It was exactly one year ago to the day that I last saw this band at Sage Gateshead. This year, in a gig promoted by Sage, the venue had switched to the nearby Gateshead Old Town Hall.
If you are unfamiliar with Världens Band then may I suggest you read the words I wrote last year.
http://eddie-graham.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/varldens-band-at-kings-hall-newcastle.html
As you will see, I was mightily impressed and wasted little time in securing tickets to see them again supporting their brand new album 'Transglobal Roots Fusion' - a title that very accurately describes their philosophy and their music.
Aside from the change of venue and the absence of singer Navah Elbaz, very little had changed. The band are still a wonderful collection of musicians from across the globe, who entertain not just with their infectious brand of world music, but also with their example of how cultures and nations can exist in harmony. It is a message that we could all learn from, particularly world leaders and nationalistic or religious fanatics who put their own desire for power over any concern for world peace.
Because of their diversity, the band members are rarely able to get together to write new material or even to rehearse, so it is testimony to their skill as performers that they are able to put on a show of this quality.
I have also heard good things about their album which is not due for release for a couple of weeks, Thankfully copies were available at the venue and I was very pleased to be able to support this fine young band by purchasing one; which they dutifully signed for me.
The date coincided (as it did last year) with the birthday of Scottish flautist David Foley. I'm already looking forward to hopefully getting together with him and his friends next year to celebrate another one.
Världens Band are a group of fifteen musicians representing seven countries spread across three continents. Having come together in Sweden, they shared their knowledge, skill and enthusiasm for their native traditional music and they have now blended that into a wonderful eclectic mix that is infectious and loads of fun.
I caught them first at a free concert at King's Hall which forms part of Newcastle University (two of the members are graduates). Here we were treated to a selection of their repertoire which included Swedish folk song, Indian classical music, a Senegalese piece sung in no fewer than three languages, and a medley that featured elements of traditional Saphardic song, Arabic folk-pop and Spanish Flamenco.
Besides the more standard acoustic guitar, mandolin, bass guitar and drums (2 sets) the band also utilise fiddles, mandolas, clarinets, flutes, Galician pipes, melodeon, African Kora and Indian mridangam and ganjira. And what a wonderful sound they create.
So much so that I willingly paid to see them perform a more complete set two days later at the Sage, Gateshead.
In this setting, the talent and energy of the band was even more impressive and the audience, most of whom had never seen the band before, were won over very quickly. It is difficult not to be as their brand of music certainly gets you moving. If it doesn't, check for a pulse!
The setlist was very similar this time round but I felt that certain individuals were given more scope to shine through. Among them were the 26 year old Senegalese Kora player Abdou Cissokho, and the Tunisian singer/dancer Navah Elbaz. From Sweden, Anna Malmstrom demonstrated what a fine clarinet player she is and birthday boy David Foley from Scotland was superb on flute. I should also pay tribute to the trio in the background who provide the wonderful rhythm for the band. They are drummers/percussionists Tobias Karlehag and Mischa Grind plus bass guitarist/vocalist Adam Grauman.
Yet mentioning those seems to do a disservice to the other band members. Arvid Rask not only plays a mean mandolin but he appears to act as an unofficial group leader - and does a wonderful job. David Gray clearly loves what he is doing as he dances aound with his accordion and French pipes and recorder player, Cassandre Balbar eventually took centre stage during the closing medley of the beautiful 'Farewell to Govan/Superfly'.
From Southern India Charu Hartharan adds her own vocals and percussion to many of the pieces including what begins as a Swedish folk song. Then of course there are the beautiful Swedish fiddle players, Anna Moller and Thea Aslund and finally the local lad returned, guitarist Matthew Jones.
While watching this band perform, one can easily forget the troubles that are going on in various parts of the world where nations, tribes and ethnic groups are in conflict with one another. On the stage are a group of young people who demonstrate how diverse cultures can come together in total harmony. In so doing, they bring joy to those who see and hear them perform. I did not see anyone leave the venue without a smile on their face.
I wish this band every success in their future careers.
Here is a link to their website which features some of their music.
