Member Article

Afrobeats Music Festival returns to North East this weekend

“Harambee Pasadia North East” - a fabulous Afrobeats Music Festival for all ages, will take place for the second year running from Friday 23rd to Monday 26th May 2014 at The Barn, Easington, Co Durham.

This unique Co Durham festival has been arranged by the amazingly talented and charismatic Bass Trombonist, and winner of Culture’s Performing Artist of the Year 2013, Hannabiell Sanders, and by musician and visual artist Yilis del Carmen Suriel to mark the official launch of a unique and exciting new North East based business: ‘Creative Visions and Rhythms’ which aims to bring people of all diversities together through the power of music and art.

Harambee Pasadia North East is a unique weekend of celebration of music, food and fun for all the family. Harambee literally means “all pull together” in Swahili and Pasadia means “to spend the whole day” – but in this case it’s more than three days! The event is set in Co Durham farmland overlooking the coast with the grounds opening at 5pm, Friday 23 May and closing at 12 midday Monday 26 May. Under 5’s go free.

Round trip transportation will be running all weekend from Bar Loco, Leazes Park Road, Newcastle.

Musicians from all over the UK and the world will be performing including: Nansady Keita; Hannabiell & Midnight Blue; Back Yard Rhythm Orchestra; Drumdin; Ladies of Midnight Blue; Filhos de Bimba; Afsumu Blue; Tenth Avenue Band; Too Spicy; Pikey Beatz; The Larks; Christine Ben-Ameh; Mammoth Step; Carnival Crows. More are to be confirmed.

Fun taster workshops will run all day Saturday and Sunday including: African Drumming, African Dance, Drum Circle, Salsa Dancing, Break Dancing, African-American Step Dancing, and Capoeira.

There will be a licensed bar, food stalls with tasty dishes, and as well as all the fabulous music and dance, you can enjoy skin care, hair braiding and massage sessions, guided forest and beach walks, plus arts and crafts and games for children all ages.

Since moving to the UK in 2009, Hannabiell and Yilis have collaborated with local and national organisations and international artists to produce a variety of cultural events, concerts, workshops and festivals.

As a bass trombonist, Hannabiell has performed with The Drifters, Kathryn Tickell for the London 2012 Cultural Olympics, New York City based Harlem Symphony Orchestra, Nobby Solano’s UK based salsa band The Geordie Latinos, and USA based salsa band Rumba Con Son.

Hannabiell is a tireless champion for using music as a unifying force amongst diverse communities and also works as a progressive music teacher while studying for a PhD in Music Performance at Newcastle University. Originally from New Jersey, she works across all musical boundaries from classical to hip hop to bring people of every age, culture and background together.

Tickets and more information available from Harambee Pasadia North East

Adult whole weekend including camping £55.00 pp + booking fee)

Under 18’s weekend ticket including camping - £15.00 pp + booking fee)

Day tickets

Adults Saturday and Sunday day ticket - £25.00 pp + Booking fee. Under 5’s go free

Under 18 Saturday and Sunday day ticket - £10.00 pp Under 18 + Booking fee. Under 5’s go free

Camping

For Camper van registration, email ladiesofmidnightblue@gmail.com and an extra £10 will be collected on arrival

Transport from Newcastle

Round trip transport from Bar Loco, 22 Leazes Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4PG is £5, please book in advance at ladiesofmidnightblue@gmail.com

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Kate Slater .