To bring the Tropics to Cornwall is as complicated as it sounds, but it’s also extremely gratifying. That’s why Tropical Pressure Festival has become a music lover’s dream (whether they are project workers, volunteers, musicians or festival-goers), and that’s how, every July since 2014, the idyllic Mount Pleasant Eco Park experiences a colourful, cultural pilgrimage.
For three days, Porthtowan’s surroundings breathe music from Latin America, Africa and the Caribbean islands, and for three days, every single festival attendee has her/his mind enriched by sounds, dances, workshops, food and drinks from all over the world…
For the first time since 2014, we embarked on the 250-mile journey that separates London from the North Cornwall Heritage Coast, and we couldn’t possibly have made a better choice. Tropical Pressure has indeed brought a corner of the Tropics to the UK… Or better, three corners, because, as described, each day of the event is dedicated to a particular Tropical region.
Friday
It all got underway on the scenic stage of the Amphitheatre. After relishing the postcard-like panorama (including white horses grazing, reeds moving in the wind, granite cliffs, a sandy beach and turquoise sea in the distance), Argentina took the scene, thanks to the eclectic set presented by the folktronic “one-man orchestra” from Buenos Aires, Rumbo Tumba and his refined musical craftsmanship. Minutes later, from Barcelona but with assorted passports, Miramundo continued the heart-warming feelings, spreading their uplifting and eclectic sound built on busking and countless live shows all over the world. Originally a five-piece band, they were forced to visit Tropical Pressure in a shrunk formation due to visa issues, but were still able to enlighten the Cornish afternoon and the main stage audience with their very own blend of quality songwriting and energetic folk-pop, boasting elements of samba, Italian canzonetta, flamenco, swing and Latin character.
Then it was the turn of Penya to present another take on Latin American music. The London-based quartet brought to Tropical Pressure its Afro-Latin, percussion-driven electro sound, which inaugurated the dancy stretch of the evening and spurred the audience to gather under the stage and move to the rhythms. That was the perfect introduction to the cumbieros from Malphino Republic, who sped up the tempo, performing a bright and up-tempo set in true Malphino style, infusing the Latin traditional sound with East London style.
Dropping the curtain on the first day of the main stage were the exuberant salseros of La-33. Directly from Bogotà in Colombia, the larger-than-life band presented some excellent dance-inducing urban salsa, enriched with boogaloo, funk, jazz and pop, and naturally exposing the talent of each band member on stage. You couldn’t help but move your feet, legs, knees, hips, back and so on… also, despite the fact that the daily live-music programme had come to an end for the Friday, upbeat notes were still being pushed out of the speakers of the Late Night Venues where DJs like Nickodemus and Konquerin Soundz kept the audience busy and dancing until late into the night.
Saturday
The sun sure shone on Saturday on the scenic and serene settings of the Cornish coast, and a full day of festive fun was presented by Tropical Pressure.
Miramundo took the spotlight again from the Amphitheatre, bringing their eclectic and romantic mix of folk and funk with songs in Italian, Spanish, Brazilian and most likely more! The four-part harmonies melted the audience, alongside the heat from the beautiful tones emanating from the electro-acoustic guitar and violin. The band were perfect performers, quite literally immersing themselves in the audience, to great cheer and applause.
A highlight from the main stage had to be the Sudanese band The Scorpios, whose front lady perhaps literally brought the return of the sunshine with her stunningly bright yellow sari. The band brought their unique reggae-funk grooves mixed with the traditional girls’ songs and celebratory folk songs sung in communities in Sudan. The mixture of Middle Eastern maqam scales with offbeat reggae and characteristic claps brought together what felt like the entire attendance of the festival to one peaceful place. Warm energy from the band ensured everyone was dancing, smiling, and a large number of people were attempting to sing along to the catchy vocal lines.
The sunset on the stunning scenes, slipping over the mountainside down onto a shimmering secluded beach, whilst Kongo Dia NTotila did what they do best and blasted the amazing audience with their characteristic maestro Kongo jazz. With intricate and perfected compositions, the London-based band blow expectations out of the water with every performance.
The evening was a treasure chest of DJs, with live sampler and composer Anchorsong wowing the crowds as he dabbled live with his gadgets. Building and composing each song from nothing, every note and beat trigged by a button, his fingers seemed to race over imaginary pianos. Whilst Pete On The Corner delivered exactly what the party festival-goers where waiting for: bass-heavy beats from all corners of the globe and strange, unique and certainly surprising sounds causing the room to bounce in sheer happiness to the anticipated drops – faces of sheer awe and love were seen at each new ‘exclusive’ drop from the label owner.
