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This Week:
Musicians From: Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Eritrea, Estonia, France, Ghana, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Malawi, Mali, Mexico, Nigeria, Portugal, Senegal, and Solomon Islands
Music By: Amadou & Mariam, Amamere, Ana Carla Maza, Brigan, Cassie and Maggie, Charles Maimarosia, Duo Ruut, Femi Kuti, Hank Snow, Madalitso Band, Mari Kalkun, Marina Satti, Maron Brhane, Nidia Góngora & Daymé Arocena, Ablaye Cissoko & Cyrille Brotto, Officina Zoe, Rodrigo Leão, Schmaltz & Pepper, Son Rompe Pera, Thanos Stavridis, Varo, Willos' & Massimo Giuntini, and Youssou N'Dour.
This week’s featured album: LINA_& Jules Maxwell Terra Mãe
LINA_ & Jules Maxwell - Não Deixei de Ser Quem Sou
In recent years the Portuguese singer Lina_ recorded a synth and electronica based album of Fado songs with Raul Refree, songs by the Portuguese Poet Luís Vaz de Camões – who was born in 1524 or 1525 – That was Fado Camões in 2024, produced by Justin Adams. Earlier this year, there were a couple of releases with the Spanish musician Marco Mezquida. But for her new album Terra Mãe, she shares credit with the Irish musician Jules Maxwell. It is the featured album this week here on Around the World.
Jules Maxwell is an Irish composer and musician celebrated for his range of work within both the film and music industries. He is best known for collaborating with influential groups and artists such as Dead Can Dance and Foy Vance, and for composing for projects like the Oscar‑nominated short film Dance Lexie Dance.
Terra Mãe explores the poetic roots and connections between Portugal and Ireland through a collection of nine original songs. It also features adaptations by Portuguese composer, poet and singer, Amélia Muge.
Last year Fado Camões was one of my favourite albums of the year. Terra Mãe is well, on the way to the same position.
The album will be launched on 23 June at Malmesbury Abbey Gloucester Street Malmesbury.
Concierto Pacífico Maravilla - Nidia Góngora
Pacífico Maravilla marks a milestone in Colombian music, encapsulating the rich traditions of the Pacific Coast with a breath of modern creativity. This debut solo album by Nidia Góngora is a tribute to her roots on the Pacific coast of Colombia - she grew up in Timbiquí. The album blends traditional Afro-Colombian sounds with contemporary elements. The marimba—a key instrument in the Pacific’s musical landscape—forms the backbone of many tracks, lending an earthy yet melodic texture to the arrangements. Each piece is intended to be a dialogue between the past and the present, evoking both nostalgia and a forward-thinking energy.
The album features the Cuban singer Daymé Arocena. This collaboration bridges Afro-Caribbean vibrancy with Afro-Colombian traditions. Other contributors include artists and producers who bring in modern production techniques, ensuring that the album resonates with both traditional aficionados and contemporary listeners.
Sources: World Music Central, Solar Latin Club.
Mari Kalkun - Maaimä / Mother Earth (LIVE at FMM Sines)
Mari Kalkun’s studio album Stories of Stonia has taken her around the world — having presented it in concert in twenty countries since release. This new version of the album marks an important milestone, but it’s worth noting that live performances sound quite different from the studio version. These performances include stunning renditions in collaboration with the Estonian National Male Choir.
"For me these are not just concert recordings — these are documents from my travels with the album Stories of Stonia.” Says Mari, This live album represents moments of meeting with the audiences with whom I often don’t share the same language but with whom — for this one hour — we share the common space and time in music. During that time, we share and go through the same feelings — the joy, the sorrow, the emptiness, the sadness and return back to the euphoria, the trance from these repetitive rhymes and melodies that are rooted in the ancient runosong tradition. As music for me is always about life itself, the songs cover the whole spectrum of emotions. I experience them every time I am on stage. But I am always happy on stage – no matter how light or rough the travel has been, because singing gets me into another state of mind. Singing is a meditation, allowing me to bathe in peace for these brief moments in this otherwise restless world."
