
- June 14, 2021
Ensemble Festival 24 July 2021
Sawa Blues.
Progenitor of the amazing Sawablues, a new genre of music, Cameroon-born Muntu Valdo’s music is rooted in the blues, mixing African traditions with striking modernity and technical mastery. He’s performed in prestigious venues in the world and in the Uk including the Barbican and Queen Elisaneth Hall in London, the Sage Gateshead in Newcastle, The Birmingham Symphony hall, the Bidgewater hall in Manchester, the Corn Exchange in Cambridge. He’s travelled all over the world, supported and played alongside some of the great names of African and international music including, Manu Dibango, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Ali Farka Touré, Damon Albarn, Richard Bona, Boubakar Traoré and Lucinda Williams just to name a few. His mesmerizing solo set juxtaposes his raw, passionate voice and intensely emotive melodies, intricate African guitar lines with an ingenious use of loops and effects to create sun-kissed groove heavy Sawa Blues.
In the summer of 2012, Muntu Valdo was one of the 8 African curators on the African Stage for the BT-River Of Music Festival during the London 2012 Olympic games.
His last Album (The One & The Many) released by Warner Jazz received rave reviews.
His next Album titled SAWA BLUES is due to be released this year 2020.
“ Pure spiritual uplift” – Metro
“Music to banish sadness” – The Times
“Using a box of tricks to double-track his guitar and voice live, he added layers of sound to create full-textured, soft songs about peace, love and Cameroonian witchcraft and charmed the audience” – Financial Times.
The Ensemble Festival is in partnership with Without Walls who champion and support diverse work and accessibility in the arts