context and lively debate in post-screening sessions and panels

Latest headliners to be confirmed for 20th Birthday Bash at the Larmer Tree are Toots and the Maytals and Robert Cray but there’s much more to this Festival than star headliners!

Arthur’s Landing, is a collective of musicians and collaborators that are linked together as they originally worked with New York legend Arthur Russell and they will be performing their debut UK gig this month at London’s ICA.

After all the fun of Gilles Peterson’s Worldwide Awards, here’s a mid-week session that bring you the sounds of Brownswood, Werk Discs, Kindred Spirits, Soul Jazz and Hessle Audio all in one venue!

Founded in 2005, the Loop Collective celebrates it’s fifth year with a 5-day festival at the Vortex packed with performances from all its members, collaborations, and guest bands from other top European collectives and Loop friends: F-ire, Yolk, LIMA, and Umlaut.

It goes without saying what this is all about this is a good cause but it’s just been announced that KT Tunstall, Paul Weller and Reverend & The Makers are the latest acts to be added to Haiti Earthquake Fundraiser’s star-studded line up

Here’s one to support, Haiti Relief showcase on Thursday 4th February feat DJ Spoony, Masterstepz, Lonyo, Footloose & more!

Norwegian trumpet player, composer and producer Nils Petter Molvær has been sharing his conception of jazz for the best part of 20 years and his appearance at QEH is the gig of the year todate!

Carlos Niño is in London as part of the London Jazz Festival week with his Build An Ark ensemble that plays, what he calls “creative soul music”; Hectic went down to Brick Lane to find out what it was all about.

Once again, all jazz heads turn to London for the 17th London Jazz Festival with Jazz on 3 coming live from the legendary Ronnie Scott’s Jazz club tonight.

The sixth chapter in the celebrated African Soul Rebels concert series is the most eclectic and thought-provoking yet, bringing together Africa’s most radical artists, whose innovative use of politics, feminism and mysticism have long given African listeners cause to think and debate, while their rhythms, beats and grooves unite us all

“For the launch of our new residency at the De La Warr Pavilion (Bexhill) we bring you a double whammy of collaborative goodness that once again proves we ain’t no ordinary orchestra!”

Azymuth are the foremost trio in Brasilian music - not only the kings of Samba Jazz, but the lords of Fusion - and they are back in the UK.

Hailed as South Africa’s number one jazz singer and internationally acclaimed for her modern African soul records, Simphiwe Dana showcases her unique blend of rich vocal harmony and jazz grooves

Crikey, what a line up! Rachid Taha & Vieux Farka Touré + Mulatu Astatke & The Heliocentrics + A.J. Holmes. Read on to find out how to win a free pair of tickets, but hurry…

It’s around the corner. If you are in the business of global music, you are probably getting ready to go and if you are lucky enough to live near Copenhagen, a festival of music awaits

Kings Place plays host to innovative musicians from around the globe in November

As mentioned by Gilles Peterson on his show last week, there’s a big party going on in München as Compost is 15, the Black sub-label releas their 50th release and Michael Reinboth turns 50; and all that deserves a big line up.

Anyone who say Chrome Hoof at the Big Chill dance tent this year will want to be in on this one as the cosmic funketeers join forces with Magma and J P Massiera for a major Finders Keepers Records event.

The past week has been an exciting one in the history of the landmark Manchester music venue, Band On The Wall after a multi-million pound refurbishment and there’s no looking back with more fantastic artists booked up.

After more than a decade. The legends of 80s Congolese rumba-soukouss play their only London reunion gig

Transkaako means ‘south-east’ in Finnish, the direction on the compass the band followed to reach the destination of its original musical influences: the Balkans and the Middle-East. However, prog-rock and psychedelia are the dominant sounds on Kulo, an album of tight but often cumbersome folk-rock.

The Big Dada office was a bit quite on Thursday as the surprise winner on this years’ Mercury prize was their very own Speech Debelle.

This October will see an array of Colombian arts presented in London by Colombiage ‘09, all designed to promote contemporary art and culture from Colombia in the UK

We’re used to ESP-Disk finding classic re-issues but the Talibam! are very much in the here and now with their latest killer album, Boogie In The Breeze Blocks!

“Look at the weather” says the Big Chill morning radio DJ as the rain of the night before has turned into sunscreen Factor 30 type dawn to great relief and by lunchtime, the campsite was starting to dry out ready for a full day and night of top music and activities. “Lets get loaded, have a good time and have a party”.

With the album coming out on Monday, it’s so good there’s not one but two UK album launch nights!

International Jazz stars will be appearing at the 2009 Brecon Jazz Festival in Wales on Friday 7th – Sunday 9th August. The festival will feature South African piano legend Adbullah Ibrahim, Cameroonian saxophonist Manu Dibango and the Tunisian oud master Anouar Brahem. Courtney Pine, will also return to perform his new Sidney Bechet-inspired album, Tradition in Transition.

Bloom Festival at Chepstow Racecourse? Yep, it’s a new venue for “the freshest face on the boutique festival scene” and not a sniff of the Welsh Grand National.

Flomotion Live at the Royal Opera House with Little Dragon and Maki Mannami on Friday 24th July - need I say more?!

On the way home tonight as I passed the 101 Bar on New Oxford St, the massive poster on the window for the Hop Farm Festival was reluctantly being scraped off the window. And as it was such a great weekend; it was like even the poster didn’t want the memory to be taken away so what went on?

28-piece ensemble The Black Arm Band bring the show they call murundak (meaning ‘alive’ in the Woiwurrung language) to WOMAD Charlton Park. It is a symbol of resilience and hope in the spirit and action of reconciliation

Not familiar with the band Bellows? That’s because this is their first headline show ever!

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, it has: Senegalese superstar Youssou N’Dour and his band Super Etoile de Dakar will descend on WOMAD on Sunday, intent on wowing the festival with their infectious urban mbalax rhythms and irresistible Afro-pop dance grooves

Cuban fever hits London this summer as Havana Cultura supports a series of events taking place in June and July at the Barbican Centre

Candi Staton, Malkit Singh, Kanda Bongo Man, Eduardo Niebla Experience, Dreadzone, Latin Dub Soundsystem, Normski, Swami, Channi Singh w/ Alaap, Bireswar + some Scottish blokes with glasses and a song about a letter

Picante! is the best and most innovative new music from Latin America in a series of five dancehall gigs happening at Koko and The Forum in Camden in July and August

Bar Camino is one of the best things to come out of the Kings Cross redevelopment and tonight it’s even better as it hosts stars to Further Out, Richard E & Annabel (lee) along with Mukatsuku Records’ head honcho Nik Weston.

Joe Bataan with Alice Russell, Karen P, James Pants, Willie Isz, Jamie Woon, Andreya Triana & Goldielocks all at one venue for one night! That’s …Broad Casting at Cargo!

From Detroit disco to post-jazz, FlomotionRadio.com is the place to be - except when it’s the Get The Blessing’s album launch at Cargo!

Highlights of the tenth Celebrating Sanctuary on the Sanctuary Stage include headliners Kal, the wild Serbian Roma Roots Rockers who have been described by The Observer as the “Gypsy Clash”, prejudice-busting UK female Hip-Hop act Poetic Pilgrimage

Coinciding with the publication of Mark ‘Snowboy’ Cotgrove’s book, From Jazz Funk & Fusion to Acid Jazz: The History Of The UK Jazz Dance Scene, Beyond The Ballroom pays homage to the unique, underground UK dance jazz movement which gave us uncompromising, innovative and stylish dance crews like IDJ, Jazz Defektors, Brothers In Jazz, Foot Patrol, Floor Technicians and Jazzcotech, along with a host of unforgettable individual dancers

You can’t have missed the fact that Island Records celebrate reaching the big 50 this year and founder Chris Blackwell has been doing his bit with interviews, May’s Island 50 festival at London’s Shepherds Bush Empire, there’s a new book and now an exhibition in the heart of Soho.

Following their highly acclaimed appearance at London’s Cargo in spring 2008, the combined performance of Mulatu Astake and the Heliocentrics’ is being hailed as Ethiopia’s equivalent to the Cuban Buena Vista Club sensations

Friends & Family once again welcomes the genius that is Daedelus back to these shores along with a disco based sets from DJ Koas and K**O. And following on form ‘our’ Friends and Family, Daedelus has gone AWOL from from NInja Tune for a project that’s so Daedelus with the first in a series called Friends of Friends. Simple idea, FoF sign up an artist to do a split EP; they in turn invite another musician or group to complete the split release and commission a designer to create the EP’s artwork on a limited edition T-Shirt which will include a download card (100% seed paper card; Included will be the release, exclusive remixes and special content: i.e. videos, mixes etc).

Ethiopia’s biggest music names, the Ethiopiques, the funky, Fat Freddy’s Drop and US soul legend Solomon Burke will be joined by Nneka, another thrilling sound from Ethiopia, Dub Colossus, and two of Mali’s most talented musicians, Oumou Sangare and Rokia Traoré

Now if that doesn’t sell it to you, the sub-title of this new book, ‘My life of music, mud and mayhem in 26 letters’ should get you purchasing this essential guide to the 3 ‘M’s and a whole lot more.

Now known as the FIB Heineken Benicassim Festival, this year the four day extravigansa looks as jam packed as ever with the bands you all known and love.

Budvar Cheltenham Jazz Festival (28th April - 4th May) has become an unmissable date in the jazz calendar due to its unique blend of British stars, one off collaborations and the freshest new sounds.

Read our interview with award-winning festival organiser Alex Trenchard and snag yourself a couple of tickets to the festival that features Femi Kuti and Son of Dave in the setting of a 16th Century manor house

Madeleine Peyroux is coming to these shores for a short UK Tour to promote the release of the new album, Bare Bones that’s definitely got some flesh on it.

