Khyam Allami - خيام اللامي

Frome Festival and WOMAD Charlton Park 23-25 July

July 13th, 2010 by Khyam | Posted in General |

Dear friends,



Just a quick note to let you know that I’ll be performing at the Frome festival this week on Thursday 16th June, alongside Ghalia Kabbani and Hassan Abdulrazzak. Thanks to Margaret from Banipal for the invite! http://www.fromefestival.co.uk/?page_id=2505



The following week I’ll be performing at WOMAD with Andrea Piccioni on Sunday 25 July at 13:00. Some of the performance will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 so tune in if you won’t be there. If you will be there get in touch and come to say hi!



Full line up and information can be found here: http://womad.org/festivals/charlton-park/lineup/



I also wanted to draw your attention to an amusing biography WOMAD have published on their website, written by one of their writers. There is one correction to be made which is that I didn’t chose to work with Ilham Al Madfai, he was actually chosen for the project by BBC Radio 3. Either way, the biography made me chuckle and may put a smile on your faces too.



21st-century oud dude

With his good looks and corkscrew hair, Khyam Allami could be mistaken for a rock musician – indeed, he does currently play drums for the prog-influenced outfit Knifeworld. But it’s as a dazzlingly accomplished oud player where his growing eminence resides, a reputation enhanced most recently by being named as the first recipient of the BBC Radio 3 World Routes Academy mentorship, a new initiative that places promising young musicians in collaboration with wise musical elders. That he’s chosen to link up with legendary Iraqi singer (and past WOMAD performer) Ilham al-Madfai confirms Khyam’s continuing fascination with the music of his forebears. Born in Syria to Iraqi parents, he’s been an adopted Londoner since the age of nine, but – as his beautiful and lonesome oud playing demonstrates – he’s still immutably connected to his motherland. Extra flavour comes courtesy of the equally eminent master percussionist Andrea Piccioni.
(Biography written by Nige Tassell 2010)

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