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Mohsen Namjoo – South & North!

Jan 21, 2015

From Queen Street West to Richmond Hill our musical reach spans the GTA this week with one great artist. Tomorrow evening at the Small World Centre, it’s the first of two events with Mohsen Namjoo. As the latest instalment of the Small World Salon series, he’ll be in conversation and performance, getting ‘up close and personal’ with a select number of his fans. Based on previous Salon evenings, this should be a special encounter. The show is almost sold out, if you want tickets now’s the time to grab them! Check out the Mohsen Namjoo from our festival below.The following night on Friday, we journey north to the Richmond Hill Performing Arts Centre for the big event – Namjoo in concert. Showcasing music from his recent release ‘Trust the Tangerine Peel’ and his extensive back catalogue of great songs, Mohsen and his band will kick it up with their unique combination of Persian and western influences.Coming in February, film and music make the scene. On the 6th, the screening of ‘the Stirring of a Thousand Bells’ has the added attraction of an an opening set of live performance. Music by Andrew Timar, Bill Parsons and guest Matt Dunning (the film’s director) will present the beautiful Sundanese traditional sounds of kacapi / suling. The zither / flute combination will be supported by kendhang, the Javanese two-headed drum. That same weekend at Lula Lounge, Joe Driscoll and Sekou Kouyate will rock the intersection of hip hop and West African grooves.

If you liked the Uma Nota summer Block Party, the group is presenting another ‘party off the beaten path’, in a new location on Geary Lane, in the middle of an industrial block, wedged between two streets. On January 31st this one will be a tropical jam on a cold winter night with custom decor, sound system, food and drink.

                                         
Executive Director

Mohsen Namjoo: In Conversation

Thursday January 22nd – Small World Music Centre

Mohsen Namjoo: In Concert

Friday January 23rd – Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts

Joe Driscoll & Sekou Kouyate

Sunday February 8th, Lula Lounge

Vusi Mahlasela & Hugh Masekela

Saturday February 28th, Koerner Hall

Camané

Friday March 13th, Winter Garden Theatre

Oliver Mtukudzi and the Black Spirits w/ special guest Kinobe

Saturday April 18th, Koerner Hall

The Stirring of a Thousand Bells

Friday February 6th, The Small World Music Centre

Let’s cast out the cold and enliven the heart with the most diverse jam in Toronto. If you liked our summer Block Party, this is your party off the beaten path, in a new location, designed and specially made for our enjoyment pleasure. We originally were going to call this event ‘Inside the Block, Party’ because the location is wholly new and literally in the middle of an industrial block, wedged between two streets. Also, like the Block Party, it is totally set up by us, from sound, to decor design, to bar and food… This one will be the tropical jam inside a coldish winter nite.

Community Events

Small World Music supports our community partners and family of world music artists performing around the greater Toronto area. Visit the Small World Music site to learn more about all the great events happening in the city.

Support Small World

Small World Music Society is a charitable organization and presenter of culturally diverse music, supported by the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Ontario Arts Council, the Ontario Trillium Foundation and the Toronto Arts Council, as well as community and corporate partners.

Upcoming Sounds & Musical Discoveries

Jan 15, 2015

Next week, we’re looking forward to hosting two nights with Mohsen Namjoo. This provocative ex-pat Iranian artist has won fans globally with his unique style and mix of influences from modern and ancient sources. On Thursday, Mohsen will join us at the Small World Centre for an evening of stories and music ‘up close and personal’. The following evening he and his band are in concert at the Richmond Hill Performing Arts Centre for what should be another amazing performance.February’s looking strong with a mix of music and film. On Friday the 6th we have an exciting addition to announce for our inaugural film screening. The Stirring of a Thousand Bells, an impressionistic tour of Java, will be augmented by a live performance of Sundanese kacapi / suling. More details to come.That same weekend on Sunday the 8th, Joe Driscoll & Sekou Kouyate perform at Lula Lounge. We’re really primed for this evening of African grooves mixing with hip hop and funk. South Africa takes the stage at the end of the month as two of that country’s most beloved artists, Vusi Mahlasela & Hugh Masekela perform at Koerner Hall. Should be a great night.