La Linea, the London Latin Music Festival, now in its ninth year, returns in venues across Central London in April. La Linea has earned an international reputation for unveiling, new artists, new collaborations and each year extends the frontiers of Latin Music. As usual La Linea delivers — with the music and musicians of Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Venezuela, Cuba plus a large Catalan contingent, in a special Catalan Focus presented with support of Institut Ramon Llull, with tradition, innovation and toy pianos all in the mix

Carl Craig, Adam Beyer, Freestylers (Live), Filthy Dukes, Limewax, Drop The Lime, Sub Focus, Shitmat, Tim Exile, Benga, Starkey, Leeroy Thornhill (ex-Prodigy), Koma & Bones and Annie Nightingale join previously confirmed artists of Underworld, Juan Atkins, Squarepusher, Femi Kuti, Nitin Sawhney, Mutant Clan (aka Timo Maas and Santos), Dave Clarke, Booka Shade, Finley Quaye, The Bays with Beardyman, The Egg, Venetian Snares, Rusko, Toddla T, Digital Mystikz, The Qemists, Japanese Popstars, DJ Zinc, Duran Duran Duran, Kasey Taylor, Antix, Kid 606 and even more promised!

Hard to imagine that the Kingsland Road leads to the Land Of Kings but this new festival highlights their love Dalston as much as you do with a two-night celebration of the people and places that make this part of London special.

Regular readers know that when it comes techno, electro and house out of Germany, our favourite label is Great Stuff Recordings and to celebrate their 5th birthday there’s a double CD release and a tour date schedule is nearly as long as the track listing!

Bringing a taste of Africa to London, Manifesto showcases a wealth of African art, music and culture

It doesn’t seem 5 minutes ago that Kiss100 released the double compilation celebrating the 25th Anniversary of Rodigan but the reggae expert is still as enthusiastic as ever and in a couple of weeks he’ll be at the album launch of his latest compilaton Real Authentic Reggae Vol. 2 compilation on BBE records.

Whilst Southampton’s football team are still coming to terms with the Dutch management, the not such Dutch venue called the Orange Rooms continues to the place to be and be seen and last night proved to be that little bit extra special.

Curating the Festival are three of the UK’s leading radio broadcasters, from Radio 1, Kissy Sell Out, XFM’s mash-up remix maestro Eddy Temple Morris and the party animals from KissFM, The Loose Cannons; a fun time is accordingly guaranteed.

Full live band set and debut live performance with Ashley Beedle, 26th February at The Scala, London - NOW POSTPONED

Jane Birkin performs at the Barbican for the first time since her sold out show there in 2003. This is the London premiere for a brand new show, which showcases songs from Jane’s new album Enfants d’Hiver as well as reinventing the songs that Serge Gainsbourg created for her as his muse. Jane says ‘The poets do not die if one carries their words’

“Oh Yeah!” The Ugly Ducklings that are Einstein, Andy & Dizzy are back with a new album which finds them a little bit older and a bit more reflective; but if you love old skool hip hop and drum breaks, “Say, Yeah!”

The African charity ADUNA is opening the doors of a prime central London location to raise funds and to celebrate the end of an AFRO YEAR in style. The Africa Centre in COVENT GARDEN is an iconic listed building in the heart of London where nothing seems to have happened since Soul 2 Soul heydayz….

It’s a fact that there’s no beards on the X-Factor and certainly no folk, so find yourself some real talent at the King’s Head in Crouch End for a Christmas warm up.

The Big Chill are not hanging around for the festive party season to finish to grab your attention as they’ve announced some big name acts this week for next years’ festival. Now that’s a good reason to party.

The line-up (so far) has just been announced for this monster festival that has Bloc written all over it.

Along with the release of the limit collector’s edition CD of UNKLE’s End Titles…Redux on 14th December, there’s a special performance with everyone’s favourite, The Heritage Orchestra on the 18th at the famous Union Chapel in Islington.

Over 1500 great artists from all over the world will descend on Glasgow this January, with the likes of Youssou N’Dour, Branford Marsalis, Richard Thompson, Oumou Sangare, Martha Wainwright, Edwyn Collins, Nanci Griffith and Sly & Robbie all performing at Scotland’s largest winter music festival

The fifth chapter in the celebrated African Soul Rebels series proves exactly how important music is when it comes to changing the world, and change is in the air. One act points the way to a new future in which African rhythms and rock unite; one is on a mission to explain his continent to the world; and the third provided the soundtracks to a civil war and a revolution

We’ve got signed CDs, and three pairs of tickets to give away to Show of Hands’ Standing Room Only tour.

The best ever London Jazz Festival has the best ever launcher, its Dom Servini and a bunch of his favourite Wah Wah 45 folks.

On Thursday 20th November Denys Baptiste and his quartet will present a special concert celebrating the life of renowned multi-instrumentalist Bheki Mseleku, who died recently aged 53

Hey, it was great seeing the Black Seeds’ lead singer and guitarist, Barnaby Weir last night before thier London Astoria gig as the sound check had finished and he had a few moments for a chat.

Due to the success of previous celebrations Mosob have secured the fabulous Amadeus Centre, in London as the venue to host their annual extravaganza of food and music this Saturday

Imperial Pressure is a highly impressive production of consciousis hip-hop and soul-funk-jazz-rock that’s not only available on CD but is also in a massive live nine piece band and they’re coming to the Jazz Cafe.

“Hank hasn’t got a girl with him tonight, he’s got Reg”. What’s this? Has Hank decided the first night of his tour and album launch of Whistling In The Dark was a night to come out of the C&W closet? No siree, but there were one or two surprises as the master of heartache hit town.

This is the first chance to see the full The Power of Peace by two of our favourites, Annabel (lee) and Richard E.

So some folks are getting excited at some American Football bash at Wembley this weekend (lets hope it’s not as wet as last year) but here’s something that arguably much better and it’s free!

Come celebrate the launch of the new album 13 Faces of Lightning Head by Glyn ‘Lightnign Head’ BiggaBush at Aardvark to Zebra, the Green, Clerkenwell, EC1R 0DU, 9-1am this Saturday 25th October, 2008

Far Out Recordings pays homage to one of Brazil’s most accomplished artists and composers with the release of a Best Of album and a European tour throughout October and November.

Fat Freddy’s Drop are unusually out of sink with their summer tour this year as they are gracing us with their presence in November supporting the launch of their new album.

Tuesday nights in Kings Cross are nothing normally to write home about, this is unless Daedelus in at the Big Chill House. And he was!

For a band that have been together for decades with no discernable ‘musical differences’ issues, it should come as no surprise that their latest album is yet another classic addition to their collection.

If you thought John Matthias was your everyday (albiet very good) folk-pop-rock singer guitarist, Cortical Songs (with Nick Ryan) will make you think again. And 8th October is definite a good place to do some thinking as theres a live gig with Matthias and Cortical Songs!

The Roundhouse in Chalk Farm has hosted a few events in its time but how about this one, the Cinematic Orchestra performing their most recent albums, Man With A Movie Camera and Ma Fleur

“Once you’ve met me, you can’t forget me. I’m crazy. It’s just the way I am. My father was too.” — Seun Kuti. With half the club taken up by musicians, getting a ticket is going to be a priority

The aim of the Hip-Life Festival which has been celebrated in UK for the past three years is to exhibit the Ghanaian brand of Hip hop called Hip-Life which speaks to the youth more than any other musical form

This is a little bit different but no less rewarding as you’ll find an exhibition of drawings by Edwyn Collins, ‘British Birdlife’ at The Smithfield Gallery from 21st October until 1st November, 2008

Flomotion Live had its 1st Birthday Party last night and in amongst the jelly, streamers and cake were the new favourites of jazz, Get The Blessing (formerly known as The Blessing).

“No pressure then” says the Roots Manuva when announcing his new album is out today, but it’s true, there’s no pressure as it’s great!

Like a far flung Triptych, LoveDifference Festival celebrates Eastern European Cultures in unique day-long mini-festivals in London, Northampton and Bristol to mark the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue.

All check in, Ragga Twins Deh Bout!

Tuesday 29 July will see two acclaimed Latin funk collectives take to the Jazz Café stage in a special gig to showcase new albums on Aire Sol Records.

Every since MamikO Motto appeared as a guest on Gilles Peterson’s Beat Generation Show the other week, she’s been really busy being the girl about town (currently Amsterdam), DJing and setting up her new radio show so here’s more 1 to 1 with the DJ known as 1.1

Hot on the heals of their warm up gig at Cargo last week, New Zealand’s finest The Black Seeds are set up for some more hot summer tour dates.

For us francophiles, July is a great month as we get to celebrate someone elses party on Bastille Day and it’s when the Tour de France starts, especially this year as it starts in Brittany where there’s so many ex-pat second homes. But this year, you’d be better of being in London as the greatest 4 turntable scratchin’ crew are in town!

The line-up for this special event now includes Pete Doherty, Martha Wainwright, Julie Fowlis, Baby Gramps, David Thomas, Keith Moline, Gavin Friday, Langley Sisters, Teddy Thompson, Kami Thompson, Jenni Muldaur, Eliza Carthy, Martin Carthy, Norma Waterson, Robyn Hitchcock – as well as actor Tim Robbins and cartoonist Ralph Steadman

Courting controversy, Gilles Peterson has just announced A Night Of Death Jazz at Camden’s Roundhouse which will feature Tokyo’s Soil & “Pimp” Sessions, The Mighty Jeddo and 2BO4. alongside musikal selectahs Toshio ‘UFO’ Matsuura, drum’n’bass don Fabio and GP himself. Win a pair of tickets and a signed copy of Soil & “Pimp” Sessions’ latest CD

One of the hottest festivals this summer finds the Mighty Boosh team in Kent on a Hop Farm proving comedy is the new rock’n’roll.

Bristol’s ambitious Venn Festival came to the end of its fifth year in spectacular fashion with a showpiece evening at Thekla on Sunday 7 June.

The mythical, dangerous, acrobatic and heroic world of Mexico’s masked men. Featuring 16 of Mexico’s finest Luchadores including El Hijo Del Santo & Blue Demon Jr

The first London show in five years from the great Salsa star aka El Sonero Mayor (‘The Great Improviser’), Oscar D’Leon

From Egypt to Cuba, India to France, Cambodia to Brazil and Japan, the 2008 line up already has a fantastic mix of acts confirmed from 36 countries across the world

Whilst 50,000 music fans got on the ferry to the Isle Of Wight this weekend, not to be outdone, Pete Lawrence of Big Chill put together a weekend of great entertainment in Dorset. And it had nothing to do with Magners!

The new Padded Cell 12” with remixes by The Glimmers and Binary Chaffinch is out on Monday, 16th June; spread the word of mouth.

The daughter of the most famous singer in the history of Brasilian pop music is coming to London to promote her latest album Samba Meu. She’ll perform at the Barbican on Saturday 28th June — her only UK show.

