Photos courtesy of the City of Chicago

World music unites at the 17th Annual World Music Festival Chicago from September 11–22, 2015 at a variety of venues throughout the city. Celebrating the diverse music from nations across the globe, this free festival is produced by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and is the largest festival of its kind in the United States. Expanded to 12 days, this year’s festival features an Ethiopian New Year celebration, Ragamala, a celebration of Indian Classical Music, dozens of award-winning world music artists and more.

Highlights of the 2015 World Music Festival Chicago include four concerts at Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park by many of international music’s biggest names. On the first weekend, Red Baraat brings their one-of-a-kind bhangra funk and La Santa Cecilia plays its signature Latin sound to festival-goers on Saturday, September 12. On Sunday, September 13, internationally known Ethio-jazz artist Mahmoud Ahmed performs as part of the Ethiopian New Year celebration. Moroccan multi-

Photos courtesy of the City of Chicago

instrumentalist Aziz Sahmaoui also performs on September 12 with his group, the University of Gnawa. During the second weekend of World Music Festival Chicago, the Jay Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park will host Nigerian afrobeat artist Orlando Julius along with Niger trance-rockers Tal National on Saturday, September 19. The final concert at Millennium Park features acclaimed Indian violinist L. Subramaniam and the legendary Pakistani ensemble, Fareed Ayaz, Abu Muhammad Qawwal and Brothers on Sunday, September 20.

Throughout the week of September 11, World Music Festival Chicago celebrates the Ethiopian New Year with performances by some of the biggest Ethiopian artists. On Friday, September 11, a double-bill concert featuring Red Baraat and Ethiopian-Israeli cross-overartist Ester Rada takes place at Lincoln Hall (2424 N. Lincoln Ave.; Ages 18+). Also on Friday, Legendary Ethio-jazz artist Hailu Mergia performs at Martyrs (3855 N. Lincoln Ave.; 21+) and with Ester Rada who performs for a second time during the weekend at The Promontory (5311 South Lake Park Avenue West, ALL AGES) on Saturday, September 12.

Photos courtesy of the City of Chicago

Ragamala: A Celebration of Indian Classical Music takes place at the Chicago Cultural Center on Friday, September 18, at 8pm. A tradition in India, the all-night classical concerts are rarely held in the United States and this gives visitors the opportunity to hear ragas (traditional scales or modes) that are rarely performed in public and are only performed early in the morning or late at night. This unique experience will continue through 8am and will feature more than 10 groups and artists.

On Saturday, September 19, Manitoba artist Tanya Tagaq adds her signature style of pulsating breath and Inuit throat singing to complement a screening of the 1922 silent film Nanook of the North. Presented with the Museum of Contemporary Art, this inventive live accompaniment to the silent frames adds a relevant new light to a film about an early 20th-century Inuit community in Northern Quebec. The performance begins at 7:30pm at the Museum of Contemporary Art (220 E. Chicago Ave.).

One of the final events of the festival is the popular open house at the Chicago Cultural Center, “One World Under One Roof,” on Sunday, September 20, from 1pm–7pm. Performances take place throughout the building including Preston Bradley Hall and the Claudia Cassidy Theater. Giving visitors an immersive and diverse world music experience all in one building, performances include Chicago guitarist Andrea Kapsalis, Finnish folk group, Kardemimmit and Georgian folk music group Zedashe.

The full World Music Festival Chicago line-up will be announced at a later date. For more information, visit worldmusicfestivalchicago.org.