Adelaide Festival Centre Presents Béla Fleck, 4/9

Described as the premiere banjo player in the world, Béla Fleck will be joined by international diva Oumou Sangaré and her stunning 12-piece Malian band on stage for one amazing night in the Festival Theatre on 9 April.

A New York City native, Béla Fleck first picked up the banjo at age 15 and has made a name for himself on countless solo and ensemble projects as a virtuoso instrumentalist unbounded by genre. Throughout his 30 year career, Béla has won 13 Grammy awards and has earned more diverse Grammy nominations than any other musician in history, including pop, country, bluegrass, jazz, classical, spoken-word, composition and arranging. In 2010 Béla won Grammy awards for ‘Best Pop Instrumental Performance' and ‘Best Contemporary World Music Album' for his latest album Throw Down Your Heart.

Throw Down Your Heart is a companion to the award-winning documentary of the same name, which premiered in 2009. Motivated by a deep love of African music, the film follows Béla on a boundary-breaking musical adventure through four African countries: Uganda, Tanzania, The Gambia and Mali to explore the little-known African roots of the banjo and record an album. Béla finds common ground with musicians ranging from local villagers to well-known artists such as Oumou Sangaré to create some of the most meaningful music of his career.

Considered as the greatest female African star of her generation, Oumou Sangaré is the leading female star of the Wassoulou sound. Her music is bold, seductive, funky and vibrant and onstage her huge charisma, irrepressible energy and joie de vivre is very much evident. Oumou has enjoyed a long and illustrious career, touring internationally and becoming an ambassador for the music of Mali. Her latest album Seya (Joy) was released in 2009.

For fans of world, jazz and African music, be sure not to miss this first trans:mission concert for 2010, which is sure to be nothing short of exhilarating.

What: Béla Fleck
Venue: Festival Theatre
When: 9 April, 8pm
Cost: Premium $60 / Adult $55.95 / Concession $45.95 / Student $40
Groups (6 or more) $50 / Family (2 + 2) $110 / GreenRoom $19.95 /
Season Pass Adult $50 / Season pass Conc $40
Bookings: BASS on 131 246 or online at www.bass.net.au

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