T2T2 in Hervey Bay + Refugee Day Festival

Tibet2Timbuk2 took the monk van on tour up to Hervey Bay for a Tibet Earthquake fundraiser last Saturday 26th June. The Z-PAC Theatre was fully decked out in Tibetan flags and art, and a full house gathered to view a screening of documentary "The Sun Behind the Clouds - Tibet's Struggle for Freedom", telling the story of the uprising in Tibet and protests in India and around the world leading up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Local singer Alena Eden played a few personal and political songs before Tibet2Timbuk2 hit the stage for another fun night of acoustic Tibetan fusion. We had great lighting and got some nice video too! Big thanks to Kirsty Chenery for pulling together such a successful event and raising around $3000 for Tibetan earthquake relief.

Tibet2Timbuk2 playing "Lotus Born"

Tibet2Timbuk2 playing "Himalaya"

Alena Eden

Tibet2Timbuk2

Refugee Day Festival (Annerley)

After a long night drinking and playing Jenga with Kirsty in Hervey Bay, we got up early and shlepped back to Brisbane to join the Refugee Day Festival in Annerley. Most of the recent refugee population in Brisbane is from Africa and so African culture is a really big part of this fun festival, as are the "international" soccer and volleyball tournaments that run through the day to an African hip-hop sound track from the main stage.

Tibet2Timbuk2 at Refugee Day Festival, Annerley

Tibet2Timbuk2 acoustic concert in Ocean Shores

Tibet2Timbuk2 had a lovely little show at my regular Ocean Shores home concert venue, Paul Kimmel's "Temple of Melodious Sound" last weekend. Unfortunately due to a number of factors - the cold weather, many people going to the Dreaming Festival, late organisation and lazy promotion - the audience was shall we say "exclusive", but regardless the natural sound in Paul's place is marvellous and that exclusive audience were very appreciative of our music. It was also a really nice chance to jam with some of my Indian classical friends, Armando Ornano (bansuri) and Tahir Qawwali (vocal). Yuki (who prepared the atmosphere with some beautiful mantras to start) took a few videos too, so here's Crane Song: Sorry about the video quality - the lights were very dim.

Tahir and his partner Barbi treated us to some Punjabi geet.

Special guest bansuri player Armando really slotted in well.

Turkey2Timbuk2 @ Powerhouse

Feridun Avar and Turkey2Timbuk2 filled in for Tibet2Timbuk2 once again last weekend, as Tenzin had flown off to New York to help raise an incredible $25000 for Tibetan earthquake relief. Back in humble Brisbane, the Powerhouse was host to the Human Rights Arts & Film Festival (HRAFF), which included an evening of free bands on the Turbine Platform - Kooii, Jumping Fences, African drumming and dance, Turkey2Timbuk2.

Kooii featuring the vocal and songwriting talents of T2T2 regular guest Peter Hunt

African Drum & Dance with Linda, Yenenesh and Michi

This girl knew all the moves.

Shen, Feridun, Peter, Marcello

Turkey2Timbuk2 @ West End Carnivale

Last Saturday Tibet2Timbuk2 spinoff band Turkey2Timbuk2 opened the West End Carnivale. During the process of booking the show we discovered that Tenzin had another engagement, so we decided to rehearse a few songs with our good friend, Turkish musician Feridun Avar. All the acts were supposed to wear masks but as the day wore on it became clear no one was bothering with that too much. It's quite hard to communicate while wearing masks! Anyway we were first up and as you can see from the photos we took a mixed approach.

We opened with a short mantra session from Yuki with ambient sounds from Marcello (guitar) and Pete (trumpet).

Feridun, Shen and Marcello, with a bit of butoh-inspired exit dance from Yuki.

We started at the same time the festival gates opened, so thanks to this extra-keen supporter.

Tibet2Timbuk2 concert photos

On Friday night Tibet2Timbuk2 played a concert for BEMAC's Cultivart Program. BEMAC stands for Brisbane Multicultural Arts Centre and their Cultivart program is for presenting new world music projects. It was a really nice concert, with diverse range of music from Tenzin Choegyal's Tibetan nomad songs, my own Indian classical tabla solo, Asim Gorashi's Sudanese songs, Marcello Milani's Afro/pop/reggae songs, and the combination of all.

The recent funding cut to BEMAC and a number of other cultural organisations in Queensland cast a shadow over the evening. It's possible this might have been the last ever BEMAC event. All the artists involved told stories about how BEMAC has been important for helping us become world music performers. It would be a real shame if BEMAC was forced to cease operations - please write an email to the Queensland Premier to express support for BEMAC.

Asim Gorashi and Marcello Milani

Tenzin Choegyal and Shen Flindell

Tenzin, who just got back from 3 months in USA the day before the gig!

Shen performing tabla solo

Marcello singing one of his songs

Asim Gorashi in the mood on violin

Many thanks to Richard McLaren for the photos

SET LIST:
First set:

1. Beautiful Girl (Marcello/Tenzin collaborative song)
2. Himalaya (Tenzin's song, solo then group accompaniment)
3. Tabla Solo (Shen with lehera by Tenzin)
4. Allah (beautiful song by Asim on guitar with Marcello and Shen)
5. Music is Life (Marcello song, Asim on violin, Tenzin on flute, Shen on tabla)
6. Radio (Asim's song, playing oud with Marcello and Shen)

Second set:

1. Sudani (Asim's song, playing violin with Marcello and Shen)
2. Murphy's Law (Marcello solo, then accompanied by Asim and Shen)
3. Zim Jam (African-style song by Marcello with Asim and Shen)
4. Dawe Wola (Tenzin's song accompanied by all)
5. White Crane (Tenzin's song accompanied by all)

Please visit ethnosuperlounge.com/t2t2/ to hear studio versions of some of these songs.