Maron Brhane from Eritrea who moved to the UK in 2024. He is a master of the traditional Eritrean Krar and has a voice that is a treat for the ears singing in Tigrinya (a language spoken in Eritrea and parts of Ethiopia), Arabic and English.
Maron's music career has been developing with the help of Beyond Skin and friends. He has collaborated with musicians from different communities and also uses his skills to assist children and young people in engaging in global education.
Maron Brhane - Nay Akal Bitamin
Maron Brhane from Eritrea who moved to the UK in 2024. He is a master of the traditional Eritrean Krar and has a voice that is a treat for the ears singing in Tigrinya (a language spoken in Eritrea and parts of Ethiopia), Arabic and English.
Maron's music career has been developing with the help of Beyond Skin and friends. He has collaborated with musicians from different communities and also uses his skills to assist children and young people in engaging in global education.
Written by Maron Brhane
Vocals & Krar: Maron Brhane
Drums: Henrique Franco
Flute: Boudina McConnachie
Backing Vocals: Zandi
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Where and when to hear Around the World
Thursday:
LIVE DRN1 Perth Western Australia - 9:00 p.m. local time (2:00 pm CET)
Friday:
Akaroa World Radio 2:00 pm local New Zealand Time (3:00 am GMT 4:00 am CET)
NAR-GROUP Germany – 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m (CET)
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NAR-Alf – 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m (CET)
Waterwaves Radio: 9:00 pm GMT (22:00 CET)
Saturday:
Power 101FM Malawi: 11:00 local time
Flirt FM (Galway's Community of Interest & Student Station) 101.3 10:45 am - 12 45 pm
RCFM (Radio City FM) Duisburg, Germany 3:00 – 5:00 pm CET
U Radio - Sri Lanka 8:00pm - 10:00 pm local time
World FM 10:00 pm local New Zealand Time (11:00 am GMT, 12:00 noon CET)
Essential Radio Midnight to 2:00 am GMT (1:00 am CET)
Sunday:
West Coast FM Namibia 10:00 pm to 12:00 noon Central Africa Time (2:00 to 4:00 GMT)
Power 101FM Malawi: 12:00 local time
NFRS Osaka Japan: 12:00 noon local time (3:00 am UK time 4:00 am CET)
973FM in Singapore and 11:00 pm local time (3:00 pm/15:00 hours UTC – Universal Time).
Circl8 Chester: 12:00 noon
Best City Radio (Belfast) 3:00 pm
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Slice Audio 10:00 pm local time (11:00 pm CET)
Monday:
Armagh City Radio 00:00 pm local time (01:00 pm CET)
SparkFlame Radio: 00:00 am GMT (01:00 CET)
Circl8 Chester: 12:00 noon
Stirling Community Radio 8:00 pm GMT (9:00 pm CET)
Waterwaves Radio: 9:00 pm GMT (22:00 CET)
BR2 Pure Gold Radio – Costa Blanca, Spain 10:00 pm local time (CET)
Akaroa World Radio 10:00 pm local New Zealand Time (11:00 am GMT, 12:00 noon CET)
World FM 10:00 pm local New Zealand Time (11:00 am GMT, 12:00 noon CET)
Tuesday:
Shire Extra: 8:00 pm GMT (21:00 CET)
Waterwaves Radio: 9:00 pm GMT (22:00 CET)
Wednesday:
World FM 4:00 am local New Zealand Time (5:00 pm Tuesday GMT, 6:00 pm CET)
Slice Audio 4:00 am local time GMT (5:00 am CET)
Life Right Radio (London) 7:00 pm
Best City Radio (Belfast) 10:00 pm
Radio Skye (Radio Garden) 10:00 pm GMT (11:00 pm CET)
Thursday:
Waterwaves Radio: 9:00 pm GMT (22:00 CET)