London’s Royal Opera house may not be a household name as a global music venue yet, despite having established a yearly lineup of cracking bands including Bellowhead and Joana Amendoeira (last year). But this year’s Voices Across the World festival shows a more comprehensive, determined effort to make the association stick.

The Turbine Hall will host a rare showing of two groundbreaking films by the acclaimed Senegalese director Djibril Diop Mambéty (1945-1998). Unfortunately due to visa issues, Konono No1 have had to cancel. See below for refund information

Free festival celebrating the work of refugee artists and launching Refugee Week.

The sacred fire of Afrobeat. The heritage of Fela

London’s loudest and skronkiest, Led Bib headline one of London’s best independent venues, Corsica Studios, on Wednesday 28th May with brilliant support from The Invisible and Examples of Twelve

Carlinhos Brown is set to appear on the Barbican on June 24th supported by funkeiro Mr Catra

With the sun finally coming out to play this week, the plans for 2008 spectacular are now at an advanced stage and it’s time to check out what’s to look forward to

The BBC Radio 3 Awards for World Music celebrate their seventh birthday with dazzling nominations from around the globe and add a brand new awards ceremony. Voting for the audience award closes soon…

Alex Proud’s pride and joy in the heart of Camden Town, Proud re-opened the other week after a major refurbishment and he’s only gone that one step further and got Monday night’s best gig in town back, yep its Dom & Hugo’s Favourite Things!

Within the space of one month, London’s Jazz Cafe plays host for two singular names in the Afrobeat genre: representing the old guard is Tony Allen, one of the foremost figures in the music’s inception. Representing the new generation is the Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra, a wild collection of New Yorkers with its own niche on the international circuit

As part of this year’s Red Bull Music Academy programme in London, this special edition of ‘Broad Casting’ presents Mulatu Astatke and The Heliocentrics with Gilles Peterson and Karen P on the decks

The Barbican has long been the favoured venue of many a Brazilian singer. Seu Jorge, Gilberto Gill and Marisa Monte have all graced its stage and now it is preparing to celebrate 50 years of Bossa nova.

Mean Fiddler founder Vince Power returns to the festival stage with legend Neil Young headlining ‘A Day at the Hop Farm’

Annually since 2001, La Linea been defining and re-defining contemporary Latin music. In previous years the festival has brought the likes of Gotan Project, Seu Jorge, Pink Martini and Spanish Harlem Orchestra to the UK for the first time. 2008’s debutantes include The Ipanemas from Brazil, the originators of Afro Bossa finally arriving in the UK nearly 50 years after their formation: Argentina’s Melingo and Forro In The Dark from Brazil via New York

With the full force of DJ Dolores’ Brazilian beats, La Linea kicked off with an early pre-launch party for the coming season of Latin gigs

In his first live music project since Attica Blues, DJ, producer and poet Charlie Dark reconnects the dance rhythms of West coast Africa with the digital beats of his East London home

With parts of London now officially Brazilian (Willesden, Harlesden and bits of Oxford Street being just a few examples) the yellow and green cultural invasion of the UK continues. Carnival may have been and gone but fans of Brazilian music should fear not. The next few months offer some rich pickings and here is just a taste of what is on offer.

Regularly cited as the critic’s choice, Joell makes his debut appearance in Europe on Friday 28th March 2008 at La Raza, Carling Islington Academy in London

The great US jazz vocalist has re-energised her career with a thrilling tribute to her West African roots, which receives its UK première at the Barbican

Cuban Salsa Band musician Ernesto Estruch and his band Son de Havana hit the real ale pub in South London

On 6 January three kings arrived bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh for the newly born baby Jesus, or so the story goes. Well, this year things are shaping up a little differently and the kings will be arriving in London on 1 December. There will be a lot more than three of them and their gifts will be musical

Poole Lighthouse hosted the third Unsafe Festival this weekend with the usual array of known and unknown artists experimenting in improvised music including the veterans Keith and Julie Tippett

Back in the Gilles Peterson fan club days, the Latin jazz label to look for was Fania and one of the legends is coming to London as part of the London Jazz Week

The second annual London Gypsy Film Festival will kick off at The Ritzy (Nov 2-4) and Greenwich Picture House (Nov 9-11).

A vibrant Latin American musical night in celebration of “Dia de Los Muertos” (Day of the Dead)

Since 2005, Cumbre Flamenca has brought top-notch flamenco artists to perform in Madrid’s underground, and organizers at Metro de Madrid have been careful not to repeat themselves.

This is homework for the jazz crowd and Prof. Herbie Hancock gives Richie a gold star on the new ‘Roundtable’ head to the UK on tour.

Amjad Ali Khan presents a ‘portrait’ at the Queen Elizabeth Hall. We have a pair of tickets to give away and four CDs for runners up…

The worldwide launch of Tenori-on was held at the Vinyl Factory last night. Not one to miss an opportunity to be at the start of a revolution, in true suit marketing speak, I can announce, “The future has arrived!”

Up until a week or so before the festival started it still seemed uncertain whether The Big Chill would go ahead - nestled in the Malvern hills, its proximity to Tewksbury make it prime target for a flooding.

“Over at Womad they’re under one and a half feet of water,” Mark Radcliffe tells the crowd at Stage Two before introducing Sharon Shannon.

Stones Throws’ headman Peanut Butter Wolf brought over Percee P and Guilty Simpson for a quick European tour recently and Fly finds out how Mr. Wolf can make “Wight Trash” from Tesco look good

For one night only, the end of the pier transformed into the dojo for New Zealand’s finest, The Black Seeds. Hectic was on hand to ensure there was a honourable encounter and a good time was had by all

Willie Colón performs his final farewell set at London’s Roundhouse as Fania records release his double CD retrospective: The Player

Expect extraordinary, radical grooves from this cult Congolese dance outfit who stormed WOMAD last year and picked up a BBC Radio 3 Newcomers Award for World Music

This autumn the Barbican’s Ramadan Nights season will return for its third year, opening at the close of this key Muslim festival

The free Diaspora London Music Village has a stunning new venue: on the banks of the Serpentine in London’s HYDE PARK, just yards from where the Rolling Stones gave their legendary 1969 free concert

The Lovebox Summer of Love 2007 has clearly been programmed with the Fly reader in mind. Take Tinariwen, Gilles Peterson. Ojos de Brujo, Sly & the Family Stone, K’Naan, Tunng and dozens of others for the festival that you don’t have to sleep at

If you’ve no idea what a boutique festival is, check out the huge Fly-friendly line-up at this independent set up called Bloom.

The trailblazing DJ Shadow is set to appear at indigO2 in July

Youssou N’Dour is appearing at indigO2 on 21st July in support of his new album, Alsaama Day

Come and support a special evening ofmusic, dance, words in aid of MAP’s emergency work in Gaza & The West Bank

“We met these Kiwis who played us some music, but we can only remember Fat Freddys Drop. It’s not as if you can forget them can you?” This was what one of the excited locals told me at the newly refurbished Opera House last night for the first gig on this short promotional tour

For their 25th anniversary year WOMAD has announced Charlton Park, with its stunning setting in the heart of the Wiltshire countryside, as the new home for the WOMAD Festival

Last year saw the birth of the Hip Life Festival and despite a number of skeptics, seven of the top Hip-Life artists stepped down from Ghana to perform live at the Stratford Rex, London. This event became one of the most memorable events in the Ghanaian music calendar in the UK

Black Pocket is Steve Spacek’s latest project on Exit Records and the London launch party at Plastic People is coming soon.

A full summer is ahead of festivals and city events and we have the pick of them here…

Wychwood started three years ago with the most amazing line-up for global music fans. This year we got some big names back and the weather gods blessed us. The music summer has now officially begun

Seun Kuti is the son of Nigeria’s most beloved musician and most acerbic social critic - Fela Kuti, who died in 1997. And now you have the chance to hear his new material and catch him on tour in the US and Europe

MTV Base (UK) will be championing African music in a dedicated new weekly programming slot. Entitled ‘MTV Base Africa’, the late-night block will be based on music sourced by MTV’s African channel — MTV base (Africa)

After the success of their 2006 shows, the Brazilian cultural group AfroReggae has announced it will return to the Barbican for a two-night repeat performance. They will take to stage with their ‘From The Favela To The World’ show on June 28th and 29th

African DJs and bands galore on Saturday 28 July 2007, 2pm - 10pm will be at North London’s Union Chapel in Islington. The festival will help raise funds for charities working with women and children in Zimbabwe

Following the success of their first album Dedication, released at the end of 2006, DAM has embarked on an international tour this spring and summer

The sixth annual BBC Radio 3 Awards for World Music Poll Winners’ Concert 2007 will be held at the Barbican on Sunday 27th May – the culmination of a weekend of events featuring the cream of world music artists and broadcasters

Three live bands, three top DJs and a rammed venue all added up to a marvellous Wah Wah 45s at Cargo in Shoreditch.

From Balkan brass and furious fiddles to flamboyant flamenco and Russian romance, The 1000 Year Journey revisits one of the Barbican’s most popular festivals first staged back in 2000 and once again includes some of the greatest names of Roma and Gypsy music

Tickets for Larmer Tree are going faster than the Amazon Rainforest but there are still a few left for Thursday and Wednesday nights. Billy Bragg, Show of Hands, Courtney Pine, Balkan Beat Box anyone?

Set within the walls of the 17th Century Petrovaradin Fortress, Exit is the biggest music and cultural event in South East Europe. Renowned for its diverse and adventurous line ups, this years event will play host to some of the finest hip hop, r’n’b, reggae and drum & bass artists during the 4-day extravaganza. Headlining the Main Stage will be: Snoop Dog, Wu Tang Clan, Lauryn Hill, Beastie Boys, LTJ Bukem & MC Conrad with more tba

Artists from all over Europe are set to decend on Manchester for a free two day street festival celebrating the diversity of urban European culture.

Tickets are on sale now for this long running and ever popular monster of a jazz festival

The idea is simple yet original - take the vibrant and often transient art form of Brazilian graffiti out of its predominantly urban context and apply it to the ancient and permanent walls of an historic rural castle in Scotland.

