05 April 2012 | Last updated at 11:27PM
Hard Rock Cafe sways to the beats of world
music
XOTIC RHYTHMS: Performers from many countries drummed up excitement for the recent
Penang World Music Festival
The 12-member Guinee Percussion band showing off their rich African musical heritage.
The jazzy And energetic Irish Sound of Beoga wows the crowd.
The Phong Nguyen Ensemble Vietnam strutting their stuff.
A member of the Phong Nguyen Ensemble Vietnam giving an impressive performance.
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HARD Rock Cafe Penang was filled with the sounds of world music recently.
It was intended to get music lovers into the mood for the Penang World Music Festival at
the Penang Botanic Gardens.
The festival preview at the cafe began at 8pm with a performance by the Griff Trio from
Belgium, followed by Guinee Percussion" from Guinea and Beoga from Ireland.
Diners danced to the one-and-a-half hour long performance of energetic and vibrant
music of the participating countries.
Formed by Remi Decker, Griff Trio features three virtuoso bagpipers (either playing solo
or in polyphony), arranged in a modern though not superficial way.
Their repertoire features a balance of new compositions and traditional music, using
different types of bagpipes, whistles and singing styles.
The Guinee Percussion group was founded by Mamoudou Conde, who directed and
produced Les Ballets Africians, Les Percussions de Guinee, Le Ballet National Djoliba,
Legends of West Africa and founder of Nimbaya.
By sharing Africa's rich cultural legacy through music, dance and storytelling, the group
hopes to contribute to global awareness of the unifying power of the arts to foster respect,
gender equality, mutual understanding and peace through the world.
Beoga is based in County Antrim, northern Ireland. The bedrock of their sound lies firmly
within Irish traditional music.
However, they are not afraid to incorporate the nuances of other genres into their music.
The group came together in 2002 after jamming at a ferocious session at the All-Ireland
Fleadh.
The band's music seduces a diverse array of music lovers.
The release of their 2009 album The Incident saw them blaze a pioneering trail,
rewarding the world music fans with fresh creative energy.
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