The longest DJ set of all was savoured with tropical traveller Edna Martinez, who managed a whole two hours of the most beautiful, tropical, Afro-disco and Caribbean grooves. Word spread, and soon everyone was dancing and shaking all their limbs in the large warehouse-like venue, ‘Fandangos’.
Saturday was characterised with a bright and sunny happiness, sound-tracked by the best global music of variety and excellent taste.
Sunday
Glasgow five-piece Samson Sounds picked up the energy on Sunday afternoon with their infectious brand of Afro-dub. Sending ripples through the ground with fat electronic beats, they got the crowd back on their feet again with huge horn riffs and intricate Afro-style guitar lines. As they MC’ed their self-titled ‘patois mixed with the Glasgow chatter’, they churned out feisty lyrics about their inner-city take on global life. The crowd responded with energy, and the rhythmical lyricism and pounding bass had the right amount of power to revive the lethargic body.
Closing out the festival on Sunday night were two bands: The Bongo Hop and Lindigo. The Bongo Hop brought their Afro-Caribbean sound with Latin flavours, led by French trumpeter Etienne Sevet, and with graceful harmonies, they quickly charmed the audience into a swinging trance. Lindigo then played a big finale on the main stage, opening with an instantly emotive vocal performance. Even for those not able to understand the lyrics, the feelings instantly transferred. Incorporating Maloya’s folk instruments with Madagascan musical styles, they played an unusual blend of African and Caribbean styles that suitably rounded up the ethos of the festival.
The first appointment of 2023 with Arsenal of Sounds is getting closer and closer. We are two weeks away from an Afro-infused evening showcasing the sacred rhythmic fire of Matondology RIOT and the smooth and soulful sound of Seby Ntege and his Band. After having done the honours for Seby…
Artists: Kongo Dia Ntotila , Matondology Riot , Mulele Matondo , Mulele Matondo Afrika , Seby Ntege , Seby Ntege Band
Here are Radio Mukambo‘s top 22 albums of 2022: ethiogrooves, Afro-Caribbean beats, creole sounds, Mali rock & global bass bring you to Afro-Brazilian beats, afrobeat and reggae/hip-hop in the top 3. Close your eyes and let this music journey bring you to the sounds of Caribbean beaches, African metropoles, Brazilian…
Artists: Afro-Zen Allstars , Alpacas Collective , Batida , BKO , Black Flower , Black Jesus Experience , Congotronics International , Dowdelin , Funmilayo Afrobeat Orquestra , Guts , Gyedu-Blay Ambolley , INSULA , Jembaa Groove , L\'entourloop , Maga Bo , Muyiwa Kunnuji , Osemako , Sahad , The Bongo Hop , The Spy From Cairo , The Togo All Stars , Ti’Kaniki
This week Radio Mukambo brings you two albums that came out before the summer but that somehow haven’t made it to the “album of the week”. So here they are: Seven Wisdoms Of Plutonia by Alpacas Collective, Afro-groovers from Leuven, Belgium, and La Ñapa by The Bongo Hop, Afro-Caribbean collective from Lyon,…
Artists: Alpacas Collective , Azuka Moweta and his Anioma Brothers , Colombiafrica , Conjunto Media Luna , Grupo Lokito , Gyedu-Blay Ambolley , Louis Towers , Muyiwa Kunnuji , Osemako , Piper Street Sound , Romperayo , The Bongo Hop
On Friday the 2nd of September, we officially launched Arsenal of Sounds, a year-long music series happening every first Friday of the month at Woolwich Works organised by Rhythm Passport with the support of Arts Council England. …and we did it in style, hosting two bands enriching, diversifying and jazzing up the London music…
Artists: Let Drum Beat , Malphino
Download this exclusive FREE Rhythm Passport album TODAY! Preview of the album: This Album is no longer available however if you want to receive exclusive access to a free album like this each month just sign up to our monthly newsletter by filling in the form below: Holiday season might be…
