The Very Best is a collaboration between London-based DJ/production duo Radioclit and Esau Mwamwaya, a singer from Lilongwe, Malawi. Their music has been described as an Afro-Western mix of dance, hip-hop, pop, and the traditional music of Malawi.
John Wizards is a South African band from Cape Town formed in 2010. They are currently signed to Planet Mu records. The band consists of vocalist and guitarist John Withers, vocalist Emmanuel Nzaramba, drummer and percussionist Raphael Segerman, bassist and keyboardist Alex Montgomery, guitarist Tom Parker and guitarist and keyboardist Geoff Brink. The band released its self-titled first album in September 2012, which includes the singles
Lusaka by Night and
Muizenberg. The band's style has been described as a mix of R&B, soukous, afro-pop, reggae, South African house, Shangaan electro and dub.
The band have toured extensively in Europe and the UK over the past few years, including festival appearances at Glastonbury, Primavera Sound, Field Day, Pukkelpop, Worldwide Festival, Latitude and Melt! Festival, as well as supporting Jagwar Ma on their UK tour in 2013.
Beatenberg is a fresh new face in pop music from South Africa. Or rather, three faces; Matthew Field, who sings and plays the guitar, Ross Dorkin, who plays the bass, and Robin Brink, who plays the drums like a nutcase.
Despite being in love with, and schooled in, 'serious music' like Beethoven, Debussy and John Coltrane, (Dorkin and Field studied music together at the University of Cape Town) Beatenberg is adamant that they are heard as 'pop music', which they believe is actually quite serious too.
Songwriter Field says; 'It's about emotions, images and fleeting senses of things: the mad stuff that everyone feels and almost understands."
Baaba Maal is a Senegalese singer and guitarist born in Podor, on the Senegal River. He is well known in Africa and internationally is Senegal's most famous musician. In addition to acoustic guitar, he also plays percussion. He has released several albums, both for independent and major labels. In July 2003, he was made a UNDP Youth Emissary.
Baaba Maal sings primarily in Pulaar and is the foremost promoter of the traditions of the Pulaar-speaking people, who live on either side of the Senegal River in the ancient Senegalese kingdom of Futa Tooro.
Baaba Maal will be performing with Mumford & Sons during their performance.