New York's globalFEST 2018: Photo Essay

<p>On the occasion of its 15^th anniversary, New York City’s annual January world music extravaganza&mdash;<strong>globalFEST</strong>&mdash;happened in a new venue this year. Just a block from Times Square, B.B. King Blues Club and Grill and adjacent Lucille’s Grill provided two of the three requisite stages, and the Liberty Theater, just across a chilly 42^nd Street, provided the third. Three stages, 12 acts over the course of six hours, and an unrivaled array of top flight music from all around the world!</p> <p>&nbsp;For a taste of the music itself and more on the event, check out the <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2018/01/17/578398012/our-top-discoveries-from-globalfest-2018">NPR <em>All Songs Considered</em> podcast on globalFEST</a>, featuring Afropop’s Banning Eyre, NPR’s Anastasia Tsoulkas and WFMU’s Rob Weisberg, hosted by <em>All Songs Considered</em> maestro Bob Boilen. Listen away as you peruse the images below&hellip;</p> <p>&nbsp;New for this 15^th year was the inauguration of the <strong>globalFEST Awards</strong>, honoring three luminaries in the global music movement. This year, the Impact Award went to Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs veteran, now a director at the National Endowment for the Arts, Michael Orlove. The Trouble Worldwide Award went to a widely experienced music industry veteran, most recently the creator of Future Present, an agency focused on female artists, Alexandra Nova [A.K.A. Casazza]. Sadly, Alexandra passed away from cancer last year, and the award was accepted by her husband Jeff. And finally, the Artist Award went to Zimbabwean <em>chimurenga</em> king Thomas Mapfumo. This award was accepted by his manager Austin Sibanda, and presented by our own Banning Eyre.</p> <p>&nbsp;Shortly after this moving award ceremony, the music marathon began, and Banning picked up his camera. Here are some of his images from the night.</p> <p><strong>MOSHEN NAMJOO</strong><br>Visionary Modern Iranian songs</p> <p><strong>AVA ROCHA</strong><br>Post-Tropicalia avant-pop from Brazil</p> <p><strong>THORNETTA DAVIS</strong><br>Detroit's electrifying queen of the blues</p> <p><strong>JARLATH HENDERSON BAND</strong><br>Champion of the new Celtic folk scene (US debut)</p> <p><strong>JUPITER & OKWESS</strong><br>The "Rebel General" of Congolese music (US Debut)<br><em>Stay tuned for Afropop's interview with Jupiter</em></p> <p><strong>DELGRES</strong><br>Gritty Creole blues reconnects Guadeloupe to New Orleans<br><em>Stay tuned for Afropop's interview with the band</em></p> <p><strong>IBERI CHOIR</strong><br>Stunning polyphonic songs from Georgia</p> <p><strong>LA DAME BLANCHE</strong><br>Kinetic Cuban rumba and son with hip-hop, cumbia and dancehall<br><em>Stay tuned for Afropop's interview with La Dame Blanche</em></p> <p><strong>EVA SALINA & PETER STAN</strong><br>Stirring Balkan Romani songs for voice and accordion<br></p> <p><strong>MIRAMAR</strong><br>Puerto Rico's treasured boleros</p> <p><strong>FLOR DE TOLOACHE</strong><br>Fresh Female twist on Mexican mariachi</p> <p><strong>GRAND TAPESTRY</strong><br>Underground hip-hop joins Indian sarod and tabla</p>