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BATANAI TRAVELOGUE & APPEARANCES HAS HAD THE FOLLOWING HIGHLIGHTS
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Royal Festival Hall Barbican Womad Bath Festival Lamer tree Festival Brampton Live Festival Isle of Wight Festival Hull Festival London BBC Africa Live Manchester Garden Of Delight Festival Whitby Musicport Festival Beyond The Border Festival Africa Oye Festival Bunkfest Festival Merry Go Round Festival |
Respect Festival Rhythms Of The world Festival Orange Festival Lyric Theatre Purcell Room Brewery Arts Centre Norwich Arts Centre Salisbury Arts Centre St Donants Arts Centre The Castle Arts Centre Aberystwyth Arts Centre Abbagavern Arts Centre Chicken Shed Arts Centre Midlands Arts Centre Colchester Arts Centre |
Kirkgate Arts Centre Gulbenkian Arts Centre Customs House Arts Centre Gala Theatre Adelphi Drum Roadmender Corn Exchange Grand Theatre Belgrade Theatre Chanel Islands Talking Heads Komedia Anlwick Theatre Quay Art Centre |
Plus many many more, the list goes on and on.
WHAT THE MUSIC PRESS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT BATANAI PERFORMANCES
Bath International Music Festival, Africa Alive! The Pavilion, Bath
Three different bands with a shared root in traditional African music, produced musically diverse and visually exciting performances and each was richly textured in its own distinctive way... The high-energy rhythms, outrageous costumes and flamboyant style of Batanai Marimba's percussion orchestra, proved irresistible. Their four huge xylophones and mass of drums filled the stage and their relentless beat and sheer enthusiasm enticed the audience to join them in frenzied shouting, chanting and hand clapping...
(Review from Rosie Upton, www.thisisbath.com)
Orange WOW Festival, Tyneside
A blistering fusion of South African melody and Zimbabwean rhythms driven by a stunning massed marimba section. Enthusiasm and energy barely contained by the stage.
MODAL Convention Showcase, Sheffield
Rivetingly visual, gloriously musical, and entirely danceable.
St Donats Arts Centre
And as for the latest line-up of Batanai Marimba, we were well impressed! That ability to explore the melodic range of the marimbas over a powerful rhythmic engine, is now joined by new confidence in the vocal harmonies; add the beautiful delicate performing style of Mimi, contrasted with Wedze's exuberant and charismatic presence, and Batanai must be one of the very best African bands performing in Britain today. Can't wait for the new CD!
(Review from David Ambrose)
WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY ON BATANAI PERFORMANCES
The following are just a selection from our 'comments' book...
"Excellent, superb, what else can I say - except the first half was TOO short!"
"I couldn't stop moving in my seat - surprised I wasn't dancing in the aisles... Maybe next time... I'll be back when you are!"
"Incredible - went in tired and with a headache. Came out feeling very happy and alive."
"Loved the rhythms, loved the drums, loved the beat, loved the sax."
"Great stuff - want more!"
"Very exciting - do you need another member? I'll play anything you want!"
"This is the first time I've been here - so nice to find some local world music. Also great to be able to bring the children. We all enjoyed Batanai Marimba, thanks!"
"A superb show that took me back to Africa. Could have danced all night - excellent!"
"Batanai Marimba - brilliant, loved the drums, marimbas, mbira, absolutely gorgeous..."
"Visually stunning, acoustically brilliant, full of love..."
"Excellent, a really good night with beautiful music."
"Wonderful music and people"
"Dance for the world... thank you!"
"Absolutely amazing - inspiring - heart warming. Wow!"
"Stonkin! Amazing energy - loved it all."
"Thank you so much - it's the first time I've heard African music played live. What a great time! Happy musical trails!"
"Hands sore from clapping and enjoying your music."
"Your happiness and vitality are infectious..."
"A great credit to Zimbabwe..."
"I couldn't stop smiling, your music made me happy..."
"Beautiful voices, fantastic rhythms, I'm so happy we came along tonight."
"I could have danced all night to that wonderful music."
"Best of the festival! See you somewhere else..."
"Fantastic fun music that you can really dance to - even with crutches! Thank you very much for livening up my evening"
"Absolutely wonderful dancing, music, singing, thank you very very very very very much for putting a smile on my face! We want more more more more and more!!"
"We want more! I hope to see some of your brilliant singing again. I loved the sound of your music and the way you perform it! You never stopped smiling! Thank you for an excellent performance..."
"I'm so glad I didn't miss out on this opportunity to see such a fantastic performance! So rare to see! You've made me even more excited about my trip to South Africa in April. Hope I get to see you again..."
"Thank you so much, you have enriched my life! No joke..."
"The tightest drumming I ever did hear! Please come back before you're too big for us here. Wishing you nothing but luck..."