It was another triumphant weekend at Walthamstow Garden Party. Sunbathing in glorious weather and indulging in radiant notes played by brilliant musicians, we enjoyed every minute of it.
From its debut, basking in Saturday’s early afternoon heat with London African Gospel Choir and their rendition of Paul Simon’s Graceland, until Sunday evening’s grand finale with afrobeat eminence Seun Kuti & Egypt 80, the fifth edition of the North East London festival organised by Waltham Forest, Barbican Centre and Create London, fully deserved its reputation as one of the best free events of the London summer.
As in previous episodes, Walthamstow Garden Party displayed a wide range of traditions and styles. On Saturday we were treated to Colombian tropical-bass party-starters Cero39, rambunctious New Orleans-inspired eight-piece band Brass Funkeys, dub eminences Adrian Sherwood & Creation Rebel and Afro-Latin music charmers Afro-Cuban All Stars. While Sunday was about electro-dabké militants 47Soul, Brazilian ‘Queen of carimbó’ Dona Onete and Malian conscious diva Fatoumata Diawara.
For the fifth year in a row, we experienced a two-day journey exposing the best that the music world has to offer. To have a glimpse of it, just take a look at our galleries…
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