Hackney Empire

Insanity

29 June 2008

Venue: Main House

Price(s): £10 in advance, £12.50 on the door

A crazy extravaganza of musical contrasts featuring Mozambique's number one band and clean water crusaders Massukos, the Mancunian candidate himself Graham Massey, Tokyo diva Atsuko Kamura, award-winning Zheng virtuoso Su Zhuo, the magisterial Mayming, the lauded Lotus Pedals and the Woody Guthrie de nos jours The Boycott Coca-Cola Experience.

MOZAMBIQUAN SENSATION MASSUKOS

Offering up a joyous, irresistible blend of traditional Mozambiquan sounds, Massukos' music has been aptly described as "musical sunshine- life-giving, happy music that makes you want to dance". The band has garnered accolades from the nation's musical taste-makers: Andy Kershaw, Charlie Gillett and Michael Eavis among them and are considered national treasures in their native country. Renowned both for their stunning music and the humanitarian work that they do, Massukos use their music to deliver life-saving messages about hygiene, sanitation and HIV/AIDs. They firmly believe in music as a force for social change that has the power to transform, communicate, heal and educate. Feliciano dos Santos, the band-leader, who is the director and founder of a local NGO, was recently recognized for his remarkable achievements by being awarded the Goldman Environmental Award (April 08; http://www.goldmanprize.org/). Often referred to as the Nobel Prize for the environment, the award is the world's largest environmental prize for grassroots activists. Music played a key role in Santos innovative and unique approach to fighting for the basic necessities of life.

For more information please visit http://www.massukos.com/