Big Jam and Lunch: Incontro Mediterraneo – Taranta Festival

The 2019 Melbourne Taranta Festival comes to a grandiose close with traditional southern Italian food and an afternoon of Mediterranean music with performances by The Rustica Project, modern Taranta, pop & traditional Italian folk music ensemble with vibrant vocals & rhythms designed to make you dance! Music from Sicily, Calabria, Puglia, Napoli.

Santa Taranta, a band playing a mix of original music and traditional music from southern Italy including Pizzica, Tammurriata, Stornelli, as well as Polkas from the barbershop and the occasional serenade d’amore, with a contemporary, worldly flair. The group has hit the ground winning over crowds at the National Folk Festival, Brunswick Music Festival, Piers Festival, Fairbridge Festival, Illawarra Folk Festival as well as many concerts at prominent Melbourne music venues.

The Melbourne School of Tarantella, dedicated to Southern Italian traditional dances in Australia since 2011 and the Sanacori Music Ensemble, showcasing music and dances from the South of Italy with a fresh contemporary feel while keeping truthful to the tradition.

George El-Azar. Born and raised in Beirut Lebanon, he grew up immersed in traditional Middle Eastern music and culture. George's technique is influenced by authentic Arabic percussion fused with modernised Turkish technique to create his own unique sound.

Byron Triandafyllidis, Australian born of Greek descent Vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and lover of the arts and sciences. His main instruments are stringed such as guitar, bouzouki, violin and oud but also percussion such as the Darbuka.

Plus other musicians of Mediterranean traditions including Turkey, Greece, Lebanon, Cyprus, Egypt, Morocco, Spain…more artists announced soon!