SMALL WORLD MUSIC CELEBRATES A QUARTER CENTURY OF CULTURAL DIVERSITY IN MUSIC
SMALL WORLD MUSIC LAUNCHES "25-FOR-25" KICKING OFF A YEARLONG CELEBRATION OF THE ORGANIZATION’S 25TH ANNIVERSARY
FEATURING ONLINE AND IN-PERSON PERFORMANCES BY PANKAJ MISHRA, OKAN, AMMOYE, TURKWAZ, POLKY, JAFFA ROAD, BENY ESGUERRA & NEW TRADITION, AND MORE!
SEE TICKETS AND INFO HERE
TORONTO, ON – August 18, 2021 – Following the highly successful delivery of the annual Global Toronto (GT21) conference, and the announcement of their powerful artist-development program, eMERGEnce, Small World Music looks back at the success of a quarter-century of celebrating cultural diversity and showcasing a range of local, domestic, and international talent to audiences across the Greater Toronto Area, and ahead to the next quarter-century through an exciting year-long program, "25-for-25."
As audiences have come to expect, the celebrations will be musical, and feature collaborations with a range of partners, from long-time collaborators to new upstart organizations. Small World launches a special program comprising online broadcast debuts and IRL concerts: from free outdoor performances, and intimate VIP studio sessions to major concert-hall extravaganzas and will feature a ‘who’s who’ of international and Canadian talent. Through showcasing a wealth of exciting diverse talent guaranteed, Small World Music invites audiences to end the summer on a high note. "25-for-25" kicks off with a weeklong multi-venue trip across, and beyond, Toronto.
On Monday September 13, in partnership with Raag Mala Toronto, SWM presents an exclusive online broadcast debut of Sarangi master, Pankaj Mishra, accompanied by two accomplished alumni of SWM’s eMERGEnce program. The week wraps up with a show at Toronto’s iconic Lula Lounge on Sunday, September 19 featuring the blend of socially-conscious spoken word, beatboxing, turntablism, and Bronx-style 70s salsa, alongside Afro-Cuban and Colombian drumming of Beny Esguerra & New Tradition, hot off the heels of the group’s latest album.
In between, catch an online performance by JUNO Award nominees, Jaffa Road, with their array of Middle-Eastern sounds; a short film documenting The Borderless Project, a SWM-commissioned group of five women who unite their talents and traditions to explore music from across Asia; JUNO-winning Afro-Cuban ensemble, OKAN, with special guests at Lula Lounge; acclaimed reggae sensation Ammoye’s launch of her new album and BLOK Party, a day-long outdoor celebration featuring some of the finest Eastern European musicians in Canada. Performances will include Polky, who take audiences on a journey to Poland and the rich traditions that intertwine in that musical melting pot; and a back-to-back set highlighting the unique chamber folk quintet, Medusa, with Turkwaz, immersed in style ranging from Sufi devotional songs to Greek and Turkish dance music.
In addition to the music, audiences will gather more insight as Global Toronto partners with BLOK to present BLOK TALK: Beyond Community on Saturday, September 18 at Drom Taberna. Panelists that have created spaces, stages and artistic opportunities will engage in discussion to examine how to balance the needs and priorities of one's own community while remaining open to expanding beyond. The celebration of SWM’s 25th anniversary and ongoing mission to work with and for equity-deserving artists, professionals, and organiations, continues all year, culminating in the 20th edition of the Small World Music Festival in September, 2022.
For 25 years, SWM has been investing in the creation of human connection through musical experiences. The organization’s commitment to creating opportunities for emerging, newcomer, equity-deserving, and under-represented artists and professionals continues, through public-facing programming like the annual Small World Music Festival and hundreds of year-round concerts, industry initiatives like the Global Toronto showcase and conference, and artist-driven projects like the eMERGEnce artist-development program. SWM continue to be a global ambassador of Canada’s multicultural identity, a resource that expands cultural horizons, and a catalyst for change.
See below for the complete lineup details and stay tuned for more information by connecting with Small World Music online.
Pankaj Mishra and Andrew Kay | Monday, September 13
7:00 p.m.
Online Broadcast Debut, Free
Presented in partnership with Raag Mala Toronto
Info and Tickets
Recorded live at the Small World Centre, this performance provides an immersion into Indian Classical Music and showcases a Jugalbandi (duet), from the outstanding presenters. Accompanying Pankaj Mishra (Sarangi) and Andrew Kay (Saxophone & Himalayan Singing Bowls), is Abbas Janmohammed (Tabla). Both Andrew & Abbas are accomplished alumni of SWM’s eMERGEnce artist-development program.
Jaffa Road | Tuesday, September 14
7:00 p.m.
Online Broadcast Debut, Free
Info and Tickets
The two-time JUNO Award nominees will showcase songs from Until When, their first album in nine years. The core band of Aaron Lightstone (oud, guitars), Tamar Ilana (vocals), Justin Gray (bass), Sundar Viswanathan (winds) and Rakesh Tewari (drums) will be accompanied by Shawn Rompre (electronics).
The Borderless Project | Wednesday, September 15
7:00 p.m.
Online Broadcast Debut, Free
Info and Tickets
Five remarkable women unite their talents and traditions to explore music from across Asia. This documentary tells the stories of the artists, who hail from China, Korea, Japan, and Iran as they gather, develop new repertoire and find common ground in music. It culminates with a stirring performance at one of Toronto’s first live concerts in front of an audience in 15 months.
Artists playing: Amely Zhou (Erhu), Roa Lee (Gayageum), Heidi Chan (Shinobue), Padideh Ahrarnejad (Tar), Nour Kdn (Percussion).
