Fernando's Kitchen Tomorrow!

Fernando's Kitchen, a 5 piece multi-cultural group, will be playing tomorrow at Rich Mix and shouldn't be missed!

August 7th, Saturday 8:00pm: Fernando's Kitchen @ Rich Mix (35 - 47 Bethnal Green Road E1 6LA) £8 adv/£11 door Fernando's Kitchen is a multi-cultural 5 piece line-up of spanish guitar, flamenco cajon, double bass, trumpet, darbuka, oud and vocals. A unique fusion of Flamenco, Latin, Jazz and North African sounds, the new sensation on London's musical menu not to be missed!

Curious about who Fernando's Kitchen is and what to expect? Check out some of these videos:

Wednesday's Reader Picks

Have you recently heard a great track that you would like to share? We love to hear about what our readers are listening to, and if you have a great track to share, send us an email with your review for our weekly "Wednesday's Reader Picks." Here, we want to know what you listen to.

• Don't forget to include a YouTube or (similar video/audio link) with your submission, so that our other readers can enjoy the music too!
• We generally keep our reviews less than 100 words— short and sweet and all about the music. If you really love the track and feel inclined to write more, please feel free to do so!
• Please avoid swearing. We love the fact that you are passionate about the music, but try to keep it clean.
• If you submitted a track review and it did not appear in the next "Wednesday's Reader Picks" series, please do not resubmit it. We are restricted to the number of readers picks we can post each week and will hold on to yours for another week.

Click Here for more details on submitting material to Nomad's Playlist.

Back from vacation

Apologies for missing the latest "This Week's Picks" deadline, but I've been on vacation and busy exploring the white cliffs of Dover. I appreciate your patience. We'll get back to schedule with "Wednesday's Reader Picks" tomorrow, so please send in your reviews!

Free Album! Putumayo Digital Sampler

 You can't beat free music and luckily Amazon.com offers some free albums from time to time. For a fun around-the-world sampler, download this album from Amazon:

Putumayo Digital Sampler (Click here to download)

Wednesday's Reader Picks

Have you recently heard a great track that you would like to share? We love to hear about what our readers are listening to, and if you have a great track to share, send us an email with your review for our weekly "Wednesday's Reader Picks." Here, we want to know what you listen to.

• Don't forget to include a YouTube or (similar video/audio link) with your submission, so that our other readers can enjoy the music too!
• We generally keep our reviews less than 100 words— short and sweet and all about the music. If you really love the track and feel inclined to write more, please feel free to do so!
• Please avoid swearing. We love the fact that you are passionate about the music, but try to keep it clean.
• If you submitted a track review and it did not appear in the next "Wednesday's Reader Picks" series, please do not resubmit it. We are restricted to the number of readers picks we can post each week and will hold on to yours for another week.

Click Here for more details on submitting material to Nomad's Playlist.

This Week's Picks (#9)

This week's picks are inspired by the WOMAD festival that took place this weekend in Wiltshire. WOMAD saw a fabulous line up of musicians and artists and by playing some of the music here I'm trying to convince myself that it is not the end of the world that I was not able to attend. I don't believe it's working.

"Je T'Aime" by Staff Benda Bilili


Staff Benda Bilili is a group of Congolese street musicians whose core members were disabled by polio. The core musicians are backed by a younger line-up of ex-street kids taken under the wings of the older musicians. The main soloist is an 18 year old boy who plays on a one string lute made of a tin can. This track "Je T'Aime" is from their debut album Tres Tres Fort (2009). The group is known for their rumba rhythms that back their eclectic sound.
(Reviewed by Alexandra)


"Lamp Fall" by Cheikh Lô


Cheikh Lô is often mistaken for a Rastafarian thanks to his dreadlocks and reggae influences. He is actually a member of the Senegalese sect of Islam, Baye Fall, which plays an important role in his music. The patchwork clothes and long dreadlocks are trademarks of Baye Fall. Cheikh Lô started playing drums at an early age and dedicates his music to Baye Fall.  This is the title track from his 2005 album.
(Reviewed by Alexandra)


"Stória Stória" by Mayra Andrade


This artist may not have been one of the headliners of this festival, but she is one of the artists I really wished I had seen. Mayra Andrade is Cape Verdean, but hails from a varied background- born in Cuba, growing up in Senegal and Germany, and recording in France. This background is reflected in her music. While influenced by her exposure to the great musicians of Cape Verde, her style is a refreshing mix of all her influences. This is the title track from her 2009 album.
(Reviewed by Alexandra)


Were you lucky enough to see the WOMAD festival in Wiltshire? We would love to hear your stories and see your pictures. Please send us your experiences for a special post about WOMAD. 

Nomad's Calendar: This Weekend

Check out some of the live shows happening this weekend in London.

• July 24th, Saturday 3:00pm: Drummers of Burundi @ Barbican (Silk Street EC2Y 8DS)£7 Considered one of the best percussion ensembles on the planet, this ideal family concert from The Drummers of Burundi’s is as much about the spectacle as it is about the music. Spanning generations, the ensemble is made up of fathers teaching their sons the art of drumming and dance - the drummers rotate during the performance, playing different instruments and creating a mesmerising and continuous stream of music, rhythm and dance. 
• July 24th, Saturday 7:30pm: Mayra Andrade / Calypso Rose @ Barbican (Silk Street EC2Y 8DS) £12.50-22.50 Mayra Andrade is arguably the front-runner of the many talents who have emerged from Cape Verde in recent years. Whilst Calypso Rose, the 'diva of the Caribbean', blends the sweet sounds and rhythms of calypso, reggae, soul and the blues.
• July 25th, Sunday 1:00-10:30pm: Ealing Global Music Day @ Walpole Park (Mattock Lane, Ealing W5) £1 Old and new Roma and Klezmer music from around the globe will be celebrated at this year’s Gypsy themed Global Festival. This fast-paced, Gypsy, Balkan, Folk-fused, eclectic showcase will have audiences toe-tapping, hand-clapping and jumping like mad.
• July 25th, Sunday 7:30pm: Toto La Momposina @ Barbican (Silk Street EC2Y 8DS) £10-20 A very special concert marking the bicentenary of Colombia’s independence, this night celebrates the sounds of both Colombia’s best established and up and coming artists. 

Can't make any of these shows? Check out our Nomad's Calendar for other upcoming world music events in London.