Brazilian psych-rock superstars Os Mutantes to play first-ever live shows in Scotland and Liverpool (plus rare London date and brand-new material from Gruff Rhys, King Creosote, Bonde Do Role, Four Tet, Diplo, and Ben Westbeech

The Institut français’ annual celebration of cultural diversity, Mosaïques, is back for its 9th edition, with another lively and inspiring mix of world cinema, literature and music

Summer 2007 looks to be full of exciting prospects for those who love reggae music. Festivals happening across Europe will bring together some of the biggest names in the genre

After the huge success of the re-launched GusGus, Iceland’s favourites announce they are going on tour around Europe over the next few months

Journo and jazzer Charlotte Bullock takes us on a tour of Leeds’ fine jazz venues

Patriarcas de la Rumba — a group of old-time Catalan Gypsies are predicted to tear up the sedate surroundings of Islington’s Sadler’s Wells.

It’s time to dust off your flip-flops and dig out you shades as Fly sifts through some of the Brazilian events set to land in London over the coming months.

This month Kalabash joins up with Afrogroov to mark the Rwandan genocide and celebrate the positive voice of culture in Rwanda

The Toronto Red Bull Academy 2007 kicks off this April with Info Sessions across the UK from DJs, producers and musicians.

Rogue Morris and some crazy Cuban Scottish dancing combined to create a memorable Oxford Folk Festival.

Plans for The Big Chill festival 2007 are well underway and Fly can give you a sneak preview of the first line-up for the chillfest in the beautiful surroundings of Herefordshire’s Eastnor Park.

Serious presents Malian uber-star Salif Keita and exciting new sound Akli-D in London

Win a shiny pair of CDs (one of each of these artist’s brilliant new releases) to get you in the mood for what promises to be one of those ‘were you there’ gigs of 2007

Following its great success last year Heart of the World returns to Cambridge for a second year.

Birds Eye View Film Festival presents six days of inspiration and celebration, showcasing the very best work from women filmmakers

sumptuous selection of wonderful African bands coming to London including faves like Netsayi, Ba Cissoko and Africando as well as big names like Natacha Atlas…

Discover a world of south Asian cultural arts at the Darbar Festival. Experience the diversity of classical music in over three days of performances from over 40 maestros and great new talent from the UK and abroad

In March, two leading Cuban rap groups, Obsesión and Los Paisanos, will be touring the UK in association with cultural organization Movimientos

Step aboard the London Gypsy Orchestra’s musical caravan for an exhilarating journey through Eastern Europe and the Balkans live at Cecil Sharp House

Annually, since the turn of the millennium, La Linea been defining and re-defining contemporary Latin music. In previous years the festival has brought the likes of Gotan Project, Seu Jorge, Pink Martini and Spanish Harlem Orchestra to the UK for the first time

For the first time, this year La Linea features a complimentary film programme put together by Barbican Film and featuring outstanding music documentaries

Soundcrash are following up their massive party at Cargo the other week with more gigs that will get you checking the train times to get home

“I was here twenty years ago as Short Stories,” Steve Knightley tells a crowded Half Moon. “And I’m still here now”. A section of the crowd clearly remembers.

For the past year Fly has been following some of the hottest new folk acts on the scene and it’s great to see so many of the names we’ve featured have been nominated for awards at this year’s Radio 2 Folk Awards.

The excellent Oxford Folk Festival is in its fourth year with a cracking line-up, and as a festival going from strength to strength it’s high time to head for those dreaming spires.

The Nostalgia 77 Octet has been steadily building up a great following and critical acclaim and there’s going to be a high demand for the forthcoming gig at The Spitz.

This year’s Aberdeen Jazz Festival is upon us already, one of the year’s earliest, and there’s a fair line-up including sax player Tommy Smith, The Neil Cowley Trio and a guitairst you should never miss if he’s in your neck of the woods, Martin Taylor.

Tuesday evening means a journey to Other Worlds. These weekly happenings at Guanabara, morph the Drury Lane venue, known for its worthy advocation of Brazilian culture, into a space resonating with intergalactic worldwide harmonic rhythms.

Hectic was extremely proud to find he was the first guest at Favourite Things this week, a new night in Camden Town that brings together jazz fans to celebrate this most maligned and misunderstood of genres.

Once again, three outstanding stars of African music are coming to the UK on this years’ African Soul Rebel tour.

Nico El Bambino and Cardenas present Dembow hosted at the exclusive new Club 205 on the Holloway Road

A day of artist talks, demonstrations and performances exploring the power of sound in the environment and its changing role in the digital domain

On this new night at the Big Chill House, half of Yam Yam, DJ Yam teams up with Biggabush for a night of “rocksteady, Afro, Funk, Latin, soul, dubtronic, batucada, ska and bugalu!”

DJ Suga Kan’n on the decks and Grupo Lokito and Mano de Dios kick off this new west London night

Paul Artrocker on the Artrocker show on Resonance was praising this exhibition of paintings, drawing, sculpture and photography curated by Harry Pye last week. Peel had helped Pye promote an art exhibition many years ago and so was one of many fans who can say, “John Peel changed my life.”

With impeccable timing, the best 12” of the year is being released very soon via Routine Records

Wychwood offers VIP tickets as a festive season special and first acts announced

Live music, DJs and films in Hoxton’s Cargo and all for a good cause too

With little more than hope and reggae to sustain them through war, bereavement and displacement, Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars came through it all and are here to put a smile on Londoners’ faces

There was a partcularly laid-back atmosphere around the place prior to this Sold Out concert which is very in keeping with the multi-talented superstar Seu Jorge.

Istanbul’s Babylon club is pretty much the universally proffered answer to the question, where should one go in Istanbul for exciting live music…

South African band Freshlyground scooped the hottest category for the MTV Awards. Simon and Zolani of the band received the award from MTV base VJ Sizwe Dhlomo at the Bella Center, Copenhagen

The fifth Discovering Latin America Film Festival brings together an eclectic mix of internationally acclaimed feature films, documentaries and short films, in London’s leading Latin American film festival

An eclectic and exciting selection of musical talent will descend on Rennes’ Parc Expo for this year’s Trans Musicales in December

Check out the fantastic line-up below for the Fiesta des Suds in Marseille 20 - 30 October. Gotan Project, Cesaria Evora, Estrella Morente and Coldcut. For extra flavour, I have left the details in French.

While the health of the great leader is in doubt, no such worries exist for the state of Cuban music. The best of the best will be in London this month for a night of music, cocktails and cigars

Atlantic Waves 2006 is packed with the innovative international collaborations that have come to make this exploratory music festival so successful. Highlights this year are the contrasting genres of African and Experimental.

Musical collaborators, old and new, will gather at Cheltenham Town Hall (Saturday, October 21) to help acclaimed singer songwriter Johnny Coppin celebrate a 30 year solo career

On Sunday 15th October, the award-winning venue, The Bedford in Balham is the setting for the 2nd annual OneTaste Festival; the perfect indoor party and concert, boasting 3 floors of incredible live entertainment

Fans of Hundred Strong live with Jason Todd and Lunversol9 will know that this is a gig too good to miss.

Listeners of talkSPORTS’ Birthday Spread today will know it’s Steve Reich’s birthday, but it was yesterday Andy, and Paul, he’s definitely not 59.

WOMAD has just announced its decision to move from the Rivermead site in Reading — home to the UK edition of the festival since 1990

Gerry Hectic previews the new regular night of out-there Latin and Brazilian sounds at Guanabara and casts his eye over the latest Sol Y Luna release

Join Fly’s DJ Jose Luis for a night of reggaeton, hip hop and old school salsa down at Cargo, London on 19 October

Radio 1’s Huw Stephens from Cardiff and your humble correspondent wouldn’t seem to have much in common, but there’s a couple of things we agree on. Fancy dress parties aren’t our thing and we’re both big Daedelus fans.

Ever wanted to run away with the circus? Maybe Iraq wouldn’t be your first choice of destination… but for a group of English clowns two and a half years ago it was

October 8th marks a coming of age for African hip hop when Afrolution Records, the London-based African hip hop label, is bringing together some of the biggest names in African hip hop for a night of hip hop from the Motherland to take place at East London’s Cargo

Nottinghill Carnival may have come and gone but that doesn’t mean your carnival spirit has to die with it as London is set to play host to a plethora of Brazillian events this autumn

Global Local’s the place to find the finest in global music. 25 events featuring between 4 & 6 acts will be performing right across London at all the major festivals in the next 2 years. There are still a couple more events to catch during September

Not content with opening one hand-crafted Amazon store to cater for global music culture jazz hop heads, we have opened two (one for US and one for UK readers)

Wychwood Music Festival will return to Cheltenham Racecourse for its third year on 1-3 June 2007. Festival favourites and Beautiful Days Festival curators the Levellers will be headlining the Main Stage on Friday and if you are quick, there is an early bird offer…

Heralding the coming of Autumn, the Twisted Folk Tour (18th- 29th October) boasts three bands from three countries, all testament to the boom of folk-influenced music on both sides of the Atlantic, and our insatiable appetite for music that eschews the shiny and the formulaic in favour of something altogether darker, stranger, lovelier

As The Spitz Festival of Folk starts this weekend, I see some of the nu-folk acts that we have featured on Fly over the last few years will be appearing. Also some of the leading lights of the early scene are appearing and if you need an introduction to the early years, a good compilation is an album called Gather In The Mushrooms: The British Folk Underground 1968-1974. It seems to Hectic that it’s good time to have a look at both to embrace a genre of music that covers nearly a forty-year period.

After the success of the first edition in July 2005, it is the turn of the famed Parisian venue Le Triptyque to welcome ‘It Becomes Infectious’ organised by Ice & Spice Records and re-uniting the international artists who have helped put them on to the international scene

For some folks, the highlight of the Wychwood Music Festival 2006 this year was Mercury nominated Seth Lakeman. With a new single and album out, the October tour has just been announced

As a rule I’d prefer to run a mile (or even a marathon) if you talk of reinterpreting the work of ‘rock and roll’s sharpest musical minds’. However, when Norma Winstone adds her seal of approval to events, I’m going to be at the front of the queue.

Having made his name playing jazz and hip hop, Soweto Kinch places both under the umbrella of a fictional radio documentary as a ‘Radio 4’ voice narrates the stories of the inhabitants of a tower block in Birmingham’s B19 district

After almost a 10 year break DMC return with The Summit where World Champions of the highest order gather under one roof for the ultimate turntable showdown. This is the pinnacle of the two day event and the only opportunity to see these legends jam together and showcase their individual skills.

