SONGS FOR PEACE: Bellingen Taranta Festival 2024 Closing *Special Event*

As a closing special event the Festival present a showcase of artists that will interpret songs for peace.

The new local band Kinfolk Orkestar will open the night, bringing their unique sound to the stage. They are a collective of rare talent, where tunes from Hungary and Romania to Turkey and beyond take freewheeling left turns into the unexpected. This is where folk music meets jazz meets a groove that moves body and soul. The Orkestar is multi-instrumentalist Joshua Szabo (of Hello Tut Tut), Laura Targett (of Wild Thyme) chameleon fiddler, legendary percussionist Greg Sheehan, excellent Emiliano Beltzer (of Santa Taranta) on bass and guitar, acclaimed rising talent Oscar Eager on the trumpet and Matt Ledgar (of Kangaroo Moon) on drum kit.

Following the incredible duo of Ali Shakaki, a world class Kurdish singer and tanbur player from the city of Afrin, Syria.
Ali’s voice leaves audiences spellbound, his expertise on the tanbur is unparalleled in Australia. He is celebrated for his playing of traditional Kurdish music as well as his own compositions. Ali writes music for poetry about love, landscape and respect for his homeland.

To end the night, incredible musicians coming from different parts of the Middle East living in NSW and QLD will invite the public to come together, with the intention to share the frequency of Prayer & Connection, Peace & Healing.  They are Amir Paiss, Shai Shriki, Avishai Barnatan, Faezeh Sepehrsadeghian, Nawres Al Freh & Tsoof Baras and they came together to created the special project Prayers For Peace dedicating heart and art to the building of cultural bridges, harmony and peace.  Presenting ancient & original Hebrew, Arabic, Persian & English songs, they weave cultures through musical landscapes, combining  contemporary and traditional melodies, poetry and instruments in a gathering of Prayer and Heart. 

There might be more surprise acts that won’t be announced now, since is a surprise!

This closing event will be really special: let’s gather to send the world our message of peace, love and respect through our dancing, singing and connecting.