Artists: Alina Maldonado , Captain Planet , Golden Hornet , Jambada , Let Drum Beat , Malphino , Mitchum Yacoub , Nim Sadot , Ray Perez y El Grupo Casabe , Russo Passapusso , Sidi Wacho , Waggles , Zuzuka Poderosa
Nightshop show for May via Radio Campus Bxl with +3 hours of new global sounds, also broadcasted via Rhythm Passport & Groovalizacion. Our song of the day is by Africa Negra from their recently released 2LP anthology on Bongo Joe. Our albums of the month take us to La Reunion…
Artists: Àbáse , Africa Negra , Ecko Bazz , Hazem B , Lalalar , Muito Kaballa , Sahad , Satellites , The Bongo Hop , WEMA , Zanmari Bare
Another Rhythm Passport Presents flight is ready to take off from RTM.FM and guide you through a two-hour journey around the world. In the eighth episode of our show, Rhythm Passport will travel from New Zealand to Brazil. Get ready for some of the freshest cumbia, reggae, funk then a…
Artists: Arif Mirbaghi , Ayala , Bedouin Burger , Cosmic Analog Ensemble , Criolo , Dele Sosimi , Faizal Mostrixx , Gaoulé Mizik , Geylang Electric Phin Band , He-Man Stradivarius , Islandman , Jally Kebba Susso , Kikagaku Moyo , Lalalar , Lido Pimienta , Madalitso Band , Medlar , Nu Genea , Otoboke Beaver , Rita Morar , Sababa 5 , Saltpond City Band , Shabaka Hutchings , The Black Seeds , The Bongo Hop , The Shaolin Afronauts , Tiki Taka
It’s been too long I’ve been able to make a podcast, so here’s a playlist with some of the freshest tunes of the past few weeks. Grooves ranging from Afro-Caribbean over Arab-jazz to Afro-Zen, some cumbia, funana and spiritual jazz. Album of the week is “The Buzz and the Bells”,…
Artists: Afro-Zen Allstars , Akram Abdulfattah , Alpacas Collective , Bonga , Dowdelin , Fogo Fogo , K.o.g. , Konkolo Orchestra , Paul Boutique , Rhabdomantic Orchestra , The Bongo Hop , Ti’Kaniki , Yohann Le Ferrand
Nightshop show for March via Radio Campus Bxl with 3 hours of new global sounds, also broadcasted via Rhythm Passport & Groovalizacion Radio. Starting with songs of the day from South Korea (Park Jiha) Ukraine (DakhaBrakha) and USA (Betty Davis). Our albums of the month take us to Cabo Verde…
Artists: Akram Abdulattah , Americo Brito , Arp Frique , Bandua , Betty Davis , Bolis Pupul , Charlotte Adigéry , DakhaBrakha , Etran de L'Air , Grand Sorcier , K.o.g. , Mariseya , Maxiroots , Park Jiha , The Ano Nobo Quartet , The Scorpios , YIN YIN
Download this exclusive FREE Rhythm Passport album TODAY! Preview of the album: This Album is no longer available however if you want to receive exclusive access to a free album like this each month just sign up to our monthly newsletter by filling in the form below: Every…
Artists: Aguanedo Nnewi , Atongo Zimba , Baeshi Bang , Etran de L'Air , Hackney Colliery Band , Haya Zaatry , Ip Koa Son , Juanita Euka , K.o.g , LNDFK , The Scorpios , Yama Warashi
For the second year in a row, Mukambo and NYP Records teamed up to prove the global afrobeat scene is more alive than ever. Mukambo compiled 21 bands from the four corners of the earth, bringing their own blend of afrobeat to pay tribute to the Black President Fela Kuti…
Artists: Àbáse , Abayomy , Aweto Band , Daniel Dzidzonu , Eparapo , Fela Soul , Femi Koya , Jumbo System , Lindigo , Luka Afrobeat Orquesta , Muito Kaballa Power Ensemble , Mzee , Nubiyan Twist , Okwei Odili , Raul Monsalve Y Los Forajidos , Tabó Afrobeat , The Anthronauts , The Mabon Dawud Republic , Vito-Lalinga , Yaaba Funk
The 15th of October marks the anniversary of Fela Kuti, godfather of afrobeat, and is also the date Mukambo releases the second Global Afrobeat Movement compilation on NYP Records, including Jumbo System from Toulouse (France) who combine afrobeat with the power of a marching band. Their debut EP is our…
Artists: Àbáse , Ekiti Sound , Femi Koya , IKOQWE , Jumbo System , Lindigo , Nihiloxica , Ogun Afrobeat , The Rebel , The Selenites Band
