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In the spring of 1994 I was in Berlin to enjoy some of the magic that was still lingering after the wall was taken down.

In a magazine it said that at Haus der Kulturen der Welt (by the way, the building that named the band Einstürzende Neubauten, but that is another story…) something called Womex would take place - something to do with world music.

I had to check that out - and yes indeed, lots of exciting bands played for a small crowd of initiated. A nice experience.

In '97 I attended another Womex, now working for Roskilde Festival, '98 in Stockholm, '99 in…. The list of Womex events is long, and the number of participants, bookers, agents and other good people has increased since.

The poor cousin of the music business

Womex is short for World Music Expo, and that is exactly what it is – a fair for world music. Here the poor cousin of the music business, world music and its representatives, meet up year after year to network, exchange ideas, present new acts or initiatives and, not least, to socialise.

It happens in a way so that non-business people, who throughout the years come in bigger numbers, blend in nicely.

Heaps of globale sounds

I've seen quite many artists for the first time at Womex and booked them for Roskilde Festival's stages. This year the event takes place in Copenhagen from 28 October to 1 November. About 3000 business people will flock to Bella Center - to the fair and to conferences.

On the 28th, a number of Nordic roots artists, lead by violin virtuoso Harald Haugård, will present a Nordic Night. On the following 3 nights about 50 bands playing on 5 stages at Koncerthuset will give insight into the giant lot of global sounds that we barely know the existence of. A unique chance to catch ”The Beat of the Globe”. And it is open to the public. Tickets are available through billetnet.dk.

See you out there.

Playing on Peter's stereo this week

Céu: Vagarosa (Six Degrees 2009)
Exciting young singer from Brazil. 2 years ago I heard on the pipeline that there was this new act that one should keep an eye on – a new ”rising star”. Her first self-titled album showed why. Now her follow-up is out and yes, it has been part of this summer's soundtrack. Keep an eye on her.

Fania All Stars: Live at Cheetah vol. 1 & 2. (Fania 1971 & 1973)
A couple of years ago in Barcelona I found Fania All Stars' Live at the Cheetah vol. 2. The hottest salsa dura album you can imagine. Ever since then, I have been looking for vol. 1 - and jolly well, on top of a shoestore in Bogota I finally found it. Just like the other Fania releases from the 70s, it is funky stuff that still sounds fresh today.

Maga Bo: Archipelagoes (Soot 2008)
A global rhythm thief who knows how to take a little here and there, shake it up and out comes global music with its own charm.