Fans of Ghanaian Hip-Hop known as Hip-Life are in for a treat in the coming weeks. On Saturday 2 September, the stage will be set at the Stratford Rex in East London, for one of the biggest Ghanaian live music events to take place in the UK

Chill the festival demanded, so chill we did. By increments the stress of crowded, polluted, faceless city living fell away to the strains of Fink, Adem, Coldcut and Bugz in the Attic, to stunning scenery, a blissed-out crowd and plenty of trees to hug.

A new summer festival has been announced on Bournemouth’s doorstep. The Bloom festival will host a selection of cultured electronic beats and bass, all taking place over the weekend of the 11th - 13th August.

Graham Crothers looks over Belfasts’ cultural highlights for August

The event is happening on Friday 1 September at Jamm in Brixton, and will see musicians, performers and DJs from around the world coming together, raising funds and awareness for the native people of West Papua who face extinction at the hands of the illegally occupying Indonesian forces.

Of all the festivals you need to get yourself down to in the UK this sweltering summer, this is the one most likely to provide a welcome chillout in the beautiful surroundings of the Malvern Hills.

Wednesday, August 9th sees the V&A showcase a 1960s undeground music and dance day of talks and lectures followed by a full on ska, bluebeat reggae & soul party. And in the best of 60s tradition, it’s free!

The line up for 2006.

Free event! Don’t miss a great opportunity to see the real Latin America at the Latin Carnaval

It is hard to write objectively about a gig like Friday’s picnic-cum-outdoor festival in Kew Gardens. Because when the sun is out and you’re given free wine, cheese, chocolate and apple juice (‘lovingly’ handed out by the sponsors) you can’t help feeling, ‘this is great…’

Graham Crothers casts his eye over the cultural highlights for Belfast for the second half of July

The awards event guarantees the best Nigeria can offer in music and unbridled entertainment, bringing together the creme-de-la-creme of the Nigerian and the African Caribbean communities with all the glamour, panache and style that that entails.

As one of the most trusted names in listing magazines there is, Time Out is part of a new series of CD/DVD’s covering New York, Paris and London called ‘The Other Side of’.

Listing magazine par excellence, Time Out is part of a new series of CD/DVD’s covering New York, Paris and London called ‘The Other Side of’.

George Peguero is the newest singing sensation from Cuba. Something of a child prodigy, George won many national singing competitions during his early years and appeared several times on Cuban TV

‘Namu naala, gisse naala gisse! - I’ve missed you, long time no see!’ Anyone who didn’t understand any Wolof before the Rio Loco festival in Toulouse will have returned home from the 5-day event with those two phrases wedged into their memories…

When you’re about to launch a new label, you need to get a few things in place first and it would appear Nik Weston has covered them all.

When you’re about to launch a new label, you need to get a few things in place first and it would appear Nik Weston has covered them all.

Live and direct all the way from New Zealand, Katchafire are the next reggae band looking to make an impression.

Silvio Rodríguez is to perform in London for the Music Fund for Cuba. Guests include John Williams, with a special opening set from members of Madness and Ska Cubano

All the big names in leftfield folk music will be down at the Arts Depot in London for a spectacular gig.

Featuring DJs from Bugz, Co-Op + Uprock plus special guests and we have no fewer than five pairs of tickets to give away

There was only ever going to be one home for The Heritage Orchestra once Gilles Peterson decided to set up his new Brownswood Recordings label.

After 18 hot months of booty-shaking dancehall and reggaeton madness at Rhythm Factory, it’s time for the monthly Heatwave party to move on. The night will return at a brand new venue in September/October 2006. For the last event at Rhythm Factory it’s all about the residents doing what they do best, and firing up a party not to be missed…

This is a free music festival with some big headline names, Graham Coxon, Sway, Buzzcocks, The Wailers, Killa Kela and many more but Roy Ayers is the one for the sunshine…

The Official Mehfil Match After Party. Bollywood summer-themed event with Shishas and DJ Fantasia playing the best in R’n’B, Bhangra, Bollywood, Arabic, Latin, commercial beats & more as well as a few more surprises on the night!

Legend of Brazilian music for over 30 years, Sergio Mendes, makes a long awaited return to London. There’s also a chance to catch Gilles Peterson for free beforehand

If there is more likeable rascal of a record this year, I’ll eat my swizzle stick. Filthy “double ententes” rub shoulders with stinging satire much as the original patrons of Dirty Jims mixed it up back in the day

Live and Direct from Senegal, “Africa’s answer to Public Enemy” — Pee Froiss — with support from king of the UK dancehall Swel Daag and from Zimbabwe’s DKR plus DJs Heatwave, Eric Soul and Ilka

Brasilian beer Brahma is inviting you to celebrate the spirit of Brasil this summer with TrocaBrahma. TrocaBrahma will fuse the finest in established and up and coming UK and Brasilian music talent for an exceptional series of sonic fiestas, live shows and collaborations in London, Manchester and Edinburgh, (venue details below), from July 28-30.

Daedelus had a quick visit to Ninja Tune HQ last week and found time to do an in-store appearance at Banquet Rocords in Kingston. Never one to say no, Hectic got to hang out with the great man on the 4.30 from Waterloo.

Now there’s not much the Ed. and Hectic agree on, but we certainly agreed the highlight of the Wychwood Festival was Ed Motta and his band on Saturday night.

It’s an exciting time for music fans in the North West as the line-up is announced for Eclectica, St.Helens annual free music festival ON Sunday 13 August 2006. Up-and-coming acts share a stage with old hands like Spearhead.

BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 3 are preparing to celebrate their sixth annual BBC Jazz Awards. This year’s awards will feature Quincy Jones, Jools Holland, the UK’s most popular pianist and bandleader, and the multi-platinum selling Jamie Cullum

In this year’s World Cup in Germany there are five African teams taking part: Angola, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Togo and Tunisia. You will find numerous pubs, bars etc in London to watch the World Cup matches but for those wishing to support Ghana, Ivory Coast and Angola in a fun atmosphere, check out some of the special events taking at Herbal in Shoreditch

Party in true Latin style at the Carnival de Cuba London Festival. The Carnival de Cuba London Festival returns to London for 2006 with a huge showcase of live music, dance, workshops and more, exploding on to the South Bank in June.

This is the first Best Kept Secret Weekender and they’ve gone to one of the best party cities in the world to have it. Four days in Amsterdam would be great in normal circumstances but BSK have lined up a program of exceptional reggae, disco, house, broken beat, neo-soul and future jazz.

Graham Crothers presents Belfast cities cultural highlights for June

Catch Robert Plant and Salif Keita, belly dancing and gypsy punk, African Day and the Children’s World at this mammoth two-week long festival.

London’s first Balkan Fever festival. Catch Balkan Fever!

The Bays have upped their live appearances recently as they warm up for their big summer gig in Cheltenham.

Different people, different cultures, one language: music…

Experience the powerful variety and vibrancy of African culture and be thrilled by a range of African music, dance, food and crafts on the South Bank at Festival Riverside outside the Royal Festival Hall.

The Sound Of The World DJ Relay is a party like no other, offering contributors to Charlie Gillett’s ‘Sound of the World’ website the chance to show off their skills behind the decks with short DJ sets.

The London African Music Festival starts on the 19th May and runs til 28th May at the Royal Festival Hall. A rich and varied line up including Toumani Diabate, Cheikh Lo and Kanda Bongo Man.

The cream of the world’s Muslim artists assembles in London this summer for the 21st Music Village festival. Guest visiting artists from all over the Islamic world unite with leading UK-based Muslim performers, storytellers, speakers and workshop leaders in a 17-day programme of free events across the city.

Gospel is the biggest-selling music genre throughout Africa and it has had its home in South Africa for a long time. The Soweto Gospel Choir were formed out of this tradition and the group has made a special place for itself in the world’s heart since South Africa told its painful story

Bombay’s Shri (Shrikanth Sriram), of Badmarsh and Shri fame, has been a leading light in the UK Asian music scene since it first came to prominence in the early 1990s and brings his groundbreaking live show to the Albany for one night only on Saturday 27 May. We have a pair of tickets to give away, just read on…

Jorge Ben is a national institution in Brazil and his gigs are as much rallies as concerts. The faithful and the curious come, the first to pay homage and the second to see what the fuss is all about.

Here’s another young man who’s been tagged with ‘the next big thing’ label.

When Cosmic Sounds boss throw as party, he throws a big one.

Following two sold-out shows for the recent London Jazz Festival, Croatian star Darko Rundek makes a triumphant return to London

Romanian gypsy band Taraf de Haidouks played a week of shows at the Lyric to packed houses and wild excitement

Thank you for the hundreds of entries but the competition is now closed and winers hve been notified.

Clubs, live music, art exhibitions and workshops in London. Lots to see and lots to do…

The Latino heat is on! And to get the part started, Fly is offering two free pairs of tickets…

Fly man in Belfast, Graham Crothers takes you on a tour of his city’s cultural highlight’s for May…

Back in the hosting helm comes Perry Louis from the famous jazz dance outfit, JazzCotech, returning to the Salmon & Compass for his heavy session of funk, boogie, jazz and soul with rotating monthly guest DJs

Fresh Styles is committed to showing the best features, documentaries, shorts and music videos on this hip hop planet. It celebrates the diversity and the art of the world’s biggest culture, and is socially conscious, showing films which have a social, historical or political message as well as more ‘mainstream’ and experimental musical and visual content.

Zakopane hosts a dazzling array of global jazz talent this year, ranging from the likes of Mark de Clive-Lowe to Tomasz Stanko, but hurry, it starts soon…

Anga Diaz successfully translated his eclectic Echu Mingua album into a captivating live experience

One of the most exciting line-ups to be found anywhere in the country. Sounds In The Round 2006 in the Open Air Arena at mac in Birmingham is bursting with big names, global grooves and punky attitude.

The Vortex is a much-loved venue that closed down only to reopen in an award-winning new building not far from its old location. Featuring the best in jazz and global music culture

This is La Linea’s 6th year of presenting new trends and moves in music of Latin origin. La Linea takes place in a variety of central London venues throughout April and the ‘06 season promises to keep up the dizzying standards that previous audiences have come to expect.

Further adventures of the poet guitarists and rebel rockers from the southern Sahara desert.

