Around the World - Show Notes
10 July 2026
This week on Around the World
You can listen to Around the World on Mixcloud
Music by: Al Khair, BaianaSystem, Carlinhos Brown, Chris Chalmers & The Souvenirs, Cocanha, Colin Steele, Cristiana Verardo, Daoirí Farrell, Duo Ruut, Ellen Oléria, Fatoumata Diawara, Hespèrion XXI with Jordi Savall & La Capella Reial De Catalunya, Lajkó Félix, Luana Flores & Ramiro Galas, Mauro Manicardi, MESTIZA, Muca with Roberto Menescal & Ilessi, Officina Zoe, Orchestra Baobab, Spok, Tatá Aeroplano, Terra Blanco & Marcel Powell, and Torridon
Featured Album: From Japan With Love by Minyo Crusaders
Minyo Crusaders, Frente Cumbiero – Hanagasa Ondo (Official Music Video)
Minyo Crusaders was founded in 2011 in Fussa, a culturally diverse city on the western edge of Tokyo near a US air base. The band’s creation was driven by a desire to rescue traditional Japanese folk music (min’yō) from obscurity and return it to its working-class roots as “music for the people”.
Prior to 2011, guitarist and co-founder Katsumi Tanaka mostly played international music like jazz, Latin music, and Afrobeat. Following the devastating 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, Tanaka experienced a shift in consciousness. He began looking inward, questioning why Japanese musicians ignored their own heritage while obsessing over Western music. He sought a form of Japanese roots music that felt authentic and grounded, leading him straight to min’yō—the historical songs of ordinary fishermen, coal miners, and farmers.
The Fussa Jam Sessions
Tanaka moved to Fussa, a city known for its counter-culture scene. He met Freddie Tsukamoto, a soul singer who actually had a deep passion for traditional min’yō. The two invited local musicians to jam in a studio inside an old US military house. Inspired by mid-20th-century big bands like the Tokyo Cuban Boys (who mixed Latin jazz with Japanese melodies), they realized that pairing min’yō with high-energy rhythms like cumbia, reggae, and Afrobeat made the ancient music instantly accessible.
In the early years, the group played casual, low-key parties in Fussa with an evolving lineup of local players. The turning point came when veteran bassist DADDY U (formerly of the famous ska band The Ska Flames) joined the group. He connected the Fussa crew with a highly skilled pool of brass players and percussionists from the broader Tokyo roots and ska scene. This transformed the loose project into a powerful 10-to-12-piece big band, setting the stage for their breakthrough 2017 debut album, Echoes of Japan.
From Japan with Love
In June, Minyo Crusaders released From Japan with Love, an album that reimagines traditional Japanese folk songs (min’yō) through the lens of global rhythms.
“Min’yō is both the closest and most distant folk music for Japanese people,” says bandleader Katsumi Tanaka. “Its essence is deeply embedded in us, even if we don’t always recognize it.” From Japan with Love is rooted in the band’s deep affection for min’yō — a celebration of the music itself, its richness, and its enduring ability to resonate across cultures. Through this lens, the songs reveal the emotional depth they carry, from expressions of human connection and family ties to a sense of longing for one’s hometown.
“We’ve reimagined min’yō — songs that have been passed down through everyday life across Japan — through the global musical influences that have shaped us, blending them with diverse rhythms and grooves,” says Koichiro Osawa, the band’s producer and musical director. “We hope this music can travel beyond language and borders, opening new doors and bringing a sense of richness to listeners around the world.”
