Griots.net Newsletter
September 2, 2005

by Marva Jackson Lord

For more information:
011 44 870 4460047
info@griots.net

Contents:
*Griots Black Cultural Fest ticket and accommodation update
*Dylan Thomas Evening and African Drumming at the Globe, Hay-on-Wye
*Poetry Olympics 2005
*BEACO, new Wales-based online publication
*Michael St. George/2 Ras Michaels Tour
*Volunteering with Griots Productions

Griots Black Cultural Fest 2005

Advance tickets are now available in outlets in Hay-on-Wye and surrounding areas including: The fabulous Lost Bus Cafe near the Whitney toll bridge; Hay Wholefoods; Tom's Records; clothing stores No. 2 and Flow; and fitness centre Gym & Tonic. Tickets are £10 in advance and are also available online & by phone from Ticketweb.co.uk. Tickets are £12 at the door. Children under 6 FREE.

Accommodation is available at Baskerville Hall Hotel (01497820033) and other local inns, hotels, and B&Bs. More accommodation info is listed at http://www.hay-on-wye.co.uk/accommodation/frameset.htm.

Griots Black History Fest 2005 is our 2nd annual event in recognition of Black History Month in the UK. Griots Black Cultural Fest celebrating the diversity and contributions of African, Asian & Caribbean people in the UK and internationally will take place on October 28, 2005 from 12 noon to 1 am, at Baskerville Hall Hotel, Clyro, near Hay-on-Wye, in mid-Wales. Artists include Nigerian storyteller Atinuke (Pembrokeshire), Asian/UK DJ Asif and Fusing Naked Beats, Reggae/Ska legend Owen Gray, new Rock/Pop singer/songwriter Zein Simone, African drum group Boke Karavan (Newport,Wales), Jamaican film legend Carl Bradshaw, Jamaican Canadian poet Michael St. George, UK Dub celebrity Dennis Bovell, and more.

This year's event will help establish the Griots Community Learning Cultural Program, an initiative aimed at promoting community harmony and understanding through sharing information about diverse arts and by encouraging positive attitudes in the community -- through workshops, live events and interactive technology via Griots.net, a web site and cultural resource produced by griotsarts.com in the heart of the Brecon Beacons.

Participating artists will be available for workshops in schools or community centres throughout October and November.

For more information or bookings, call 08704460047. *Programme subject to change.

contact by email

Dylan Thomas Evening and African Drumming at the Globe, Hay-on-Wye
Dylan Thomas, a celebration, will take place Sept 9-11 at the Globe Gallery, Newport Street, Hay-on-Wye featuring a selection of films, music, and readings. Highlights include director Ian Milton, talk with Phil Bowen on Dylan Thomas' life, screening of Borderline: The Film of Hay - a docufairytale based on Dylan Thomas' the Town That Was Mad and an afternoon soiree open mic with African drums. The Globe Gallery will also host weekly African drumming workshops from Sept 16 onwards with Dennis Tapfuma, urbanpulse.net. For more info about the Dylan Thomas event or the African drumming workshops, call 01497821191 or 07961532572.

Poetry Olympics/outerglobe news
On September 25th, the Royal Albert Hall will once again host The Poetry Olympics. This event, known this year as The Poetry Olympics Twenty05, celebrates the 40th anniversary of the First International Poetry Incarnation which jam-packed the Royal Albert Hall in 1965; the 25th year of Poetry Olympics festivals; and the 70th birthday of Olympic torchbearer and coordinator Michael Horovitz. This year’s line-up features diverse artists, singer-songwriters, actors and musicians including Pete Townshend; Jerry Hall; Beth Orton; Linton Kwesi Johnson; Eliza Carthy; Christopher Logue; John Hegley; Annie Whitehead, and Horovitz, among others tbc – and will be co-hosted by the BBC’s James Naughtie.

BEACO, new Wales-based online publication
BEACO, a new online magazine has launched in Wales. A fantastic collection of articles, photos and reviews on a wide range of topics about the arts in Wales and beyond. The inaugural issue features an exclusive interview with Jamaican film legend,
Carl Bradshaw. Check it out at http://www.beaco.org

Michael St. George/2 Ras Michaels Tour
Michael St. George, the Jamaican Canadian dub poet who was featured in
our first Black Cultural Fest, has teamed up with Ras Michael of Sons of Negus fame. The pair will be touring the UK and Europe later this year. Michael St. George has also been collaborating with DJ Asif from Fusing Naked Beats, and there may be a remix avail abel by the time Griots Black Cultural Fest comes around.

Volunteering with Griots Productions
To help with the next Griots Black Cultural Fest, please call 011 44 870 4460047