LOKKHI TERRA

From the Mela's of Bangladesh to the streets of Havana, via some districts in Lagos and on to a bustling club in London. This is what is giving London its new accent. Described by Songlines as "probably the world’s best Afrobeat-Cuban-Bangladeshi group” London-based Lokkhi Terra released their debut album "No Visa Required" in 2010 and have been tearing up the music rule book ever since, playing their unique blend of traditions and wowing audiences across the genres.

Their second album "Che Guava's Rickshaw Diaries (2012)" received much critical acclaim - “the multicultural settings effortlessly encapsulate 21st-century London. Traditional songs from Bangladesh collide with Latin rhythms, township jazz, funk and ambient shades, all seasoned with a lilting pop sensibility... Gold medals all round.” - Sunday Times Magazine

Their latest release CUBANGLA is their sixth album, with journalist John Armstrong declaring it to be "their crowning glory to date.........as well as being one of the outstanding albums of the year so far for me".

It follows on from a series of “Lokkhi Terra meets” collaboration albums, including "CubAfrobeat" with Afrobeat Ambassador Dele Sosimi (2018) described as “a total stonking blinder” (Chris May - All About Jazz), as well with Bangladeshi roots legends Shikor Bangladesh All Stars (releasing 2 Eps - Bangla Rasta in 2016, and Introducing Baby Akhtar April 2017).

Their live shows continue to thrill. "The pairing of the Shikor Bangladesh All Stars with London-based salsa group Lokkhi Terra should not have worked, but really did. Kishon Khan’s keyboard and artistic direction allowed the Bangladeshis to meld with his Cuban rhythm section to really fine effect, blending Latin, Afrobeat, jazz, dub and all manner of other elements to create something truly exceptional. Once again, you are unlikely to hear anything like this outside of WOMAD and I’m not the only one that was really glad the organisers featured it." - United Reggae

"Awesome Cross-cultural collaboration" - London Jazz - Womad

"Widely acknowledged as an international force to be reckoned with...... beautiful, powerful, spectacular stuff" - Songlines Magazine

The band is made up of musicians with serious pedigree - led by pianist Kishon Khan (Hugh Masekela, Gilles Peterson's Havana Cultura, winner of SAIFF award New York for best original soundtrack 2009). Featuring the Godfather of British Asian percussion Pandit Dinesh.

Bellowhead's Justin Thurgur on Trombone, and Graeme Flowers (Kyle Eastwood) on trumpet. Cuban maestro percussionist Oreste Noda (Ska Cubano) on congas, and fellow Cuban, bassist Jimmy Martinez (Asere) alongside UK's Phil Dawson (Hugh Masekela, Tony Allen,) and Turkish drummer Tansay Omar (Bjork). To add to this impressive list, Bengali singers Sohini Alam, Aneire Khan and Aanon Siddiqua sing alongside Cuban vocalist Javier Camilo.

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