Martin Daws: Young People’s Poet Laureate for Wales

Young People’s Laureate for Wales Martin Daws will be the main MC and compere on the main stage at this year’s Kaya Festival!

An electrifying poet whose live sets blend free musicality and innovative lyricism in a unique improvised theatre, Martin Daws’ work explores life, nature and who the hell we think we are, anyway! Martin’s poetry shows a rare breadth of style and voice, and he has also been introduced to an audience as ‘a thoroughly nice man’. Broadcast on numerous occasions, Martin has published in international journals, and performed extensively around the UK and Ireland. His musical collaborations with Electro-Acoustic Composer Rob Mackay have toured internationally, taking video of Martin in performance and recordings of his voice to multi-media performances in 4 continents. Martin will be on stage performing a specially commissioned poem called ‘Kaya’ for the festival.

‘One of the UK’s Top Performance Poets’ Square Magazine

DJ Afrika Bambaataa

Respectfully known as the “Godfather” of Hip Hop and the “Father” of Electro Funk, Afrika Bambaataa represents decades of talent and creativity; from being the leader of the New York street gang Black Spades to creating the global, ground-breaking Universal Zulu Nation in the 70s and spreading the hip hop culture as the Grandfather of hip hop.

Afrika Bambaataa showcased his skills in the prominent Bronx rap scene and quickly established himself as the Master of Records. Taking it to the next level, he formed two rap groups Jazzy 5 and Soulsonic Force and together with DJs, Grandmaster Flash and Kool DJ Herc, began experimenting with the percussive sections of music such as rock, funk and electro-pop, merging them together to produce pioneering new sounds. Bambaataa released his smash-hit debut single Planet Rock in 1983 which went gold and generated an entire movement of electro-funky rap and dance music.

He continued to produce electro-funk and in 1984 went on to film the movie Beat Street with several other known hip hop artists which received critical acclaim and helped spread the sound of hip hop. The rise of turntables and the blossom of electronic music in the 90s brought Afrika Bambaataa new recognition well beyond the hip hop community. He has received several prominent awards for his impact in the music scene such as the Billboards Founders of Hip Hop Award in 2005 and was nominated in 2007 for the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame.

Finley Quaye

MOBO and BRIT award winning Finley Quaye is the latest addition to the Kaya Festival line up and it is fair to say that we are pretty pumped to welcome him to North Wales in 2013! Scottish born, Quaye made his recording debut in 1995 on A Guy Called Gerald’s “Finley’s Rainbow”. He scored a solo deal with Epic Records, and, in late 1997, hit the UK Top 20 twice with “Sunday Shining”, a loose Bob Marley cover, and “Even After All”. His reputation was established by Maverick A Strike, an adventurous but accessible album released in September 1997, which sold gold less than three weeks later and led directly to the Brit Award victory. The album is now certified multi platinum. In 1998, Quaye performed George Gershwin’s “It Ain’t Necessarily So” for the Red Hot Organization’s compilation album Red Hot + Rhapsody, a tribute to George Gershwin, which raised money for various charities devoted to increasing AIDS awareness and fighting the disease. Two more albums were released on Epic, Vanguard (2000) and Much More Than Much Love (2004).

Quaye has worked with Osibisa, both on stage and in the recording studio, as well as Iggy Pop, Tricky, Randy Savage, Primal Scream, Lee Scratch Perry and Buju Banton. He has supported James Brown, Luciano, Weller, The Verve, Ben Harper, Fun Loving Criminals, Robbie Williams and The Stereo MCs, and has been supported by Amy Winehouse, Natty, Ken Boothe and Cath Coffey of the Stereo MCs. You can see why he will go down well at Kaya this year! We can’t wait for him to hit the stage.

SOWETO KINCH

Brilliant Saxophone player Soweto Kinch makes his Kaya debut on the main stage on International Saturday; playing a fusion of jazz, African,hip hop influenced tunes this award winning artist will be one of the stars of Kaya 2013!

Soweto Kinch has won numerous accolades including, in 2002, the Rising Star Award at the BBC Jazz Awards and the White Foundation world sax competition. In 2003 and 2007 he won the MOBO prize for Best Jazz Act. Also in 2003, his debut album Conversations With The Unseen was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize, only just losing out to grime MC Dizzee Rascal!

