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Body Paint and Drum- features three groups of drummers and dancers from Africa, Brazil and Uruguay. The performers, through their music, tell the story of how this captivating and energetic art-form was transported from its roots in Africa to South America. The concert will also include an emerging Australian folk singer Harry Hastings and West African DJ Sunnyyankee, playing Afro beats and Hi Life to support the bands.

Ticket from www.ticketmaster.com.au

DJ / Producer I had the love for music and dancing as a toddller. In my Elementary school days my talent came out good in a children's Bendel tribal dance group. We performed this at the National Art Theatre in Lagos. I went on to high school, still loving dancing and music. I engaged in it by performing in school events and Break dance competitions before eventually starting my own events with a social club called Vogue in college . With Vogue we performed at other high schools and university campuses around the Northern region of Nigeria. Background from flickr user Elevate the Music – a new fusion of sound - launches 21 December

Elevate the Music, a new music network created for the promotion of Australian and West African musicians, artists and documentary film-makers; launches in Sydney on Friday 21 December 2007, with a special music event.

Elevate The Music Network

The aim of the event as the name says is to Elevate the Music and raises awareness for emerging artists, in Australia and West Africa. This is the first of many events to build a network of Australian and West African musicians and artists to form a fusion of sound and collaborate on other projects.

This first event will feature Alamode a delightful soulful funk band together with DJ Sunnyyankee, playing Afro beats and Funk to compliment the line up.

This is a great opportunity to experience a unique blend of Soulful and Afro tunes with friends in a delightful and romantic setting with proceeds going to begin the first stages of the network.

The project organiser, Sadik Martins, DJ and producer has lived in Australia for five years before returning to Nigeria where he worked with musicians there and also in Ghana to create some unique recordings with local artists. He is in between recording some rhythm parts to some of the tracks using Australian musicians to create a fusion sound and finally get all tracks mastered in Australia.

One of the aims of the network is to provide opportunities for Australian artists to work with their counterparts overseas and possibly see first hand some work being done by young songwriters, musicians, singers and rap artists in West Africa. Sadik says “I was blown away by the young people’s commitment and love of their music but saddened to see that even the simplest things become difficult because of lack of access to musical instruments, space or training. Get this, it’s hard to find where to purchase a ¼ jack cable”.

Elevate the Music aims to bring a delightful unique West African sound to the Australian shores, vice versa. Also achieve its long-term objectives to:

• Establish professional networks between Australian and West African Music industries.

• Share Music Industry knowledge and good practice.

• Identify and resolve barriers for Australian and African artists performing off shore.

• Open more opportunities for Australian and African artists.

• Develop new projects with Australia and West Africa.

This will eventually include a working space where artists can come and use instruments, rehearse, prepare for performance, make recordings and possibly tour to Australia to showcase their achievements.

Sadik says, “We want to give people a taste of a new sound, spread the word to ultimately Elevate The Music!”