Sources: EBB Music - Blue Note Records - Maisum Discos - Space Agency - The Guardian - Songlines Magazine
More information about music on this weeks show after this plug …
Where and when to hear Around the World
Friday:
Akaroa World Radio New Zealand - 2:00 pm local time
NAR-GROUP Germany – 2:00 pm local time
Mosel Radio Germany – 2:00 pm local time
NAR-Alf Germany – 2:00 pm local time
Waterwaves Radio England - 9:00 pm local time
Essential Radio Scotland - 10:00 - midnight
Saturday:
Best City Radio Belfast, Northern Ireland - 6:00 am local time
Power 101FM Malawi - 11:00 local time
Flirt FM (Galway’s Community of Interest & Student Station) 101.3 - 10:45 am local time Ireland
Stirling Community Radio - 2:00 pm local time Scotland
RCFM (Radio City FM) Duisburg, Germany - 3:00 local time
World FM New Zealand - 10:00 pm local New Zealand Time
Sunday:
Power 101FM Malawi - 12:00 local time
NFRS Osaka Japan - 12:00 noon local time
973FM in Singapore - 11:00 pm local time
Circl8 Chester England - 12:00 noon local time
DCRFM (Dover Community Radio England - 7:00pm local time
Prodigal Sun Radio - 8:00 pm local time
Slice Audio Northern Ireland - 10:00 pm local time
Holywood Radio - Northern Ireland - Various times
Monday:
Armagh City Radio - 12:00 midnight local time (01:00 pm CET)
SparkFlame Radio - 00:00 am GMT (01:00 CET)
Circl8 Chester England - 12:00 noon local time
Stirling Community Radio Scotland - 10:00 pm local time
Waterwaves Radio England - 9:00 pm local time
BR2 Pure Gold Radio – Costa Blanca, Spain - 10:00 pm local time
World FM New Zealand - 10:00 am local time
Akaroa World Radio New Zealand - 10:00 pm local time
Tuesday:
Waterwaves Radio England - 9:00 pm local time
Wednesday:
World FM New Zealand - 4:00 am local time
Slice Audio Northern Ireland - 4:00 am local time
Pender Radio Pender Island BC, Canada - 3:00 Pacific Time
Best City Radio Northern Ireland - 10:00 pm local time
Radio Skye Scotland - 10:00 pm local time
Thursday:
Waterwaves Radio England - 9:00 pm local time
BaianaSystem – “Corneteiro Luís” (ATO 3: América do Sol)
“Corneteiro Luís” is written as a guajira, celebrating Luís Lopes, whose horn signal was decisive in the 1822 Batalha de Pirajá, linked to Bahia’s independence.
The track includes Chilean musician Pablo Reyes on the tres cubano, adding a Latin‑Caribbean timbre.
Luana Flores & Ramiro Galas – “Coragem na fé” (Album: Cria do Sol Quente)
“Coragem na fé” was the first single revealed from Cria do Sol Quente, inspired by the Tarô Zen de Osho card “Coragem.” The album blends rabecas, pífanos, percussion and electronic beats, forming the aesthetic Luana calls Nordeste Futurista.
Luana Flores produced the album alongside Ramiro Galas and Chico Correa, continuing her experimental approach to northeastern traditions. The project includes major collaborations, notably Cátia de França, Juliana Linhares, Jéssica Caitano and Chocolate Remix, linking generations and regions of Latin America.
Duo Ruut – “Udu” (from Ilmateade)
Duo Ruut consists of Ann‑Lisett Rebane and Katariina Kivi, childhood friends from Tallinn who perform face‑to‑face on a single kannel (Estonian zither). “Udu” appears on their second album Ilmateade (2025), a concept album built around weather‑themed atmospheres.
Their minimalist sound draws on Estonian and Baltic folk traditions, expanded with subtle effects, bowing techniques and percussive playing. Duo Ruut has performed internationally at festivals such as Eurosonic Noorderslag, Celtic Connections and Pohoda, gaining recognition as a unique modern folk act.
Fatoumata Diawara – “Mogo” (Album: Massa)
Massa (2026) is Diawara’s most personal and introspective album, exploring themes of maternity, memory, faith and resilience.
The album reflects on the displacement of northern Malian communities in the 1970s–80s, using history as a frame for healing and endurance.
Tatá Aeroplano – “Palavra Cantada Memória” (Album: Lendas e Sol)
Lendas e Sol is part of Tatá Aeroplano’s ongoing exploration of psychedelic MPB, mixing folk, pop, experimental textures and São Paulo’s indie ethos.
