Walthamstow Garden Party, now in its third year, is riding high on the back of two immensely successful festivals in 2014 and 2015 which each boasted over 30,000 visitors.

Taking place in the beautiful Lloyd Park and produced by Barbican and Create in partnership with a number of local organisations, the festival aims to showcase the communities and the creativity of wonderful Waltham Forest.

There are two music stages, one curated by Barbican and featuring contemporary music from artists from across the globe, and the other presenting a number of local acts ahead of the Stow Festival in September.

Names to look out for include electronica band Asian Dub Foundation performing their live score for Mathieu Kassovitz’s La Haine, Mo Kalamity + The Wizards offering a unique blend of reggae and soul, and Mercury nominee and folk artist Sam Lee, alongside Batida, Emicida, Ana Tijoux, Rocket Number Nine, Ariwo and Fanfare Ciocarlia.

On top of this there are also venues offering everything from circus to sustainable living to the legacy of socialist designer and craftsman William Morris. And the best part? It’s totally free and family-friendly.

Do turn up in good time, though, to avoid a queue.

Visions of Sound – November 2021

Every month, we bring you a collection of the best world music-related videos. That’s our way to give value to too often overlooked, rich and diverse artistic expressions. Listen with your eyes! Watch the full playlist:

Artists: Ana Tijoux , Ben Lamar Gay , Ego Ella May , Emmanuel Jal , Hiatus Kaiyote , Ibeyi , Mamak Khadem , Montparnasse Musique , Muthoni Drummer Queens , Nightmares On Wax , Puerto Candelaria , Sho Madjozi , Small Island Big Song , The Buttshackers , Walaa Sbait

Visions of Sound (September 2020)

Every month, we bring you a collection of the best world music-related videos. That’s our way to give value to too often overlooked, rich and diverse artistic expressions. Listen with your eyes! Watch the full playlist:

Artists: Ana Tijoux , Asian Dub Foundation , Aziza Brahim , Bigyuki , Deradoorian , Ghetto Kumbe , HHY , Lous and the Yakuza , Luedji Luna , Mas Musiq , Nubiyan Twist , Populous , Sumac Dub , The Kampala Unit , U-Zhaan , Urban Village

WOMAD 2016 Highlights: Saturday

[chimpy_form forms=”5″] They invited their fans singing “come see us play”. So we did it and enjoyed every single minute of it. Sidestepper brought their Afro-Colombian groove to WOMAD Festival and it was simply “chevere!”   A few minutes later, we witnessed the brilliant 30-year reunion of Songhai – kora king Toumani Diabate with…

Artists: Ana Tijoux , Anoushka Shankar , George Clinton , Parliament Funkadelic , Sidestepper , Toumani Diabaté