A recent discovery worth sharing – Lala Njava is a superb singer from Madagascar, whose recent (well, 2013 anyway) release ‘Malagasy Blues Song’ has made an impression. It came across my radar courtesy of the good taste of Montreal-based Stingray (formerly Galaxie) Music. A great combination of roots, kick-ass groove and her killer voice. Let’s see if we can get her here at some point!
                                         
Executive Director

Mohsen Namjoo: In Conversation

Thursday January 22nd – Small World Music Centre

Mohsen Namjoo: In Concert

Friday January 23rd – Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts

Joe Driscoll & Sekou Kouyate

Sunday February 8th, Lula Lounge

Vusi Mahlasela & Hugh Masekela

Saturday February 28th, Koerner Hall

Camané

Friday March 13th, Winter Garden Theatre

Oliver Mtukudzi and the Black Spirits w/ special guest Kinobe

Saturday April 18th, Koerner Hall

The Stirring of a Thousand Bells

Friday February 6th, The Small World Music Centre

Community Events

Small World Music supports our community partners and family of world music artists performing around the greater Toronto area. Visit the Small World Music site to learn more about all the great events happening in the city.

Support Small World

Small World Music Society is a charitable organization and presenter of culturally diverse music, supported by the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Ontario Arts Council, the Ontario Trillium Foundation and the Toronto Arts Council, as well as community and corporate partners.

Namjoo / Film / Funk / Free tickets!

Jan 08, 2015

A new year means time to reassess and plan for what’s in store in the Small World. Our aim – to continue to give the best experience to audiences, artists and communities, building on a positive first year in our own Small World Centre and with our partner venues across the GTA. So, here’s to a great, musical 2015!
It all gets underway very soon with two-nights with one of our favourite provocateurs, as the one-and-only Mohsen Namjoo returns. On Thursday the 22nd, we’re excited to have him in another instalment of the Small World Salon Series. He’ll be in conversation at the Small World Centre, discussing his take on the world of music and more. And giving us a taste of the following evening’s music at the Richmond Hill Centre with his band.
February brings some great events too. Those of you who bought tickets to December’s postponed screening of ‘The Stirring of 1000 Bells’ will be pleased to know we can now announce a new date – Friday February 6th. This compelling two-part film event transports the audience to Java, via music and arts. Tickets are on sale for the new date now and just to make it better, we’re offering two pairs of FREE seats for our very first screening! Respondents to ali@smallworldmusic.com who can name the traditional style of Javanese music featured will get them.
That same weekend, we’re back at Lula Lounge after far too long, with a superb night of African-tinged song, rap and funk. Joe Driscoll and Sekou Kouyate will be something special. More to come!
                             
Executive Director

Mohsen Namjoo: In Conversation

Thursday January 22nd – Small World Music Centre

Mohsen Namjoo: In Concert

Friday January 23rd – Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts

Joe Driscoll & Sekou Kouyate

Sunday February 8th, Lula Lounge

Camané

Friday March 13th, Winter Garden Theatre

The Stirring of a Thousand Bells

Friday February 6th, The Small World Music Centre

Community Events

Small World Music supports our community partners and family of world music artists performing around the greater Toronto area. Visit the Small World Music site to learn more about all the great events happening in the city.

Support Small World

Small World Music Society is a charitable organization and presenter of culturally diverse music, supported by the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Ontario Arts Council, the Ontario Trillium Foundation and the Toronto Arts Council, as well as community and corporate partners.

Small World Festival First Announcements & New Website Launch!

Jul 28, 2014

It’s been a while since we’ve found our way into your inbox. Here’s hoping summer is good wherever you are.

We’ve been busy here at Small World, preparing for our upcoming 13th Annual Small World Music Festival, running September 25 – October 5. And in preparation for that, we’re delighted to launch our new website. Same great location, now Mobile Friendly! Please do check it out and see for yourself.

The festival is going to be a superb run of events, bringing some of the finest artists from around the globe to stages across the GTA. We’re very pleased to be working alongside partners including Koerner Hall, the Flato Markham Theatre and the new Aga Khan Museum to present music from India, Pakistan, Serbia, Trinidad, the Balkans, Africa and more.

Some of the names we’re anticipating include the Boban & Marko Markovic Orkestra, Rizwan Muazzam Qawwali, Zakir Hussain and Kiran Ahluwalia.

There’s lots more to come, so stay tuned! In the meantime you can relive last year’s festival highlights in the video link below.

In the immediate future, this weekend the Small World Music Centre hosts a tribute to one of Iran’s greatest artists. Mohammad-Reza Lotfi was renowned for his influence on Persian classical music. He passed away last May and Toronto’s Sarv Ensemble presents this concert in his memory. The group features some of the city’s finest Persian music performers – Pedram Khavarzamini (tonbak), Shahin Fayaz (tar), Araz
Salek (tar), Arash Javadpour (bass tar), Amin Reyhani (santour), Kousha Nakhaei (kamanche) as well as guests. For tickets, contact info@sarv.ca

 

 

Alan Davis
Executive Director