OKAN & Special Guests | Thursday, September 16
Opening set by Danae Olano
7:00 p.m. doors, 8 p.m. show
Lula Lounge, Tickets: $40
Presented in partnership with Lula Music and Arts Centre
Info and Tickets
JUNO-Award winning OKAN fuses their Afro-Cuban roots with jazz, folk, and global rhythms in songs about immigration, courage, and love. Led by Elizabeth Rodriguez and Magdelys Savigne, the group enthusiastically embraces Cuban genres and musical roles that have historically been dominated by men and create a distinctive and personal world jazz fusion. They’ll be joined by special guests for a memorable evening.
Opening for OKAN is Danae Olano, two time Juno award winner. Olano, originally from Cuba, now residing in Toronto, is a pianist, composer and arranger heavily influenced by the legacies of great Cuban pianists, jazz masters, classical music, Brazilian rhythms and her Afro-Cuban roots.
Ammoye | Friday, September 17
Opening set by Catchfiyah
7:00 p.m. doors, 8 p.m. show
Lula Lounge, Tickets: $20
Presented in partnership with Lula Music and Arts Centre
Info & Tickets
Ammoye celebrates the release of her new album 'Water', on Lulaworld Records. Singing songs of love, life, and justice, the 5-time JUNO nominee delivers a future-forward reggae sound that incorporates old-school rocksteady, dancehall, dubstep, gospel, soul, and R&B.
Opening for Ammoye is Catchfiyah, a Canadian electronic duo based out of Toronto, Ontario. The group consists of Lauren Barnett and Demetrios Petsalakis. Blending world beats with house and EDM, they weave social commentary with creative storytelling and hypnotic rhythms. In October 2021, Catchfiyah will be releasing their second EP titled 'Price to Pay'.
Polky @ DROM TABERNA | Friday, September 17
1:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Presented in partnership with BLOK
Delegate Passes: $199 (showcase only)
Info and Tickets
Polky, who take delegates of BLOK: Slavic Music Meet on a journey to Poland and the rich traditions that intertwine in that musical melting pot. BLOK is North America’s first ever Eastern European music summit, taking place on September 17-19, 2021.
BLOK TALK: Beyond Community | Saturday, September 18
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Drom Taberna, Tickets for one day: $30; Delegate Passes: $199
Presented by Global Toronto in partnership with BLOK
Info and Tickets
Faced with a lack of opportunity for their communities, the gathered panelists created spaces, stages and artistic opportunities with those communities in mind, but have successfully impacted audiences far beyond their initial constituents in the pursuit of equity in the arts. This discussion looks at how to balance the needs and priorities of one's own community while remaining open to expanding beyond.
Medusa & Turkwaz @ BLOK PARTY | Saturday, September 18
1:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Drom Taberna Parking Lot (Queen St W and Augusta) , Tickets for one day: $30; Delegate Passes: $199
Presented in partnership with BLOK
Info and Tickets
A daylong outdoor celebration featuring some of the finest Eastern European musicians in Canada. The lineup includes the unique chamber folk quintet Medusa, with their array of strings from around Europe; Polky, who take audiences on a journey to Poland and the rich traditions that intertwine in that musical melting pot; and Turkwaz, immersed in style ranging from Sufi devotional songs to Greek and Turkish dance music.
Beny Esguerra & New Tradition | Sunday, September 19
Opening set by Nimkii Osewamik
7:00 p.m. doors, 8 p.m. show
Lula Lounge, Tickets: $20
Presented in partnership with Lula Music and Arts Centre
Info and Tickets
Fusing bilingual socially conscious spoken word, beatboxing, Indigenous kuisi bunsi flute (aka Colombian gaita), turntablism, and Bronx-style 70s salsa, alongside Afro-Cuban and Colombian drumming, Beny Esguerra & New Tradition delivers an interactive multidisciplinary performance exploring themes of justice, environmental healing, and respect for ancestors and land treaties.
Opening for Beny is Nimkii, a proud Anishinaabeg nini hailing from Wiikwemkoong, Unceded Territory (Ontario, CA). Representing both bear and wolf clan, Nimkii is a world renown hoop dancer, champion traditional dancer and drummer/singer. Over the years, Nimkii has collaborated with and performed on stage with award winning artists—and is now blazing his own path—blending traditional singing, drumming and dancing styles with contemporary music and modern dance.
DOWNLOAD – 25 for 25 Artwork | DOWNLOAD - Artist Photos
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About Small World Music:
For more than two decades, Small World Music has been celebrating cultural diversity and showcasing a range of local, domestic, and international talent to audiences across the Greater Toronto Area. Our vision goes beyond simply presenting culturally diverse artists to include finding ways of working with, showcasing, and supporting underrepresented, marginalized, and newcomer professionals onstage and behind the scenes to encourage sustainable careers, and become a leader in the music industry.
About Lula Music and Arts Centre:
Lula Music & Arts Centre at Lula Lounge is a non-profit organization with the mandate to support Canadian music through presentations, festivals, education, artist support, audience development and the Lulaworld Records label. Presenting Latin, Brazilian and global roots music that reflects Canada’s culturally diverse live music scene, Lulaworld Records has released recordings by Juno award-winners and nominees such as OKAN, Quique Escamilla, Ammoye, Beny Esguerra and Lengaïa Salsa Brava, as well as The Lula All Stars and Maria and the Band.
About BLOK:
BLOK is North America’s first ever Eastern European music summit, taking place on September 17-19, 2021. Modeled after public-facing industry events like Austin’s SXSW and Europe’s WOMEX conferences, the event will include artist showcases at BLOK’s downtown festival stage, and feature panel discussions and industry-focused meetings with professional delegates from across the globe.