Aly Keita

Aly Keita Born in Ivory Coast into a family of musicians, Aly Keita makes his own balafons and plays them continually in order to excelalongside the very best. Now living in Germany, he has participated in a number of projects together with Omar Sosa, Rhoda Scott, H.Lüdemann, Cheick Tidiane Seck, Paco Séry, Karim Ziad, Trilok Gurtu & Jan Garbaret, Chander Sardjoe, L.Soubramania, Arto Touboyacyan, Etienne M'bappé, Linley Marthe, Mathew Garrison, Paulo Frésu, Joe Zawinul....With his impressive virtuosity, Aly develops spectacular and enchanting African polyphonies on his instrument with one thousand and one waves of his (two) magic hands.




http://www.myspace.com/alykeita
Supported by the French Cultural Centre, Blantyre

Aly Keita

Aly Keita Born in Ivory Coast into a family of musicians, Aly Keita makes his own balafons and plays them continually in order to excelalongside the very best. Now living in Germany, he has participated in a number of projects together with Omar Sosa, Rhoda Scott, H.Lüdemann, Cheick Tidiane Seck, Paco Séry, Karim Ziad, Trilok Gurtu & Jan Garbaret, Chander Sardjoe, L.Soubramania, Arto Touboyacyan, Etienne M'bappé, Linley Marthe, Mathew Garrison, Paulo Frésu, Joe Zawinul....With his impressive virtuosity, Aly develops spectacular and enchanting African polyphonies on his instrument with one thousand and one waves of his (two) magic hands.




http://www.myspace.com/alykeita
Supported by the French Cultural Centre, Blantyre

Peter Mawanga

Peter Mawanga one of Malawi’s home grown artists will be gracing the stage with his presence at this years festival. He has previously performed with the likes of Oliver Mtukudzi and Wambali Mkandawire. Peter’s music a fusion of Malawian instrumentation, jazz guitar, marimba rythms and singing in chichewa will bring a traditional yet soulfull vibe to this years festival.

Peter’s first fell in love with music at the age of 2 when he sang Amazing Grace in the middle of Harare airport (Zimbabwe) from then his uncle deemed him to be a great musician. He recorded his first album ‘Citylife’ in 2002 and released it under the name of ‘Peter Pine’ whilst studying engineering . His first single ‘Amakhala ku Blantyre’ touched upon the realities of urban vs rural living this was one of Peter’s most controversial singles as it created a series of response songs from other artists. He recorderd his second album in 2005 titles Zanga Zo Zama reverting back to his own name for this album this album which was a combination of traditional African rythms infused with modern instrumentation giving him world wide recognition.

In 2004 Peter started up Talents of the Malwian Child which involved mentoring and training orphaned and vulnerable children with a series of musical workshops. Resulting in Peter producing a series of albums with the children. He then formed his own band in 2007 Peter Mawanga and the Amaravi Movement.

Peter says ‘‘I love music that speaks to you before you even hear or understand the lyrics.’

Also check out Peter's Track which is the official track of Lake of Stars 2010

ku malawi by LakeofStars

For more info check out www.mawanga.com.

Peter Mawanga

Peter Mawanga one of Malawi’s home grown artists will be gracing the stage with his presence at this years festival. He has previously performed with the likes of Oliver Mtukudzi and Wambali Mkandawire. Peter’s music a fusion of Malawian instrumentation, jazz guitar, marimba rythms and singing in chichewa will bring a traditional yet soulfull vibe to this years festival.

Peter’s first fell in love with music at the age of 2 when he sang Amazing Grace in the middle of Harare airport (Zimbabwe) from then his uncle deemed him to be a great musician. He recorded his first album ‘Citylife’ in 2002 and released it under the name of ‘Peter Pine’ whilst studying engineering . His first single ‘Amakhala ku Blantyre’ touched upon the realities of urban vs rural living this was one of Peter’s most controversial singles as it created a series of response songs from other artists. He recorderd his second album in 2005 titles Zanga Zo Zama reverting back to his own name for this album this album which was a combination of traditional African rythms infused with modern instrumentation giving him world wide recognition.

In 2004 Peter started up Talents of the Malwian Child which involved mentoring and training orphaned and vulnerable children with a series of musical workshops. Resulting in Peter producing a series of albums with the children. He then formed his own band in 2007 Peter Mawanga and the Amaravi Movement.

Peter says ‘‘I love music that speaks to you before you even hear or understand the lyrics.’

Also check out Peter's Track which is the official track of Lake of Stars 2010

ku malawi by LakeofStars

For more info check out www.mawanga.com.

A Catch Up With Sister Bliss

In amongst a busy festival season vinspired Lake of Stars managed to catch up with the ‘musical engine’ behind Faithless, Sister Bliss, to get her take on an essential component of our festival: volunteering. Discussing everything from helping out with meals on wheels, mental health and museums, the perceptive and naturally charming musician explains the appeal of ‘using practical skills in a completely different environment’ when getting involved in volunteering.

vinspired Lake of Stars is powered by volunteers without which the festival would not be able to take place each year. It is a part of every job role you can imagine, from the stewards to the stage mangers, and even the UK artists such as Noisettes and the Maccabees. Volunteering is more than occasional it’s a lifestyle, the heartbeat that allows Lake of Stars to operate. We eagerly await the day when Faithless can make it down to the shores of Lake Malawi.

Lake of Stars Sister Bliss Interview Short by LakeofStars

Lake of Stars Full Sister Bliss Interview by LakeofStars

www.vinspired.com

http://www.myspace.com/faithless

A Catch Up With Sister Bliss

In amongst a busy festival season vinspired Lake of Stars managed to catch up with the ‘musical engine’ behind Faithless, Sister Bliss, to get her take on an essential component of our festival: volunteering. Discussing everything from helping out with meals on wheels, mental health and museums, the perceptive and naturally charming musician explains the appeal of ‘using practical skills in a completely different environment’ when getting involved in volunteering.

vinspired Lake of Stars is powered by volunteers without which the festival would not be able to take place each year. It is a part of every job role you can imagine, from the stewards to the stage mangers, and even the UK artists such as Noisettes and the Maccabees. Volunteering is more than occasional it’s a lifestyle, the heartbeat that allows Lake of Stars to operate. We eagerly await the day when Faithless can make it down to the shores of Lake Malawi.

Lake of Stars Sister Bliss Interview Short by LakeofStars

Lake of Stars Full Sister Bliss Interview by LakeofStars

www.vinspired.com

http://www.myspace.com/faithless

Olivier Mtukudzi

Joining us this year is an award-winning Zimbabwean musician, composer and guitarist Oliver "Tuku" Mtukudzi. He is widely regarded as the most celebrated performer in the country's history, alongside Chimurenga music legend, Thomas Mapfumo and late sungura music pioneer, Leonard Dembo


Gifted with a deep, gutsy voice and a talent for writing songs that reflect on the daily life and struggles of the people of his homeland, Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi is one of Zimbabwe’s greatest artists and has become the most recognised voice to emerge from Zimbabwe and the international scene earning a large devoted following across Africa and beyond. His blending of Southern African music traditions, including mbira, mbaqanga, jit, and the traditional drumming styles of the Korekore, has created such a unique sound that it has been respectfully dubbed “Tuku music. A member of Zimbabwe's KoreKore tribe,Nzou Samanyanga as his totem, he sings in the nation's dominant Shona language along with Ndebele and English. Mtukudzi has had a number of tours around the world. He has been on several tours in the UK, USA and Canada to perform for large audiences.

To listen to Olivers Mutkudzi visit www.last.fm/music/Oliver+Mtukudzi