Aeroplano is known for blending surrealist lyricism with melodic, almost children’s‑song simplicity—an aesthetic that shapes “Palavra Cantada Memória.”
Colin Steele – “Elgin Laddie” (Album: Stramash II)
Stramash II continues Colin Steele’s long‑running project of blending Scottish traditional melodies with modern jazz phrasing, a hallmark of his work since the early 2000s. The Stramash albums draw heavily on Steele’s upbringing in Edinburgh’s folk scene, reimagining pipe tunes, marches and airs through brass‑led arrangements.
Steele is one of Scotland’s most recognisable jazz trumpeters, known for collaborations with Hue & Cry, The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, and various folk‑jazz crossover ensembles.
Muca, Roberto Menescal & Ilessi – “A Beleza de Ser” (Album: Muca & Roberto Menescal – Beleza)
The album pairs London‑based Brazilian producer Muca with Roberto Menescal, one of the founding architects of bossa nova and composer of classics like “O Barquinho.”
Singer Ilessi, known for her work in Rio’s contemporary MPB scene, brings a clear, modern vocal tone that contrasts beautifully with Menescal’s understated guitar.
Officina Zoè – “Cielo” (Album: Mari e marenne)
Officina Zoè, founded in 1993 in Salento, is one of the leading groups reviving pizzica‑pizzica and tarantismo traditions from southern Italy.
Mari e marenne continues their focus on Mediterranean trance rhythms, driven by tamburello, violin, accordion and polyphonic vocals.
Mauro Manicardi – “Viareggio” (Album: Bar Milano – Parte I)
Mauro Manicardi is an Italian composer and producer known for instrumental storytelling, blending ambient, neoclassical and downtempo elements.
Bar Milano – Parte I is a concept album built around urban vignettes, each track evoking a place, memory or scene from everyday Italian life.
Orchestra Baobab – “Togne Bakhoul” (Single)
Orchestra Baobab formed in Dakar in 1970, becoming one of West Africa’s most influential bands through their blend of Afro‑Cuban rhythms, Wolof and Mandinka traditions. Their signature sound grew out of long residencies at the Baobab Club, where they developed a relaxed, melodic, multi‑guitar style with strong vocal harmonies.
The group’s revival in the early 2000s, led by producer Nick Gold, brought them renewed global attention and a series of acclaimed albums on World Circuit.
Lajkó Félix – “G és A bocsánat duett” (Album: Gisl)
Lajkó Félix is a Serbian‑Hungarian virtuoso known for his improvised violin and zither performances, drawing on folk, Roma traditions, classical and avant‑garde elements.
Gisl is one of his more intimate, exploratory albums, built around duets and sparse acoustic textures, highlighting his improvisational approach.
Daoirí Farrell – “Blackwater Side” (Single)
Daoirí Farrell is a Dublin‑born singer and bouzouki player celebrated for his pure vocal delivery and deep knowledge of traditional Irish ballads.
“Blackwater Side” is a classic song from the Irish and British folk repertoire, previously interpreted by artists like Anne Briggs and Bert Jansch; Farrell’s version follows the unadorned, story‑first tradition.
Cristiana Verardo – “Tu sei qui” (Album: L’avversaria)
Cristiana Verardo is a singer‑songwriter from Salento, blending Italian cantautorato with Mediterranean folk colours and modern indie production. Verardo often collaborates with musicians from the new Puglia scene, bringing regional influences—pizzica rhythms, acoustic timbres—into contemporary songwriting.
L’avversaria is a concept‑driven album exploring identity, conflict and self‑reflection, marked by poetic lyrics and understated arrangements.
Cocanha – “La Majorana” (Album: Flame Folclòre)
Cocanha is a Toulouse‑based duo (Caroline Dufau and Lila Fraysse) performing in Occitan, using polyphonic vocals and frame drums to revive southern French folk traditions.