ThomasThomas

ThomasThomas is a Family… Featuring Thomas & Devaki, founding members of Samsara, a band that gained cult status within the Canadian live music scene through their legendary gigs. The couple also founded and directed the Komasket Music Festival in BC Canada for 10 years featuring some of the worlds most renowned world music artists; Arrested Development, Buffy St Marie, Diggable Planets and The Wailers. Building on this strong legacy and now joined by their two eldest sons Adriel & Damian, their recent relocation to London England has injected a fresh perspective and a renewed passion for music. They have shared the stage with the likes of, Lucky Dube, Great Big Sea, Daniel Powter, Arrested Development and The Wailers! ThomasThomas delivers Soul, Reggae Soca, Funk music with dance making grooves !

Dj COUSCOUS

Purveyor of extraordinary sounds from the streets of the world.. Lizard Stage resident and musical curator of The Rollright Fayre festival, Dj CousCous is a stallwart on the UK festival scene, perfoming at Glastonbury, Secret Garden, Womad, Playgroup, Sunrise and many more events. Expect a heavy mix of Afro, Latin & Gypsy rhythms, with a Junglist skank and a filthy bass from the streets of London Town!

CELLOMAN

Kaya welcomes this talented artist to perform on the main stage on International Saturday! Celloman are a band led by cellist and session musician Ivan Hussey. Their music is described as a fusion of world, jazz and classical with African and Middle Eastern rhythms.

Celloman began in 2001 with the release of Aquador on Ivan Hussey’s own independent record label Jambila Music. They have since gone on to release a further three albums and have played many gigs around the UK and Europe, including four appearances at Glastonbury Festival between 2002 to 2006, Exit Festival, Womad, Sauti za Busara and Glade Festival. Glorious Sumptious music!

THABANI BAND

Bringing African High Life to the party is this exciting band who have toured Japan, USA, Africa and europe! Thabani Band are a band who fuse african rhythms and soul grooves and they will be showcasing their new album at the festival. High tempo grooves to make your Heart and soul move!

BATCH GUEYE

Batch Gueye is a West African Griot, bringing his traditional music and dance from Senegal to the UK. With a long line of performing artists behind him, music and dancing was always an integral part of life and surrounded him since birth. As a dancer Batch has shared stages with the likes of Youssou Ndour, Baba Maal, Cheikh Lo, and Coumba Gawlo. Kaya welcomes this gifted musician and his band!

DRYMBAGO

Back by popular demand! This brilliant local North Wales based 12 piece have the very best of Afro-Latin-Welsh fusion at the heart of their music. Drymbago are in essence what Kaya Festival is all about – blending world cultures through music to unite under one umbrella. In the words of Tony Allen at Kaya 2012, “These guys are cookin’!”

DOMINGO CANDELARIO

Bringing a sweet taste of Havana to Kaya Festival this year! Talented Cuban singer songwriter Domingo Candelario performs songs from his Cuban roots with his band! Having toured and played at venues such as Ronnie Scotts, Jazz Cafe, Cafe De Paris, Domingo also sung on the same bill as Amy Winehouse during her album launch party for her iconic”Back to Black” album. This man is not to be missed!

BATALA BANGOR

Keeping the samba groove going will be local samba group Batala Bangor! Who have been bringing their captivating samba reggae rhythms to carnivals, clubs, music festivals since 2003! Kaya welcomes this fantastic group back for a second year!

OI BRASIL!

Starting the official Kaya Festival Party with a bang will be Oi Brasil! A group focused on bringing the Authentic Rio-Style Carnival Show to any event. They provide colourful and unforgettable entertainment with exuberant Brazilian dancers, luxurious Carnival costumes and unique live “Batucada” playing exciting samba rhythms. Come and watch and if its not raining join the procession as these Brazilian & Cuban ladies warm up the atmosphere with a high energy show on the main stage!

THE MAN FROM TIMBUCTU

From Timbuctu… to the Kaya Festival. The legendary mzungu returns to Bangor with some of the deepest Afrosounds ever committed to wax. Leaving no stone unturned in his travels and vinyl hunting and fresh back from a number of gigs in Europe, The Man From Timbuctu will be playing his unparalleled selections of Highlife, Afrobeat and Soukous on Saturday Afternoon.