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Some of the gems from this year's world music WOMAD festival in Wiltshire, England:

The Bombay Brass Band - fan-bloody-tastic, could have stood in front of them forever. They were doing their own interpretations for old Bollywood films. They have a couple of upcoming gigs in Cambridge and London:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrjuOYMI2GI

Tal National from Niger, desert bluesy hypnotic rhythms and then some (they were on the front page of the Guardian yesterday, story about their visa problems):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXtMhFJ-OTg

Jiggy, Irish outfit with traditional sound magnificently tinged with driving exotic rhythms. Will be keeping my eye out to see this outstanding band again. Touring Europe currently:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlO3e2X9b7g

My interest in world music dates back to 2000, when I heard Gnawa music in Morocco. Marvellous then to see Maalem Hamid El Kasri:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6ikMujr-Zg

Have to mention Aeham Ahmad a young man born to a Palestinian family in the Yarmuk refugee camp in Syria, a pianist who has grown up amidst war, even having witnessed a two year old girl killed by a sniper as she danced by his piano. After Islamists burnt his piano to ashes and he sustained shrapnel wounds to his hands, he found exile in Germany. He has a wife and children in Germany with him, but he worries daily about his parents and other family&friends who remain in Syria.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0umxWG7aPo

Leonard Cohen link: Camille did an interesting, fun set at the festival. She is the Parisienne who played immediately before LC at the Big Chill (ten years ago!). She kept her clothes on this time, so here's a video where she doesn't: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPGNWFQy_gg

Thanks Diane. I checked out a couple of the links so far...will check out the others later on.

Hello Kush, nice to see you. This music section, if not much of the Forum, has become a bit of a ghost town... all the more interesting for the odd things passing through.

Hello Diane,

Things are certainly quieter here nowadays. I suppose that it is only to be expected in some ways. A lot of the regular posters no longer contribute. I always enjoy reading this section though. It is a shame that Stephen has stopped posting but I always enjoy reading what people have to say, especially you and Kush.

Hello Tony! Yes, I have thus far been too lazy to join the many other places that have opened up since early forum days. As I've said before, there are a few amazing artists I'd never have known about/gigs I'd have missed, had I not listened to you guys. I check the links here from time to time, whether I comment or not. I suppose we will all eventually fade away, but, till then...

Checking for the original of a song covered by the Bollywood Brass Band with Rafaqat Ali Khan, I came across Chaiyya Chaiyya, a song/scene from the 1998 movie Dil Se. Written by Gulzar, sung by Sukhwinder Singh and Sapna Awasthi. Interestingly it is adapted from a Sufi poem. You've got to love the joyful exuberance of it (although apparently the film has a sad ending)! Could be I am one of the few who had never seen this before, but just in case:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQmrmVs10X8