Flame Folclòre expands their sound with percussive experimentation, modal harmonies and feminist reinterpretations of traditional themes.
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Spok – “Exê Babá” (Album: Raízes)
Spok (Francisco José da Silva) is one of Pernambuco’s leading frevo innovators, known for bringing big‑band jazz arrangements into Recife’s carnival tradition. Raízes revisits Afro‑Pernambucan rhythms, blending frevo with maracatu, ijexá and other regional styles in a more roots‑focused direction.
Spok gained international visibility through the SpokFrevo Orquestra, which has toured Europe, the US and Latin America.
Hespèrion XXI, Jordi Savall & La Capella Reial de Catalunya – “Cachua (Instr.) (Anónimo, Improv.)” (Album: Villancicos y Danzas Criollas 1550–1750)
Jordi Savall’s ensemble Hespèrion XXI specialises in early music, focusing on Mediterranean, Iberian and Latin American repertoires from the Renaissance and Baroque eras. Savall’s approach combines historical instruments (violas da gamba, baroque guitars, percussion) with improvisation to recreate period performance practice.
“Cachua” refers to a traditional Andean circle dance, documented in 17th‑century manuscripts such as the Codex Trujillo.
Terra Blanco & Marcel Powell – “Samba Triste” (Single)
Marcel Powell is a Brazilian guitarist known for his mastery of samba‑jazz and choro, continuing the legacy of his father, the celebrated musician Baden Powell.
Terra Blanco is a rising Brazilian vocalist whose work blends classic MPB phrasing with contemporary acoustic arrangements.
Al Khair – “The Boy Has Just Arrived from East Africa & Doesn’t Know How to Speak Arabic” (Album: Oman Bagpipe Singers: Songs of Returning and Leaving)
Al Khair is part of Oman’s tradition of janbiya and habban (bagpipe) ensembles, found especially in Dhofar and coastal regions with East African cultural ties. Omani bagpipe music (habban) has roots in Swahili, Yemeni and Baluchi exchanges, making it one of the most hybridised musical forms in the Gulf.
The album documents migration‑related songs, reflecting stories of departure, return and cultural blending across the Indian Ocean.
Torridon – “The Whitey” (Album: Polaroid)
Torridon is a Scottish folk‑rock band from the Highlands, known for anthemic choruses, fiddle‑driven arrangements and strong storytelling.
Polaroid showcases their blend of Celtic rock and contemporary folk, with themes rooted in Highland life and personal reflection.
Ellen Oléria – “Axé de Ouro” (Album: Canto de Casa Vol. 1)
Ellen Oléria is a Brasília‑born singer celebrated for her fusion of MPB, samba‑rock, soul and Afro‑Brazilian rhythms. Canto de Casa Vol. 1 is a home‑recorded project created during a period of introspection, emphasising intimacy, ancestry and acoustic warmth.
Oléria gained national recognition after winning The Voice Brasil in 2012, which amplified her already strong independent career. Her music frequently highlights Afro‑Brazilian identity and spirituality, blending powerful vocals with groove‑based arrangements.
Chris Chalmers & The Souvenirs – “Two Blue Diamonds” (Album: Way Back Home)
Chris Chalmers & The Souvenirs draw on Americana, folk‑rock and country storytelling, with arrangements centred on acoustic guitar and harmony vocals.
The Souvenirs’ instrumentation—guitars, pedal steel, light percussion—leans into a 1970s country‑folk palette, keeping the sound intimate and melodic. Way Back Home is a roots‑driven album built around nostalgia, travel and personal reflection, with a warm, analogue production aesthetic.
MESTIZA – “Báilame” (Album: Spanish Chica)
MESTIZA is a Spanish DJ/producer duo known for blending flamenco, Latin club rhythms and electronic production, creating a hybrid “electro‑flamenco” sound.
Spanish Chica showcases their signature mix of palmas, hand percussion, deep basslines and festival‑ready beats, rooted in Iberian tradition. The duo has become a fixture in Europe’s global‑bass scene, performing at major electronic and world‑music festivals.