Global celebration

This week’s Lotus World Music and Art Festival in Bloomington is more necessary than ever. What better way is there to divert your attention from late-2004 political campaigns and bad news than by experiencing a diversity of international music both uplifting and enlightening? From Sept. 15-19, a different kind of global update hits the streets and venues of downtown Bloomington and most of the news is good.

Abdelli will perform at Lotus Fest

Now in it’s 11th year, Lotus hums along, still growing and fine-tuning itself. Director Lee Williams stays the visionary course while the festival’s staff, board and volunteers crank behind the scenes — keeping the wheels rolling and the details flowing. Williams says, “This year, more than any other, I am humbled by the commitment of hundreds of dedicated volunteers. Whether they are a wristband checker, planning committee member, shuttle driver, board of directors member or poster distributor, they give more of themselves than we could ever expect.”

Since Sept. 11, 2001, a festival like Lotus is more difficult to stage. According to Williams, “The most significant impact of 9/11 on our festival is the reduction in the overall number of artists touring the U.S. Visas are more difficult to obtain, presenting organizations in the U.S. are wary of cancellations and some artists find it inappropriate to come to the U.S. in a time of war.”

Particularly difficult now are arrangements around booking Muslim artists. The festival made extra efforts this year to make sure this now-scapegoated culture had a presence. “Before the visa-related cancellation of Mamar Kassey, I think it was our best year for Muslim representation,” Williams explained. “Besides Abdelli, we have the Sufi Music Foundation from Turkey, which is a Sufi ritual of dance and music, and a show co-sponsored by the Bloomington Muslim Dialog Group.

“There are now many difficulties involved in bringing Middle Eastern artists to the U.S. On both sides, there are concerns. Some Americans are unfortunately suspicious of Arabs but also many Middle Eastern artists are concerned about being treated with respect. Some artists refuse to put themselves in these delicate situations.”

Visa difficulties have already caused the cancellation of Mamar Kassey, Afro-pop master from Niger, and Tuvan throat singer Yat-kha. Both artists were making return visits to Lotus. Yat-kha’s music can still be heard as the improvised soundtrack to the 1928 Russian film Storm Over Asia: The Heir of Genghis Kahn, which screens at the Buskirk-Chumley Indiana Theater at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 15, to kick off the festival.

Most of the festival schedule is sticking, though, with music from all continents save Antarctica.

Representing Africa are African Showboyz of Ghana, Samite from Uganda and the above-mentioned Berber singer Abdelli from Algeria. Indian and Asian sounds will emanate from Indian vocalist Kiran Aluwhalia, the Srinivas Krishnan Indian Classical Ensemble, exiled Tibetan pop star Dadon and world fusion wizard Karsh Kale.

Nordic traditions will be filtered through the contemporary at Lotus by Sami singer Mari Boine and the Swedish folk group Vasen. A late addition to the lineup is Frigg, acoustic musicians from Finland and Norway who also draw on American county and Appalachian traditions for inspiration.

Williams’ love of Celtic music always makes for strong Lotus bookings from that part of the globe. This year’s Lotus is no exception, with Kila finally bringing their renowned (and very large) contemporary Celtic ensemble to Bloomington. Irish singer/songwriter Susan Mckeown should not be missed, nor should Maura O’Connell (although O’Connell downplays her Irish roots these days, preferring to be recognized as a Nashville, Tenn., singer/songwriter to keep the drunks from requesting “Danny Boy”).

Other international artists converging on Bloomington this weekend include American string masters Darol Anger & Mike Marshall, drummer Jim Donovan of Rusted Root, young zydeco sensation Andre Thierry, Portland, Ore., old-time specialists Foghorn String Band, Jamesie & the All-Stars (the kings of Caribbean scratch), Ruben Rodriguez of Argentina, Cuban natives Tiembo Libre, Rafael de Utrera (flamenco song and dance), Kepa Junkera (Basque trikitixa), Marko Petricic and Mathieu Neveol (Serbian-French Gypsy) and contemporary Polish folk from the Warsaw Village Band. Full details on Lotus Festival artists and performance schedules can be found online at www.lotusfest.org.

Lotus Festival performances kick off Thursday night, Sept. 16, at three venues. A bit of a warm-up lap for hard-core Lotus Festival fans who need to see as much as possible, Lotus Thursday is a great way to get a jump on the lineup. With advance planning, you can cross things off your list before the tough choices of who to see on Friday and Saturday night when all nine venues are active. Multiple performances by most festival artists will help ease the pain of possibly missing something.

One possible route to take through the Lotus schedule is to stay on the path of this year’s special Women’s Voices theme. Kiran Aluwhalia, Dadon, Mari Boine, Rachael Davis, Thornetta Davis, Maura O’Connell, Eva Ayllon and Susan Mckeown all get well-deserved extra focus at Lotus 2004. Whatever festival route you choose to take, ultra-planned or totally spontaneous, there will be wonderful surprises at every turn.

Even those in spontaneous mode will want to orient themselves to this year’s layout of venues and facilities, not their memories of past Lotus festivals. Major changes, Williams says, include “The Bluebird — although used sparingly, which is our newest venue. We have also moved the Union Board Tent to Sixth Street to ease the loss of revenue concerns expressed by some Kirkwood businesses. The ‘break’ stage will be on Kirkwood this year in front of the Monroe County Public Library. Second Story is also back after a year off. As always, any artist that plays a nightclub will also be at an all-ages venue sometime Friday or Saturday night. Under 21s should check the schedule carefully to decide which night to attend.”

Besides the performance showcases, there are more additional events at Lotus Festival this year than ever before. Williams is excited that “We made a conscious effort this year to educate Lotus attendees about all the free events and fringe activities. There is now so much more going on than the Thursday-Saturday evening showcases. Free events include two films, four street parades, visual arts on the street, several workshops, three children’s events, multiple drum circles with Jim Donovan and the World Spirit Concert on Sunday.

“I am particularly excited about the expansion of the street parades led by Lotus artists Jamesie, African Showboyz and Foghorn String Band, the late-night reggae bands at the Bluebird and the EarthBoom Sound System DJ-driven after-parties at Second Story. There are a lot of people on the street after Lotus finishes at midnight and these two clubs will give them more opportunities to celebrate.”