Blackberrys brings world music to city

Hyderabad, November 14: Upscale menswear and accessories brand, Blackberrys, is bringing music lovers in India an unprecedented opportunity. This year its annual flagship event Sharp Nights is organising a five-city World Music tour.

Aptly titled 'Blackberrys Sharp Nights ' Masters Of World Music' the tour will showcase two of the world's leading world music performers, promote local musical talent and institute a scholarship fund to help conserve traditional Indian music.

Masters Of World Music will feature celebrated Malian folk musician Fatoumata Diawara, who will perform in Delhi on November 19th at Blue Frog, Mehrauli and in Hyderabad on Nov 22nd at Durgam Cheruvu Park, Jubilee Hills.

The other world renowned artiste on the tour is Malian folk Fusion and Blues guitarist and singer Vieux Farka Toure, who will perform in Pune on December 3rd, Bengaluru on December 6th and Mumbai on December 10th.

Commenting on this unique amalgamation of fashion and music and its efforts to accustom the Indian audiences with the genre of world music, Mr. Nikhil Mohan, Managing Director, Blackberrys said, 'Sharp Nights has always been a much awaited event.

This year we are delighted to introduce world music under the Masters of World Music series. Much like how fashion is intertwined with world cultures, world music too emanates from the remarkable diversity prevalent in the universe. It is here that audiences appreciate how music participates and connects to the world in ways unfamiliar to us.'

With this first-of-its-kind world music tour, Blackberrys is also providing an opportunity to home grown talents ' Barmer Boys in Delhi, Catharsis in Hyderabad, Highway 61 in Pune, Shoonya in Bengaluru and Rajeev Raja Combine in Mumbai to perform on the very same stage in their respective cities.

Furthermore each concert will begin with a fashion auction which will showcase the Blackberrys AW '14 look ' the proceeds of which will be used to nurture Indian traditional music schools, by providing scholarships for deserving students and funds for material support.

Fatoumata Diawara, born in Ivory Coast is a Malian musician currently living in France. She has spent the last year touring the world, culminating in a landmark performance at Glastonbury, 2013.

Alongside many European gigs, her schedule has taken her to South America and Asia, as well as on multiple trips to the US, where in September this year she performed as part of the Clinton Global Initiative in New York.

With her combination of a smooth yet powerful voice, slick guitar chords, and dancing, she has had audiences worldwide swaying with her and rapt in delight.

Vieux Farka Toure is a Malian singer and guitarist and the son of the legendary Ali FarkaTour', whose music was described by Peter Gabriel as "the DNA of the Blues."

Vieux was invited to perform at the Opening Celebration of the 2010 FIFA World Cup along with other performers including Shakira & Alicia Keys. Vieux is known for his virtuosity with the guitar - his Blues riffs reminiscent of the genius of his father, and redolent with the culture of Mali.

Vieux Farka Toure latest album Mon Pays was released as a homage to his homeland. With his native Mali troubled by territorial fighting between Tuareg and Islamic rebels since January 2012, Mon Pays was devoted to reminding the world about the beauty and culture of his native Mali. Translated as 'My Country,' this acoustic undertaking predominantly transformed into an artifact of cultural preservation.