After 10 years of making a podcast, it was time for a change. So from now on, every Wednesday at 9am Brussels time, you’ll hear Radio Mukambo live ‘n direct on Radio Panik 105,4 FM from Brussels. Plenty of afrobeat this week with Ogun Afrobeat from Madrid, Spain, delivering our…
Artists: Ancient Astronauts , Bantu , Femi Koya , Jembaa Groove , K'boko , Lindigo , Ogun Afrobeat , ONIPA , The Anthronauts , The Good People , The Rebel
Ten years of making radio and 500 podcasts, that’s what Mukambo is celebrating this week. So we have a special program talking you through the very vest albums of those ten years. Get ready for a trans-Atlantic trip going from Africa over Latin America to Europe, and a pan-African ride…
Artists: Batida , Dele Sosimi , Dizzy Mandjeku , Doña Onete , Ebo Taylor , Gaspar Z'África , Guts , Gyedu-Blay Ambolley , Jungle Fire , Konono N1 , London Afrobeat Collective , Michi Sarmiento , Mulatu Astatke , Newen Afrobeat , Oghene Kologbo , Raúl Monsalve , Raul Monsalve Y Los Forajidos , Rocky Marsiano , Seun Kuti , Son Palenque , The Bongo Hop
Azmari is the “one who praises” in Amharic, an Ethiopian singer-musician, comparable to the European bard or the West African griot. The Brussels-based ethiogroove collective is a 21st century version of Azmari, blending African and oriental melodies while providing a fresh take on the ethiojazz sound. Their debut album Samā’ī is…
Artists: Ancient Astronauts , Andre Sampaio , Azmari , Bantu , Boogie Castillo , Chouk Bwa & The Ångströmers , Combo X , Cumbiasound , El Gato Negro , Eletrique Zamba , Frikstailers , Gaudi , Lee Fry Music , Lindigo , Lis Flores Varela , Plu con Pla , Victor Rice
2020 has been a really tough year for musicians, artists and creatives, but we’ve still been treated to a lot of good music. This week Radio Mukambo offers you the latter part of the 30 best albums of 2020 (30 to 16), including afrobeat, Afro-Latin, ethiojazz, maloya, wassoulou music, global…
Artists: Anthony B , Baja Frequencia , Bamba Wassoulou Groove , Black Flower , Dubblestandart , Ethioda , Frankosun and the Family , Joey Le Soldat , Kosmo Sound , L\'entourloop , Lindigo , Lokkhi Terra , Mamani Keita , Max le Daron , MYSTICALLY , Nihiloxica , Nkumba System , Nuri , Paolo Baldini DubFiles , Sacerdote , Scratch Bandits Crew , Skarra Mucci , The Gaslamp Killer
This week Radio Mukambo travels to Reunion Island in the Indian ocean off the east coast of Africa for some powerful maloya music sung in Réunion Creole by LiNDiGo. Their 7th album “Kosa Néna” is our cd of the week, released by the French label Hélico Music. We listen to…
Artists: Elida Almeida , Guiss Guiss Bou Bess , Kodjovi Kush & Afrospot All-Stars , Kosmo Sound , Lindigo , Nongoma , Poirier , The Anthronauts , The Mabon Dawud Republic
At times, we are the first to lose track of how many exciting music events happen in London each month, so we have decided to offer you some sort of “public musical service”, meant for all the locals and passers-by, with the aim of suggesting where to listen to some…
Artists: Afriqoui , Arteria Fm , Diabel Cissokho , Dub Pistols , Freek , Kasai Masai , Kongo Dia Ntotila , Mamadou Diabate , Mozão , Mulatu Astatke , Natty Campbell , Neue Grafik Ensemble , Parov Stelar , Skylla , Sourakata Koite , Yama Warashi , Young Paris
At times, we are the first to lose track of how many exciting music events happen in London each month, so we have decided to offer you some sort of “public musical service”, meant for all the locals and passers-by, with the aim of suggesting where to listen to some…
Artists: Actress , Amon Tobin , Bukky Leo , Dele Sosimi , Diezmo , Domenico Lancellotti , Dwight Trible , Fanfare Ciocarlia , Femi Elias , Gaijin Blues , Gary Bartz , Ivocore , Lokkhi Terra , Luke Vibert , Maisha , Marcos Aganju , Nina Miranda , Nubiyan Twist , Ólafur Arnalds , Pedrolito , Snarky Puppy , Taraf De Impex , The Scorpios , Tinariwen , Toby Kaar
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