The World Stage: Saturday concerts - Bellingen Taranta festival 2024

Don’t miss out on an amazing night of soulful music and dance with incredible visiting and local artist playing music from different parts of Australia, the Mediterranean area and South America! 

The lineup will showcase the guitar virtuoso PACO LARA, without any doubt the leading Spanish artist bringing the authentic flamenco style in Australia. He comes from the cradle of flamenco, Jerez (Spain). He will be accompanied by the Spanish dancer Deya Miranda, bringing the true essence of this dance to the Bellingen stages.   

From Naarm comes ALLARA, a powerful Yorta Yorta winyarr. She is a storyteller, musician, composer, sound designer, producer and curator. With humour and integrity, Allara uses the double-bass and sound samples from Country to weave textures for healing in her work “I am Sovereign, I am Free”. Allara's innovative music speaks to Blak justice and sovereignty. Allara was the recipient of the Archie Roach Foundation Award for Emerging Talent (Music Victoria Awards 2021) and is a founding member of Ensemble Dutala. Allara has become an unstoppable force for love, art, music and transformation, empowered by her yakapna (family) and her Ancestors, dhama yenbena (old people).

SHAI SHRIKI (Israel) Vocalist, Oud & Guitar player composer and writer of contemporary music with traditional sounds from the Middle East, Hebrew songs and Spanish guitar. World music to it's wide variety is Shai's passion, mostly writing in hebrew as his first language but Shai also sings in Arabic, Spanish & Eastern  European songs. Shai believes that the unique sound of traditional instruments and songs invoke deep emotions and the  fusion of cultures with sound similarities, can be a meeting and bridging place for all people to live in harmony alongside.

From Meanjin comes the Italian ensemble ZUMPA! They will whisk you away to enchanting Italian fishing villages, moonlit olive groves, and the vibrant essence of peasant life under the Mediterranean sun. Immerse yourself in their spirited fusion of folk and Italian music, creating an authentic experience that's as rich and satisfying as a delectable plate of spaghetti and meatballs. The will also have some special guests to add a special flavour the the night!

The night will close with more dance with the explosive Argentinian band THE NEW MONOS, for the first time in the Mid North Coast. With their roots in Buenos Aires, Melbourne-based band The New Monos combine inspiration from their South American heritage and diverse musical experience with the flavor of contemporary Buenos Aires, mixing Reggae, Folklore, Cumbia, Rock, Rumba, Hip-hop and Latin beats, all expressed with the passion of the Tango.

Following the festival tradition there will be more pop up shows and great food, so expect the unexpected!