About African Beats camp

About ABCD

Whether you are already a traditional West African music and dance fan or student, or are brand new to it, you are going to have a brilliant time at this unique one-day festival. Make a day of it or even a weekend if you bring your tent. Or just come and enjoy the evening show.

African Beats Camp Day has been brought to you by the organisers of African Beats Camp (ABC) which was a 6-day course that took place August 2009. We were not able to run African Beats Camp this year. ABCD is a festival that reunites many of the artists and participants who were at the camp. We also wanted to bring some of the music and dance forms of West Africa to the local and wider community.

Hope you can come to African Beats Camp Day - you'd be mad to miss it!!

Justine and the African Beats Team (Chandra, Mike, Nigel, Peter, Rosie, Victoria)

On Stage in the Big Barn

Come and enjoy the wonderful drumming, singing, dancing and music styles presented by these amazing groups and artists on the indoor stage in the Big Barn!

There are also audience participation informal workshops during the evening led by the artists performing on the stage. Everyone in the audience is welcome to join in or watch! These do not need to be booked.


Photo credit Karolina Czaronica, ABC 08/2009	Photo credit Mr Will, ABC 08/2009	Photo credit Mr Will, ABC 08/2009

From 12.30pm:

Africa Junction - Drums, songs, smiles and dancing from this group based in Bucks

Sankofa - UK Sabar group

Mpe-asem - Ghanaian Balafon and percussion led by Ben Lawrence

Surahata (Sura) Susso - Kora player and amazing musician!

Tanante - everyone loves these talented and energetic drummers from Manchester. Tanante will be joined by Iya Sako.

More afternoon acts to be announced!


Photo credit IbrarDar, ABC 08/2009	Photo credit Karolina Czaronica, ABC 08/2009	Photo credit IbrarDar, ABC 08/2009	Photo credit Karolina Czaronica, ABC 08/2009

From 6.30pm:

Djembe Djinns - Hans Sutton leads this group of highly skilled drummers

Bi Tilo - Casamance traditional serouba group, lead by Moctar Sawane

Su Hart - Songs and sounds of the Baka rainforest people + audience participation - singing

Sabar Drum & Dance Crew - with Karim M'Baye, Diene Sagna, Batch Gueye & others

Seckou and Sura - an extraordinary Kora and singing duo!
		Photo credit Ibrar Dar ABC 08/2009	Photo credit IbrarDar, ABC 08/2009

Nansady & Funkama - Nansady Keita's djembe kan and Dunduns

Hamana Bjemakan - Drum and dance + audience participation - dancing.
Saskia Bakayoko and Idrissa Camara will guide you through some Guinean dance moves with grooves from Djembefola Vieux Bakayoko and drummers.

From Midnight:

Reggae DJ's - Mr Tobes & Ian Marchant


Photo credit Mr Will, ABC 08/2009	Photo credit IbrarDar, ABC 08/2009	Photo credit Karolina Czaronica, ABC 08/2009	Photo credit IbrarDar, ABC 08/2009

Workshops


Photo credit Mr Will, ABC 08/2009	Photo credit Mr Will, ABC 08/2009	Photo credit Mr Will, ABC 08/2009

There is a ticket option that includes attending one of the workshops listed below. This must be booked in advance via the ABCD Booking Form. There is a maximum number of spaces per workshop to prevent overcrowding therefore you need to book asap to be sure of place. Adult workshops are 1.5 hours. The children's Djembe drummming workshop is 1 hour. Workshops will be held between 11am and 8pm in the marquees. See FAQ page for answers to questions that we think you might ask!
Workshop levels: Some workshops are aimed at a specific level
of abiliity. The ABCD Booking Form has descriptions to guide
you on this. Please do not book a workshop without taking this into consideration.

Photo credit Chandra Moon, ABC 08/2009

Balafon - Ben Lawrence
All levels

Djembe - Nansady Keita, Seckou Keita Iya Sako, Mockoulo Sawane, Hans Sutton
Workshops for different levels for beginners to advanced players.
Are you an experiened Dundun player? See the Booking Form for information.

Djembe soloing for dance - Landing Mane
Advanced / Intermediate level and above

Djembe for kids - Drummers from the Tanante group
For 5 to 15 year olds. Drums provided.

Sabar - Karim M'Baye
Intermediate to Advanced level

Sabar dance - Diene Sagna
All levels

Cafe and Bar

From Friday evening onwards, the cafe will be serving authentic West African food. This includes a range of vegetarian and meat dishes served with rice.

Tea, coffee, chai, hot chocolate and a range of scrumptious cakes will also be available throughout!

The local pub is providing a bar which will be serving reasonably priced real ales, lager, wine (by the bottle and glass), cider and soft drinks.

Stalls

Selling a range of West African drums, percussion, balafons, clothes, jewellery and crafts.

Djembes for sale both for beginners and professionals.

Photo credit Mr Will, ABC 08/2009

Camping

Camping on Saturday is included with your ticket. Please book this in advance. Or if you decide to stay on Saturday night, please advise us.

If you wish to camp on Friday night, you can book this too for an additional fee. Friday night campers can arrive from 5pm on 4th June. There is no bar on Friday but the cafe is serving meals, hot beverages and cakes. Toilets and showers will be available.

We are providing portaloo toilets and a disabled portaloo toilet. We have also hired in a shower unit. It's not luxury camping but means you don't have to drive home and you also get to spend more time in the beautiful Buckinghamshire countryside!

Breakfast will be available between 9am and 11am on Saturday and Sunday morning, serving a basic breakfast of tea, various herbal teas, coffee, egg baps and possibly cake!

All ticket holders need to leave site by 12pm on Sunday 6th June.

The Big Barn is not in the camping field, so you won't be sleeping right next to it - should you want an early night before the music finishes!

If you don't want to camp, see location page for list of B&B's

Campfires

We have a designated campfire area - which is not in the actual camping field. This is the only campfire permitted on the site.

Noise curfew outdoors

Friday - You can drum in either of the two marquees between 5pm and 8pm.
Saturday - No drumming outdoors before 11am or after 8pm.
Sunday morning - No drumming.
Please keep the noise down outside after 8pm on Friday and Saturday night!

No dogs on site please

The farm owner has dogs but these are the only ones allowed on site.