In Association with The Centre of African Studies at SOAS, Friends of Mali-UK invites you to A Celebration of the Life of Ali Farka Toure: Master Musician and Mayor. Tuesday April 4th, 6.30-8.00pm

Twice they have pulled off the “Big Gig” and surprised the sceptics. Now Devon acoustic duo Show of Hands are going for the hat trick — taking on the gamble of hiring and selling out one of the world’s most famous venues — the Royal Albert Hall.

An exciting, violently rhythmical evening of music inspired by the essence and heritage of African rhythms and melodies and their influence in Venezuela, Cuba and Puerto Rico — and what better location than in the Embassy of Venezuela

April sees the addition of a new house of entertainment as The Big Chill follows the success of their Brick Lane bar with the opening of The Big Chill House.

Hailing from Mexico by way of Dublin, Rodrigo y Gabriella are currently touring a sold out circuit around the UK.

This is as an eclectic a crew as you’re likely to find anywhere.

Windmills of The Soul is Kero One’s debut album and the Plug Label’s first full-length release. In addition to the vocals, Mr One is also responsible for the scratching, bass, Moog, synths and the Fender Rhodes playing. Apart from some guest vocals this guy is pretty much self-contained but you wouldn’t think so from the full on soulful sound.

On the first Sunday of every month Sunday Social pumps out the sounds of Africa from Manjaro. Each Sunday Social spotlights a different African country, profiling its hottest new dances and freshest music. On 2nd April they’re spotlighting Senegal, the homeland of Papa Bouba Diop, Youssou N’dour and Patrick Vieira.

Reggaeton, the hypnotic sound of Jamaican dancehall clashing with Latin hip hop, has swept the world in the last two years and now it is blowing up in London

A week of live music and events tying in with the Ritzy’s annual HRWFF with films and live acts from across the globe.

An annual event highlighting musical excellence from all the countries that border the great river. The Nile Festival this year features Mahmoud Ahmed and El Tanbura. It will take place in London at the Hammersmith Palais on April 27

4 parties in 4 venues over 3 days within a 500 meter radius to mark the launch of Bloom — including Fly favourites, Lautrec

The is the Best Music Event of the Year, according to the most prestigious Czech music award — the Andel / Angel (the Czech equivalent of the Grammy)

Gogol Bordello’s live shows have been called the greatest on earth. Stories of stage invasions, crowd surfing and bouncer-baiting are now legendary. The New York-Ukrainian punk band did not disappoint.

Chilli Fried nights feature the cream of dance sounds from around the world presented at three of London’s finest intimate venues: Darbucka in Clerkenwell (Chilli Fried North) and the Ritzy Cafe Bar in Brixton (Chilli Fried South) and now Café Bohemia is Hackney

In advance of the forthcoming European tour, Far Out Recordings have put Brazil’s top jazz-funkers together with the Brixton-based Spiritual South team for a remix to rival their ‘Jazz Room’ remix.

One of my favourite restaurants in London, Mosob serves delicious Eritrean food in a friendly, funky atmosphere and every month it has a party…

On Tuesday 7 March, a new monthly series of live jazz commences in West London. In the intimate basement setting of Brook’s Bar, near Hammersmith, two very different musical ensembles, sharing a passion for pouring intense improvisation over solid grooves, will perform extended sets…

Kazum have organised a feast of musical and filmic delights from the gateway to the Orient including the premiere of Erkan Ogur’s Telvin at the QEH.

With Fantazia’s new album on release and a tour in progress, the state of Algero-Funk in Britain has never been better…

The first weekend in June sees the wonderful Wychwood Festival back again. Visit the website now and you might even win a giant tent for you and your mates. Keep checking back here for news as it happens.

Born in the Algerian port of Oran into a Jewish family in 1928 Maurice El Medioni has led a remarkable life crammed full of music: he played Jewish Andalous music at coffee-houses and weddings, boogie and rumba in bars & parties, introduced the piano into early Rai music, and became a cabaret star in Paris of the 60s.

Once again, three outstanding stars of African music are coming to the UK on this years’ African Soul Rebels tour.

Gilles Peterson hosts one of the best club/live band nights in the capital at Cargo for the ‘Independent Mix’.

Africa’s Hottest Musicians to turn up the temperature on ‘Global Warming’

A new kind of jam session is opening up in West London. The format is a stellar rhythm section with a featured artist - creating a jam session with a difference.

Asia House showcases a funky fusion of traditional and contemporary Bangladeshi music on the South Bank. The concert explores the musical roots of Bangladesh from the sounds of the homelands through to contemporary world fusion

English acoustic roots stars Show of Hands return to Glasgow’s famous Celtic Connections Festival Wednesday, January 18 after a sell out debut at the 2005 event

Following the release of their acclaimed album Motorcity Roots in 2005, Jazz Jamaica will continue their UK tour this year

Catch gritty Brazilian hip hop film Favela Rising at the ICA, London

Two rooms of of culo-shaking Caribbean madness from Jamaica to Puerto Rico and Trinidad to Panama

The Barbican’s major festival of art, music, film, theatre and dance celebrating the most significant cultural movement to have emerged from South America in the last five decades. It’s a three-month-long celebration of all things Brazillian. And then there’s the World Cup…

From legendary names who have shaped British folk over the last forty years, to acid-folk hipsters currently in vogue, Folk Britannia provides an idiosyncratic snapshot of British folk music in the 21st century.

With his roots in the traditional music of Mauritania, Touré successfully blends the sounds of Africa, Paris and international pop in equal measure. We gave away a free pair of tickets for his gig at the Royal Opera House.

Two classical traditions in sequence and then joined together for a stimulating live collaboration marked a magical night at The Sage Gateshead, continuing its leading role as global music champion in the North. Local musician and Fly reviewer Ray Burns went along…

EtnaFest is a State-financed music season that takes place in Sicily (Italy), in the city of Catania, every year. This year there is everyone from Yusef Lateef to João Gilberto and Philip Glass to Lou Reed.

Christmas at The Eden Project in Cornwall is an inspirational and magical time. To celebrate the cold winter months they put on their annual A Time Of Gifts festival, which includes a temporary ice rink, brass bands, singers, puppet shows, and a Walk Of Heroes Lantern Parade

One of the world’s leading Indian Classical musicians, the legendary Wajahat Khan performs his Sarod Quintet composition — ‘Raag Desh’ — with one of Europe’s elite classical quartets the Medici String Quartet

A Tribute To Bhai Gurmit Singh Virdee, 25 February - 19 March 2006. Relax, sit back and enjoy the real experience of a colourful and vibrant South Asian music festival in your city…

The climax of a year of intense cultural activity that celebrates Norway’s 100th anniversary, Norwegian Voices explores the rich vein of music that has emerged from this most surprising and individual of countries during the past 50 years.

Featuring a rare meeting of the UK’s biggest jazz DJs including Gilles Peterson (BBC Radio 1, Worldwide)
Paul Murphy (Electric Ballroom / Afro Art Records) + resident DJ Perry Louis (Jazzcotech/Messin Around)

Collage Arts presents an exclusive Indian World Music performance at the Karamel Club by the notable classical and contemporary flute player, Rupak Kulkarni (India). Accompanying on tabla: Subhash Dhunoohchand (Reunion Island). Saturday 10 December 2005

An exclusive party fundraiser for Victims of the Hurricanes in New Orleans. Featuring Jazz Jamaica, Soweto Kinch, Abram Wilson + Londorleans Brass Band. Thursday 1st December 2005

Best bargain winter warmer we have seen. Shake off the cold and get down to Cafe Mambo in Swansea every Tuesday to learn African dance and then stick around for the club afterwards. All for the price of a London pint.

Fly is proud to sponsor the Brazilian View Film Fest being held in London, Birmingham and, for the first time, Brussels. The BVFF is a non-competitive festival. Its main objective is to promote Brazilian culture and the new paths that are being established in cinema through short and medium length films

The ‘Going Live’ event at Stratford Circus on Saturday 19th November 2005 featuring Sway, Tor, Fumin, JME & Skepta and more has regrettably had to be cancelled for security reasons

Brian Eno And Stop The War Coalition Present: The Rachid Taha Band With Brian Eno in London, 27 November with Nitin Sawhney,Imogen Heap and Eclectic Method

Latin Hip Hop Crews Hit London on International Human Rights Day at the Same Time as 50,000 Party in Cali, Colombia

The 4th Discovering Latin America Film Festival is about to hit London cinemas with a programme packed with the latest films, documentaries and cultural events from some of the world’s most exciting filmmakers

Coldcut have released the remix 12” ‘Everything Is Under Control’ and will follow up with an DJ appearance at Cargo (12.11.05)

JJC has been busy lately fronting a four part series on African hip hop and doing his regular Africa on Your Street gig

Julien Lourau & Bojan Z are appearing at Pizza Express as part of the London Jazz Festival this Saturday

Julien Lourau & Bojan Z are appearing at Pizza Express as part of the London Jazz Festival this Saturday

Courtney Pine, who released his 11th studio album Resistance last week, has picked up the award for Best Jazz Act at the 3rd annual Urban Music Awards

Here we go again with the Best of the Year nominations for Gilles Peterson’s Worldwide Awards ‘05!

Artists from around the world were represented in a series of evening gigs but it was fitting in the dying embers of Africa 05 that musicians from the continent stole the shows. Among the best shows were those from Atongo Zimba, Nuru Kane, Jagwa Music, Julien Jacob, Tiken Jah Fakoly, Thandiswa and Fly friends DJs Sarr and Soul (The Afropean Allstars)

In a bid to put Manchester firmly back on the international cultural map, Manchester International Festival is kicking off its programme of events with the collaborators behind 2D-group Gorillaz playing a series of one off gigs at the Opera House.

Khaled and a host of other performers celebrate Eid al-Fitr at the end of Ramadan with a series of concerts in and around the Barbican

Madeleine’s album Careless Love reached number 7 in the album charts reflecting the huge impact it had on the masses as well as being a huge critical success. We have now given away a pair of tickets to see her live at the Barbican

The F-ire Collective has been on tour throughout October and Saturday night saw them at the Turner Sims Concert Hall in Southampton

The world-renowned accordion master from Argentina has anounced a series of dates including the Sage and a host of more intimate venues around the UK. We have given away a pair of tickets to Mark near Cardiff

This will be the 13th London Jazz Festival in association with BBC Radio 3 and it promises to be the biggest yet with something for everyone.

