EMBARK Festival (Didier Rochard)
Didier Rochard curated and produced EMBARK festival at St James’s Church Piccadilly; a festival celebrating migrations, journeys, community and the crossing of thresholds.
In its first year, the festival focussed on musicians and artists whose influences and lived experiences are drawn from around the UK and the world.
DAY ONE: Wednesday 31st August - In conversation event with resident visual artist IMAN TAJIK, followed by Q and A and Festival Reception Drinks.
DAY TWO: Thursday 1st September. Ticketed evening concert with:
ANNA PHOEBE - Award-winning violinist and composer who spans the worlds of classical folk and electronica.
DAUDI MATSIKO - Born and raised in the UK this Ugandan singer-songwriter and guitarist carefully crafts modern reverent folk.
ANIL SEBASTIAN - Multi-faceted musician producer and creator with German and Sri Lankan heritage who is breaking binaries. Performing an intimate set with harpist Glenda Allaway.
DAY THREE: Friday 2nd September. Ticketed evening concert, with:
RIHAB AZAR - The award-winning Syrian Oud virtuoso performs with her trio.
YUGAL GURUNG - Dreamy singer-songwriter fusing folk-pop with rousing Nepalese vocals.
DAY FOUR, AFTERNOON: Saturday 3rd September - Daytime courtyard programme of music, spoken word and circus in collaboration with Good Chance, the organisation behind Walk With Amal. Plus world food stalls.
SOUNDS OF REFUGE - a project and world music album from John Falsetto Mohamed Sarrar and Ammar Haj Ahmad fusing Zimbabwean Sudanese and Syrian music spoken word and poetry.
CHANGE THE WORD - a writing and storytelling project which brings together communities who may never otherwise meet. Project participants Sarah Orola and Diyo Mulopo Bopengo will perform creative and expressive writing pieces.
GIRUM BEKELE - circus artist from Ethiopia and a core member of the Good Chance Ensemble
DAY FOUR, EVENING: Saturday 3rd September - Headline event. Ticketed evening concert, with:
TALVIN SINGH OBE - Renowned musician producer and composer. An innovative pioneer of fusing traditional Indian instruments with electronica and bass.
SOUMIK DATTA - Acclaimed sarod player and outspoken advocate for the preservation of Indian arts.
DEEPA NAIR RASIYA - Classical Indian/Sufi singer performing with acoustic instruments such as clarinet. Deepa has worked with giants George Harrison and Ravi Shankar.
“The impressive, thoughtfully curated line-up includes Mercury Prize winning percussionist, producer and composer, Talvin Singh, who is renowned for creating the bridge between Indian and electronic music.”
Festival Insights
