Native of Sant Adrià de Besòs and of Gypsy origin, Montse Cortes climbed one by one, with her talent and conviction, the steps of Flamenco pinnacle from beginnings in Barcelona’s demanding tablaos to prestigious stages. Spotted by Antonio Canales, later collaborating with the illustrious Vicente Amigo, Farruquito or Paco de Lucia, this young artist has imprinted her cante jondo with boundless expressiveness. Twirling with the duende sacred fire and the most heartrending lament this true icon of contemporary flamenco explores Gypsy’s emotional landscape with ardent and striking honesty. A flamenca passionnaria at the top of her art.

The Watcha Clan Mediterranean caravan strolls along, swaying to the sound of electro-beats and world’n bass. Searching for musical crossroads, the tribe from Marseilles skilfully handles the chaâbi, Balkan refrains, Arabo-Andalusian pearls and the power of electro fire at folk celebrations and on explosive dance floors alike. Strengthened by a winning internationalist formulae the Clan has taken its melodies for a walk across the 5 continents, gleaning inspiration from new sources every step of the way before launching an album in the spring featuring Maurice El Medioni, Merlin Sherpherd or the Fanfare Ciocarlia. The Clan is both witness to and vibrant actors of a constantly moving world…

Breaking down the barriers of traditional klezmer music, the Kabbalah quintet joyfully leads an ambitious musical expedition through fifteen instruments (the mandola, a sax, violin, double bass, maletkat, flute…) and in three foreign languages (Yiddish, English and Russian). Revisited and magnified by hip-hop, rock, jazz, spoken word or oriental music influences, the Hasidic folk tradition takes on a rare, profoundly transnational, brilliance, embracing magnetic sonic waves and a feverish post- modern take off…. to enjoy live. A cosmopolitan manifesto for the travelling ear, ready to break the wall of sound.

From the mystical depths of Caribbean Voodoo, Erol Josué emerges and floods electro dance-floors with the energy and eloquence of island preacher men. This multi-talented artist (singer, composer, dancer, choreographer and…Voodoo priest!) travels between Port au Prince and New York, evolves at the farthest reaches of trance where his golden voice nourishes house music enchanted territories, afro-beats and the hypnotic waves of ancient sacred Haitian songs. Voodoo cult is revealed in a new light, melange of timeless rituals, ancestral rhythms and electro-incantations delivered in a warm breath…. A challenge met by this Haitian Voodoo Man inspired by roots reggae, both sensual and spiritual.

Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino is the greatest and oldest group of Apulia traditional music specialising in the Pizzica dance and immersed in La Notte della Taranta incandescent trances. Now led by Mauro Durante, son of Daniele Durante, founder of the group in 1975, this septet carries on with passion and bravura the fervour and obsessive rhythms that inhabit the tarantellas. Interpreting romantic ballads, socially engaged songs to the heady rhythms of the tamburello, Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino transcends Southern Italy folk musical universe. Experience the pulsating rhythms that shake Salento magical nights

The young Kareyce Fotso (discovered by RFI in 2009) is truly, an African revelation. Born in the Bamileke region of Cameroon, brought up amongst the Beti, she unfolds a resonant, slightly husky voice along profoundly emotional folk-soul melodies. This young artist softly strokes her guitar strings or the keys of her sanza (small African finger piano) accompanying her songs in Ewondo, Bamileke, English or French with lyrics on women’s rights, her dreams or her country’s situation, all performed with extreme sensitivity. Full of grace, and as a true scintillating star, Kareyce Fotso can take her rightful place in the greatest African singers constellation.

The son of a renowned family of singers, Mama Ohandja has been regarded for over 40 years as a passionate innovator of Bikut-si, this musical genre and dance style of the Beti ethnic group of the South Central province of Cameroon. Nicknamed ‘The Nightingale’, Ohandja conjures up love and daily life with bouncy rhythms and festive volubility.  With a Balafson able to transform guitar sounds into balafon sounds, Mama Ohandja brightens up Bikut-si’s colours and plunges it into a refreshing pool of modernity, helped along the way by Vincent Segal and Cyril Atef, of the adventurous duo Bumcello. An electrically charged and exciting evocation of Beti ceremonies.

A pillar of Martinique tradition, Edmond Mondésir has been taking on for the past 30 years, his illustrious ancestors’ commitment, masters Ti Emile and Ti Raoul, carefully preserving Bélé’s authenticity, this culture of African origins, combining songs, percussions and dance, slowly chiselled by syncretism between Europe, Africa and the Caribbean. Faithful to the emotional atmosphere of swaré bèlè, he is also a precursor of modern Bélé, introducing, with his son Manuel, musical arrangements with, for the first time, string instruments, a keyboard, a flute or a sax.
A subtle musical revolution, respectful of its origins and directed with expert skills…

Charismatic and multi-talented artist, Kaan Gökman has been influencing Turkish musical creation with his up-beat compositions, his productions, his sonic collaborations (in particular with the successful project “Harem” mixing electro, percussions and dances) or with various radio programs for over 15 years. At the decks, this adventurous DJ experiments today with an ethno-tribal house crossed with oriental resonances and pinpointed by heavy beats that drive the dance floors crazy the world over. A shockwave at the crossroad between Western Europe and the Middle East that this master of ceremony rides to its sonic top for the greatest joy of Istanbul night-time party people.