A decade of eclectic practices epitomised by DJs like Kruder & Dorfmeister, the spiritual home of leftfield music in Central Europe is throwing a bash

With three weeks to go until the 10th anniversary of Saro-Wiwa’s death, there is a season of events in London featurinf the written word and music

The film Brother From Another Planet - The Sun Ra Story is made by veteran filmmaker, DJ and CD compiler, Don Letts and it includes interviews with Ra fans such as George Clinton and Sonic Youth

Two nights of freaky disco and leftfield shenanigans to get you in the halloween spirit

Nigerian-born, London-based JJC, frontman of Afropean hip hop outfit JJC & 419 Squad and producer to UK R’n’B stars Jamelia, Liberty X, Big Brovaz and Lemar, looks at the rise and rise of African hip hop in this four-part documentary, Afropop, from Wednesday, 2 November 2005 on BBC 1Xtra, broadcast as part of the TXU programme, 2 - 4pm GMT.

It’s time to rock and raï on Saturday 29th of October - (20:50) as Les Boukakes play Hall 2 at The Sage Gateshead

The one-of-a-kind world music club Hubble Bubble returns to the Albany with two nights this Autumn following sell out events earlier this year.

As many have commented, the great man himself would have probably cringed at the notion of a ‘John Peel Day’, but that’s what the BBC have been promoting.

Our MC for the evening introduced us to Tim Garland’s ‘Lighthouse Project’ and encouraged us to support this trio of musicians that had come down from London especially for the gig.

After getting off to a storming start, Wychwood will be back next year, in fact, they have already selected the dates and there are extra cheap ticket prices for people buying before the end of September 2005 but hurry only a few days left!

With Fly’s association with the Ritzy Café in Brixton, when Robert Mitchell and Deborah Jordan were booked for a special duo performance, our man Hectic was duly dispatched

Because Music, Afro-groov, Friends of Mali and The Ritzy Cinema proudly present a screening of ‘Dimanche à Bamako’ Amadou & Mariam. Sat 24 Sep 2005 at Ritzy Cinema

“Kenya is not just about lions, giraffes and fast running men, it’s also about studios and hip hop!”(Tedd Josiah - Music Producer). Hip-Hop Colony - The African Hip-Hop Explosion is an official selection at the BFM International Film Festival at the ICA, London

Featuring the multi-talented Freddy Macha supported by the ebullient Nadia Al Faghih Hassan. Born in Tanzania, East Africa on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, Freddy is a prolific writer of music and poetry as well as a multi-instrumentalist and performer.

When the Guardian Guide and the Yorkshire Post both choose the same “Pick of the Week”, you know it’s gonnna be a good ‘un!

If you’ve been on the Beach Road in Newquay recently, you could have been hunting out the RipCurl Boardmasters (as featured on Radio 4’s Today programme) or the Radio 1 show to accompany the event with Judge Jules.

On realising the Gilles Peterson appearance at THIS2 was to be the last one ever, I had to get down there and pay some respect.

A Celebration of Music from around the world, set in the glorious surroundings of Colliford Lake Park. With camping, stalls, BBQs and more this will be a weekend to remember so book early to avoid disappointment.

As the last of the festival grime twists and turns down the plug holes of England, we look back over another epic few days celebrating the best of global music culture and we have lots of pics too…

Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty will be performing in London on the 31st July at the Bhavan Centre accompanied by Sri Subhasis Bhattacharya and Sri Anol Chatterjee

Paul Murphy’s association with MOD X goes back to the highly successfully remix of ‘The Quest’ on Ice & Spice Records…

Showing that beats with roots are going from strength to strength, Fly congratulates the following DJs…

WOMAD announces the final line-up for this year’s WOMAD festival which takes place on the banks of the River Thames at Rivermead, Reading from 29-31 July.

Lovebox began in 2002 as an event for Groove Armada to host their parties “with a difference”. It proved popular as Lovebox sold out 10,000 tickets in 2003 and then 20,000 at Clapham last year

This has got to be the most eagerly awaited gig of the year as it’s a chance to see live a truly great pioneer of not only the British jazz fusion scene, but the world fusion scene.

Vienna's most famous jazz-rock-fusion son, Joe Zawinul has not only recently opened his own club, inevitably called 'Birdland' but he's also released a new album recorded live in 2004 at the club called Vienna Nights

London’s best kept secret is the raucous Latin party that is Carnaval del Pueblo in Burgess Park. Great bands, windbag radio presenters blathering on on stage, fantastic street food, fabulous costumes and the hottest dancing outside Latin America. This year megastar Joe Arroyo will be headlining!

Full on Latin attitude comes to Somerset House with what for many will be the highlight of the whole summer season. Orishas and Los Lobos make a powerful double bill for this open-air event. Fly has given away a pair of tickets

The Fly editorial team isn’t afraid of a bit of competition from the traditional music print based media, so we’re happy to say this month’s Jazzwise has come up with a real bonus in anticipation of th Polish Jazz Festival in London

Word just in from Ubiquity that PPP (Platinum Pied Pipers) are coming back to Europe as well as extra dates in the US ad Canada to spread their brand of fresh hip hop and soul.

Welcome to Ali Farka time. Ali starts late and thanks the audience for their patience in French. At a beautifully languid pace he rolls his earthy sound into gear. His performance opens with a full band but his guitar, voice and the calabash dominate as on his recordings

MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY announced a stunning line up of international voices that will address and lead the tens of thousands of people expected to take part in the MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY rally in The Meadows, Edinburgh on Saturday 2nd July

This is not ‘world music’ this is post-millennial funk, expertly refreshed with a thousand different flavours from around the planet. Zap Mama is global music culture.

Music fans who want to be part of the historic Live 8 event are being given extra time to enter the competition for tickets to Live 8 Africa Calling at the Eden Project, in Cornwall

Legendary DJ Paul Murphy will be MOD X’s guest on July 29th at the Parisian venue the OPA

Fri 24 June — Thu 30 June MOSAIQUES FESTIVAL at the Ritzy Cinema and Café In conjunction with the Mosaiques Festival the Ritzy café presents a wide selection of bands and artists from around the globe.
All events 8pm — 11pm FREE

If you're in Spain or are just looking to chill after Sonar in Barcelona, the Sensomusic festival in Madrid sounds an ideal weekend on 2nd and 3rd July.

Bournemouth used to be thought as a seaside resort and rest home for OAPs In recent years, that image has changed to that of the Stag and Hen party capital of the south coast. But last Bank Holiday Sunday, it was the local's chance to celebrate their hometown heroes The Baker Brothers and the release of their new album, In With The Out Crowd.

It’s coming up fast, Latin Splash featuring Spanish Harlem Orchestra and Alex Wilson among loads of others is just a few fridays away…

The launch of Africa Lives on the BBC: Sunday, 26th June 2005 12 noon - 5pm (JJC & 419 Squad on stage at 12.45 noon) In the forecourt of the British Museum, London FREE!

The Eden Project is to stage a major Live8 concert on July 2nd under the banner of “Africa Calling” featuring Angelique Kidjo and Tinariwen.

Highlights include top bhangra bands, Qawwali music, classical music and indo pop sensations to be Trickbaby...

This year's World Party brings a fresh, heady mix of music from a range of UK and International artists. Stretch out in the park and enjoy three stages of world music, a global market, funfair, kids area, outdoor performance and a licensed bar.

Every year in Havana, the finest musicians that Cuba has to offer vie for the prestigious EGREM Cuban Music Awards. Now in 2005, the triumphant winners will — for the first time ever — travel to London to deliver exclusive UK performances. Plus see the pictures first on Fly.

The National Theatre presents its free outdoor summer festival of contemporary music, innovative arts and exhilarating entertainment in Theatre Square. With performances six days a week from Monday to Saturday, at lunchtimes, early evenings and late night Saturdays, Watch This Space offers over 100 world-class shows across its ten weeks.

More from the monthly night at Cherry Jam which started in March under the banner 'Musical impulses for creative people'

The folks at Best Kept Secret are no longer true to their name. Due to their success as a Promotions, Management, Consultancy, Media and Booking Agency operation you can't escape them. It's no secret and they've got some great acts on their books.

From Monday 23 May until Bank Holiday Monday 30 May, Central London's Carnaby Street and the surrounding area will be transformed into a carnival of sounds, colours, voices and tastes as the Out of Africa Festival comes to the West End!

The line up for the North Sea Jazz Festival was announced last week. It's a big year for the festival as it's the 30th Anniversary and the last year it's being held at The Hague before moving to Rotterdam.

We have a pair of tickets to give away in your soaraway Fly! But be swift and decisive if you want to spend a lazy weekend hanging with some of the best musicians in the world...

Cancellation of Circo Para Todos and Palenke event: 26th May

The East Africans invaded the UK — well for a week anyway. With the Sisi Kwa Sisi Tour of 2005 a contingent of Kenyans and Tanzanian hip hop heads have been pounding into UK venues and getting the crowds going.

We have awarded the free tickets and CDs for Eliades Ochoa and Juan de Marcos' Afro Cuban Allstars at the Barbican... and now you can see the pics of the concert too...

Omar Sosa couples the fearsome virtuosity of the great Cuban piano heritage with a revitalising, fresh take. Performing with two of the world's most exciting young players Dhafer Youssef and Anga Diaz, this trio presents the vibrant sound of a new world jazz sound.

Fancy a weekend in July in the Welsh mountains listening to music from around the world in a convivial atmosphere? Me too...

The Cambridge African Film Festival on tour brings you the best of contemporary African cinema from across the continent -- handpicked from FESPACO 2005 -- as well as a fabulous programme of live African musical events every night of the festival in the Ritzy Café (Upstairs at The Ritzy).

The long-established Music Village festival presents a special Weekend featuring outstanding musicians from London's wide range of diaspora communities. FREE ADMISSION: Kew Gardens Sat 25 & Sun 26 June 1.30-8.30pm

WOMAD Festival in Rivermead on the outskirts of Reading will be from 29-31 July 2005. Headline acts include Youssou N'Dour et le Super Etoile de Dakar, Amadou & Mariam, Chango Spasiuk and Robert Plant.

Latin Flow launches at Cargo. A night dedicated in bringing you the best of Latin hip hop, reggeaton, R&B, bashment, old skool salsa and Latin beats

Saturday 27th August is another date for the diary for fans of house and drum & bass when the Old Liverpool Airfield will be transformed into an oasis of noise. Personally, I'd be happy to spend the whole weekend in the drum & bass tent, it's a great line-up.

