Sona Jobarteh
ALL AGESSTANDING ROOM ONLYLEAF Global Arts and Outer Ear Projects PresentSONA JOBARTEH“Sona Jobarteh is Africa’s first female griot kora virtuoso, and also a fine singer and composer, blending traditional music, blues and Afropop to impressive effect” – Robin Denselow, The Guardian Preserving her musical past, Sona Jobarteh innovates to support a more humanitarian future. The spirit of Sona Jobarteh’s musical work stands on the mighty shoulders of The West African Griot Tradition; she is a living archive of the Gambian people. With one ear on the family’s historic reputation, one on the all-important future legacy and her heart in both places, she is preparing a place today for the next generation. Her singing and Kora playing while fronting her band, spring directly from this tradition. The extent of her recognition today is evidenced by more than 23 million+ viewers on YouTube and considerable numbers on other digital platforms. Sona Jobarteh has performed to crowds from the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles to Symphony Space in New York, and she’s sold out the Barbican in London, Cologne’s Philharmonie, and the Seine Musicale in Paris. These performances are under-pinned by her skills as a composer arising from early days at London’s RCM and Purcell School of Music. Sona Jobarteh scored the film Motherland in 2010 & in 2022 the Hollywood blockbuster Beast, starring Idris Elba. She co-wrote a track on LL Cool J’s latest with Q Tip, and filmed several of her live shows for CBS’ 60 MINUTES. Sona’s dedication to spreading powerful humanitarian messages through her songs and her stage performances makes her much more than a musician; she is active in social change and leads by her own example. Sona single handedly set up The Gambia Academy, a pioneering institution dedicated to achieving educational reform across the continent of Africa. This Academy is the first of its kind to deliver a mainstream academic curriculum at a high level, whilst also bringing the culture, traditions and history that belong to its students, to the front and centre of their everyday education. These efforts have gained her invitations to deliver speeches at high profile events around the world – including summits for the UN, the World Trade Organization and UNICEF.
Mia x Ally
– ALL AGES- STANDING ROOM ONLY- LIMITED NUMBER OF VIP MEET & GREET TICKETS AVAILABLE, INCLUDING: – One Admission Ticket – Exclusive Merch Bundle – Photo Opportunity – Early access to music room MIA X ALLY‘Mia x Ally’ is the electrifying duo project of electric violinist Mia Asano and bagpiper/multi-instrumentalist Ally the Piper. With a combined following of over 6 million people, both musicians officially joined forces in April 2022. Playing both original songs and covers of pop rock and metal music with a Celtic twist, Mia x Ally made their debut in Boston in August of 2022, playing two sold-out shows, and later went on to tour the East and Midwest on the “Shipping up to Boston tour,” selling over 3000 tickets. The two are working on their first full-length album, releasing in October 2023. Both from classically trained backgrounds, they share a dream of showcasing the vast range of their instruments, bringing them to the forefront of metal, rock, and pop music. Recognized by Metallica, Dragonforce, and The Charlie Daniels band for covering their music, this duo is turning heads and shaking up the industry, with a live show you won’t want to miss.
