This Week
You can always listen to the most recent show on Mixcloud
Music From: Bosnia, Brazil, Colombia, Congo, Corsica, Cote D'Ivoire, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, India, Ireland, Italy, KwaZulu-Natal, Mali, North Macedonia, Peru, Senegal, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Venuzuela, and Zimbabwe.
Music By: Alpha Blondy, Elena Baklava, Boban Marković, Clara Serra Lopez, Cocoa Thrill, Cushla, Duo Ruut, Ëda Diaz, Grecia Albán, Gypsy Caravan, Haris Pilton, Igor Bozanic, Jupiter & Okwess, Kadialy Kouyate, Kajos, Lina & Jules Maxwell, Lívia Mattos & Varijashree Venugopal, Mandé Sila, Puuluup, Runa Simi, Sofia Leão, Stefano Saletti, Tempvs Fvgit, The Blind Man with his Guitar, Trilok Gurtu, and Youssou N'Dour.
This week’s Featured Album: ASTROPICAL by Bomba Estéreo, Rawayana & ASTROPICAL.
Bomba Estéreo, Rawayana, ASTROPICAL - Me Pasa (Piscis)
Featured Album: Astropical
Artist Profiles
Bomba Estéreo: Colombian electro-cumbia pioneers blending psychedelic cumbia, champeta riffs, and electronic production. Fronted by Li “LiSa” Saumet’s vocals, with José Castillo synth and guitar arrangements. They broke through internationally in 2008 with their dance-floor anthem “Fuego,” known for its fusion of political message and irresistible groove.
Rawayana: Are a Caracas-based collective playing reggae, funk, salsa, rock, and Latin pop. Founded by vocalist/guitarist Beto Montenegro and drummer/multi-instrumentalist Andrés “Fofo” Story, they became Grammy-winners for their 2023 album ¿Quién Trae Las Cornetas?, they channel Venezuelan diaspora narratives into upbeat, socially conscious songs.
Astropical (Supergroup) formed when Bomba Estéreo’s Li Saumet and José Castillo joined forces with Rawayana’s Beto Montenegro and Andrés “Fofo” Story, completing a four-piece lineup of vocals, keys, guitar, drums, and production.
Astropical’s self-titled debut was released March 7, 2025, via Sony Music. In advance there were three singles—“Me Pasa (Piscis)” , “Una Noche en Caracas (Tauro)”, and “Corazón Adentro (Escorpio)” The album has 12 tracks each with a sign of the Zodiac as part of their title.
Recorded in both Miami and on Colombia’s Santa Marta coast, the sessions paid homage to Puerto Rican astrologer Walter Mercado, whose signature sign-offs inspired the album’s celestial themes and tongue-in-cheek nods in track titles.
AllMusic praised Astropical as “a remarkably hip, optimistically ecstatic, and holistic work that can soundtrack the dancefloor, spring and summer, and all major life events”.
NPR described it as “a euphoric exploration of South America’s coastal sounds,” highlighting its celebratory fusion and dance-floor vitality.
Duo Ruut - Enne ööd feat. EiK
Duo Ruut is the Estonian folk duo formed by Ann-Lisett Rebane and Katariina Kivi. They both play a single kannel (Estonian zither) and sing, crafting minimal yet deeply emotive soundscapes that merge ancient runo melodies with ambient and experimental textures.
EiK (Eik Erik Sikk), provides a spoken-word section that contrasts and enriches the duo’s layered harmonies.
From the album Ilmateade which explores elemental and environmental motifs across its twelve tracks. “Enne ööd” was partly inspired by atmospheric memories from Iceland—damp air, hanging dried plants—and Estonian summer nights, offering a counterpoint to today’s information overload.
Sources: Radio France - Electronica.org
Maraton hudby Brno 2024 - AFTERMOVIE
Next week, I’m going to be at Brno Music Marathon in the Czech Republic. I was there last August (see the video above), and it was one of the highlights of the year for me. The event covers four days and ranges through Classical, Folk, World, Rock, Jazz and any other sort of music you can think of. There are buskers, opera singers, wild and crazy punks and rockers. amateurs, professionals and me right in the middle of it. Because it’s my sort of festival. There is not a field in site, there are good hotels, and a food festival running in parallel.
Almost all the events are free – and happen on the streets or in some of the historic buildings in the city.
Couldn’t be better. This year's star of the festival is Trilok Gurtu (below), who will play three concerts - with his Trilok Gurtu Band, with the Arke String Quartet and a solo drums & percussion show.
Trilok Gurtu | India Tour 2023 | Opening Solo
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)
Mosel Radio – 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m (CET)
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
Best City Radio (Belfast) 3:00 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
Websound Radio (Larne) 10:00 pm
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)