Introduced as: "The greatest reggae band ever to come outta West London," Misty In Roots proved it last night to an ecstatic crowd. The earth moved for our reviewer.

We've just missed the latest multi-cultural arts festival at Poitiers. Held at various venues throughout the city there were films, exhibitions, DJs and various groups playing live.

Forget Brazil in July, it is the middle of winter, instead head off to the wonderful natural parks around Trieste where you will find stars of samba, capoeira and percussion this July at Samberfest 2005

Whether you are after the good groove on the radio, web or clubs, Gerry gives you some starters in the capital of the Catalans.

Catch Ty, Incognito and other hip hop, jazz and funk stars at TUSCA - Tsunami Unified Artist's Charitable Aid's Tsunami Fund Raising Concert: 'Today's Children for Tomorrow'

We jazzminded folks at Fly represent a broad church and last night in Poole was a return to bebop with a quartet of Pete King (alto sax), Steve Melling (piano), Jeremy Brown (bass) and Stephen Keogh (drums).

The Cheltenham Jazz Festival is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year and it promises to be quite a party as it continues to feature some of the biggest names on the international jazz scene alongside the best of British talent.

Just a quick note to say, check out the amazing line-up for the new Wychwood Festival in June... Anga Diaz, Radio Tarifa and Mory Kante are just some of the names that have grabbed our attention

Get your fix of Latin hip hop, dancehall and reggaeton and a load of other stuff besides...

The BBC's tried it, Oprah's famous for it and even Richard and Judy are at it - but can anyone make books look more interesting than your uncle Nigel's slideshows? Up till now the evidence would have pointed to a 'no' answer, but that was before hipster Ben Watt had a go...

A night dedicated to the best of Latin hip hop, reggeaton, R&B, old skool salsa and Latin beats... 4 May, 2005

The Shrine takes over The Spitz for an intimate series of Afrocentric alchemy. A bubbling laboratory of nu-roots from the frontiers of Africa's cutting edge music scene.

From Buenos Aires to the QEH, "Best World Music Album 2003" award winner Juana Molina will be performing live in London on April 20th as part of "La Linea Festival". She will also appear at the Triptych Festival on the April 30th and 31st in Scotland.

Following in the illustrious footsteps of the BBC's Holiday programme and jazz supremo, DJ Paul Murphy, it's due time for Hectic to investigate the Craic in Cracow...

I had to disagree with Eliza Carthy's view that Buxton Opera House is something to be compared to 'the inside of Liberace's head', although whether she meant that as complement or criticism is unclear.

This is the deeply moving tale of a band of refugees from the terrible civil war that devastated Sierra Leone. The documentary follows them from camp to camp in Guinea, where they are living as displaced persons, until their return to Freetown in Sierra Leone.

'Rebel' is a much-loved moniker in the music biz. The cred of being a 'soul rebel' ups the ante (e.g. Bob Marley, Dexy's Nightnight Runners). And if you go to the next stage of being an 'African Soul Rebel', you've got the hat trick.

La Linea, London's Festival of Latin Music, returns for its fifth series this April with stand out concerts by Los Van Van, Seu Jorge, Orishas and Ska Cubano

Glenfiddich Independent Mix Presents Heavy (Live): Gilles Peterson / Karen P / Nick Matthews / Dom Servini / Ben Smith + Very Special U.S Guest. Thurs 24th Feb : Cargo, Shoreditch, London : 7 PM - 1 AM : £6

From March 16-25 the Human Rights Watch International Film Festival returns to London for the ninth year, with twenty-four dramas and documentaries (including three debut features), from nineteen countries, which intelligently and emotionally engage with many of the human rights and political stories of our times.

Of the three groups on the free stage to celebrate Jazz Britannia -- subtitled "The shape of things to come, a programme of talented newcomers" -- I was most impressed by the Heritage Orchestra featuring saxophonist Chris Bowden.

South London's Horniman Museum has a full year of events and activities to celebrate Africa 05 featuring music, textiles, art and biography.

Jamaica meets Puerto Rico Uptown in East London. Two rooms of the finest Caribbean and Latino flavas from Jamaica to Puerto Rico and Trinidad to Spanish Harlem: Dancehall/Bashment, Reggaeton, R'n'B, Latin Hip Hop, Soca and Reggae. Next one: Friday 18th February 2005

Travel into the African Blues of Mali with Scorsese's 'Feel Like Going Home' being shown for free on the 23rd of February at SOAS.

Launch Night Wed March 2nd
Live jazz and DJ, every first Wednesday of the month. Musical impulses for creative people. Dingwalls vibe for the smart West London set.

February is going to full of Bob Marley remembrances to celebrate what would have been his 60th birthday. 'Tek A Picture A' Dis' is a photographic exhibition sponsored by Sony Ericsson and Proud Camden. It features the work of three photographers, Dan Asher, Kate Simon and Jeff Cathrow who were all close to Marley.

Planning a cool break but want to make sure you have the insider's guide to where to hang out in Paris? The next big thing tells Fly's Gerry Hectic where it's at.

On the 5th March, Out of Africa will be blasting back into London's consciousness as the crew stage a takeover of East London's Spitz for a right royal jamboree of African proportions, featuring The Culture Chronics, headed by the near legendary DJ Mickey Smith and Marque Gilmore.

Unfortunately the lecture at the British Museum he was due to give 10 February
has been postponed until Friday 25th February.

Kicking off on Tuesday 15th Feb 2005, Salsa Boogie launches a brand new night at Bar Rumba. Barrio Latino will feature a total party mix of the best upfront salsa, reggaeton and R&B for all lovers of salsa and urban Latin dance music.

Using all of his performance know-how from over three decades as a singer, songwriter and saxophonist, Curtis Stigers, backed by the excellent Tri-Fi, brought verve and passion to an evening of lounge bar swing in the austere surroundings of the Queen Elizabeth Hall on Friday.

In a brief lunchtime showcase for Madeleine Peyroux's new album prior to her return to the USA, regular punters of Madame JoJo's would not have recognised the place. Somewhat bleached from having risen in Italy at 4.30am, and facing a be-coated gathering picking at sushi under premature air conditioning, she probably could have heard a chopstick drop.

Nikki Wright falls for Hungary on a recent trip with DJ Lucien.

It was Jazz Dance roadblock as Gilles Peterson (Radio 1) and Paul 'The Don' Murphy (Afro Art) dug deep in their dusty boxes at Shiftless Shuffle on Sunday, 19th December 2004.

Back in Vienna after a trip to Paris to promote the release of the MEGABLAST 12", 'Jubita' (La Rosière Records), we ask Sascha, "Why do a Viennese special?"

Commencing in February 2005, the South Bank Centre presents AFRICA REMIX, a major festival of visual and performing arts, launching the year-long London-wide festival, AFRICA '05.

Have you ever wondered where your top DJs buy records? Not the stuff they get sent as DJ promos by the record company pluggers. The good stuff. The hard to get stuff. The breaking stuff that you can't get your hands on.

Platinum-selling singer/saxophonist Curtis Stigers brightens up wintry old London Town with his much anticipated debut at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on Friday January 28th.

This is the 9th year that Africa, its diaspora and anyone serious about African music have been audience to the Kora Awards. The 2004 awards ceremony took place in South Africa in early December and is a glamorous gathering of musicians, industry-people, promoters and all those involved in the continental music industry.

Classically inspired pianist Gonzales is an unexpected breath of fresh air, playing witty versions of jazz standards, tinged with echoes of Yann Tiersen, Gershwin and a bygone age, and at his live performance at Kings College, it wasn't long until everyone was under his spell.

February 2005 sees the African Soul Rebel Tour in the UK. African Soul? Rebel? Exciting to know we in Europe are broadening our own adjectives when it comes to contemporary African music.

The winners have been announced for Gilles' best of the year round up.

A new concept in Latin Parties, Candela Nights is the weekly party were the best Latino sound happens in south London

Buxton Opera House's 2005 season caught our eye for its exciting programme featuring such jazz luminaries as Courtney Pine and Andy Sheppard and the unique Nitin Sawhney.

"We hope to see you all again before we get arrested..." commented the charismatic and controversial saxophonist Gilad Atzmon. A true modern great in the everchanging world of jazz.

During the day, artists, promoters, record labels and Fly’s Editor mingle and do business in a giant art-deco colliery in the heartland of industrial Germany but at night, the doors are flung open to the public for around 50 gigs. Here are pics of some of the best…

Discovering Latin America III Film Festival (25 November - 5 December) brings to London a selection of internationally acclaimed feature films and documentaries, including 21 UK premieres like The First Night, from Colombia The Truce from Mexico and A Social Genocide from Argentina among others.

DJs: carlos (moksha.co.uk) + mark wimmers (afrocubansounds.com) + steve m + guests. Now 1st & 3rd Saturday of every month through to 3am.

Colombian hip hop crew Zona Marginal arrive in the UK in November from one of the poorest and most violent shantytowns in Colombia

Wonky Beatz is the Tuesday club night choice for B-boys and girls in Southampton. Situated at the heart of town (behind the Guildhall), it's a joint promotion by Soul Cellar manager Clair and her partner Alan Parfett.

At times there were no fewer than 19 musicians on stage: including special guests Baaba Maal and Courtney Pine. Could Manu, the spry septuagenarian Cameroonian, keep it all locked down?

Last night at the Barbican, Femi confirmed to an international audience what Nigerians have long known: Femi is a major star in his own right and has long since stepped out from the long shadow cast by his father.

Earlier this evening, master afrobeat drumer Tony Allen played a flawless gig although his collaborators were rather less reliable

Flavonoid fiend Mr. Scruff salutes the denizens of Gussage All Saints on his whistling kettle tour of Britain as he drums up trade for his new mix CD. Our man Gerry keeps up with him for while.

Fela heaven is over now! Respect to everyone who put it together.

Fly is proud to sponsor The First London Jazz Fringe Festival. Today is the last day so get down to see Joy if you can. The venue is The Ritzy CafÈ, Brixton (just above the Cinema). All week it has been buzzing and there have been some great acts so far.

Descending the shabby stairs of the down-at-heel 100 Club, I was hit by a wave of nostalgia for the days when this venue was jumping and this reviewer was a bit more spry too. I had come to see the band Crossroadz. Billed as one of the best blues bands in Russia, I was wondering how good does that make them?