LULA WORLD 2006
Special Invitation
Members of the press are invited to join us on April 20 at 7:30 pm at Lula Lounge for a cocktail and canapé reception.
We'd love to introduce you in advance to the many artists performing at our upcoming Lula World fourth year anniversary celebration. Our invited artists represent the many musical genres Lula Lounge is famous for -- we're sure you'll be pleased to meet them personally.
Celebrating 4 Years of Essential Music & Culture from Around the World
12 nights of great music, food & dancing
May 3-14, 2006
In just four years since opening its doors in the world’s most multicultural city, Lula Lounge has become one of Toronto's most important destinations for authentic global music and cultural experience. From May 3 to 14, the spirit of Lula will be on brilliant display as dozens of artists from a vast array of genres and disciplines, as well as culture-seekers from an equally broad spectrum of communities gather for Lula World 2006.
Over these 12 days, most every corner of the globe will be musically represented – by Juno winners, community favourites and rising stars alike – in the finest acoustic setting. All are invited to start the evening with a superb tropical fusion meal from Lula's renowned kitchen, and to participate in dance classes with expert instructors on the evenings where they are offered.
"Lula World 2006 celebrates the spirit of Lula Lounge, which is to offer people who come here not just entertainment but an experience, where they can feel comfortable interacting with the cultures and ideas behind what’s on stage," says Lula co-owner Jose Ortega. "We are all excited about these 12 days, with such a diverse range of high-quality local and international artists performing, and the chance to welcome the city to the Lula community."
LULA WORLD 2006
Scheduled Performances
Wednesday May 3
(Opening Night)
Monayr Asha Aid Foundation & Small World Music Present
A fundraiser for the Monayr Asha Aid Foundation (Third World youth education)
Indo-jazz grooves with Gurpreet Chana & Sundar Viswanathan; Bollywood superband TC Raas; Canadian Idol finalist Devika Mathur; Miss Indo-Canada pageant favourites Bollywood Dance Pak; Indo-infused dub & groove from CIUT 89.5’s medicineman; a South Asian crafts bazaar and much more! All proceeds support the MAA’s pilot project that will help send 10 children in Chittagong, Bangladesh to school instead of work.
Media and sponsor reception @ 6 pm / dinner @ 7 pm / show @ 8:30 pm
$15 adv. / $20 door / $55 dinner & show package
* Also part of The South Asian Music Festival presented by Small World Music
Thursday May 4
ADAM SOLOMON
Tree of Life CD Release
The internationally-acclaimed Kenyan-born guitarist, founder of Tikisa (‘shake your body’ in Swahili) & member of the Juno-winning African Guitar Summit celebrates the release of his new album Tree of Life. Concert preceded by screening of Safari (Nancy Barrett) and Jambo Kenya (Lalita Krishna with original music by Adam).
Dinner @ 7 pm / films @ 8 pm / music @ 9 pm
$10 / $49 dinner, film & show package
Friday May 5
8 pm showtime
KELLYLEE EVANS
Fight or Flight CD Release
A phenomenal new album from Canada’s most dynamic new jazz-soul singer/ songwriters takes flight at Lula, with what promises to be an unforgettable performance.
10 pm showtime
Small World Music & Billy Bryans Present
PARACHUTE CLUB Featuring Chendy Leon Jr, Alberto Alberto and Alexis Baro
Canada's original world dance music collective in a special performance with the Toronto's top latin players.
Dinner @ 6 pm / Kellylee Evans @ 8 pm / Parachute Club @ 10 pm
$15 or $69 dinner & show package includes both concerts
Saturday May 6
Lula Lounge Presents
HAVANA NORTH
Café Cubano welcomes former Cubanismo players and special guests Alexis Baro, Evaristo Machado and Mireya Escalante.
The music scene in Canada has been forever changed by the influences of Cuba. As a centre for Cuban musical culture, Toronto has truly become La Habana del Norte. Lula Lounge presents this special night of Cuban music featuring 9 piece powerhouse Cafe Cubano to honour the creative debt that Toronto owes to the people of Cuba.
Dinner @ 7 pm / dance lesson @ 9 pm / show @ 10 pm
$15 / $54 dinner & show package (Members $10/$49)
Sunday May 7
GARY TOPP Presents
THE BEBOP COWBOYS
Canadian Dance Hall CD Release
Canada’s original cowboy-jazz heroes celebrate the release of their new CD Canadian Dance Hall – a one-of-a-kind jubilee of country & western, roots, folk, swing and jazz, served up Southwest-style by top-flight musicians playing for the sheer joy of it.
Dinner @ 7 pm / show @ 9 pm
$15 door / $54 dinner & show package
Monday May 8
ComPosition Live @ Lula Presents
SUNDAR & THE AVATAAR COLLECTIVE
Saxophonist & vocalist Sundar Viswanathan has shared the stage with Wynton Marsalis, Sun Ra, Charles Tolliver, Donald Byrd, and many others from the very heights of the jazz world. Tonight, Sundar and his band of all-star players serve up a sonic stew of Indo-jazz and improv-based South Asian grooves.
Dinner @ 6 pm / show @ 8 pm
$10 door / $49 show & dinner package
Tuesday May 9
RUBEN "BENNIE ESGUERRA & CHIVA FEATURING NICK "BROWNMAN" ALI AND J-TEC
with Colombian Kidz
Latin jazz infused with Colombian rhythms, funk grooves and hip hop beats.
Dinner @ 7 pm / show @ 8 pm
$10 door / $49 show & dinner package
Wednesday May 10
(Direct from New York City)
RAQUY AND THE CAVEMEN
with special guests David Buchbinder, Levon Ichkhanian, John Johnson and Roula Said.
Experience fascinating & progressive Middle Eastern music with its rich variety of exotic instruments, pulsating rhythms,and evocative scales. A night for belly dancers, drummers and world jazz lovers alike.
Dinner @ 7 pm / show @ 8 pm
$12 door / $51 show & dinner package (Members $10/$48)
Thursday May 11
GARY TOPP Presents
THE FRIENDLY RICH VAUDEVILLE SHOW
David Hannan's Frying Egg Circus, cartoons, barrel organs, mechanical monkeys, live crank calls, Kafka puppet theatre, a fish that jumps through hoops, and much more! Described by one reviewer as ”Lawrence Welk meets Pee Wee's Playhouse”, it’s vaudeville for the twenty- first century!
Dinner @ 7 pm / Show @ 9 pm
$10 door / $49 dinner & show package
Friday May 12
CBC Radio 2: The World in Performance presents
FADO BLUES 15 + MARACATU NUNCA ANTES
Hosted by CBC Radio host Garvia Bailey
This gifted singer and guitarist combo explore Portuguese fado and blues with a contemporary jazz-inspired twist; followed by the pulsating rhythms of one of Toronto’s fastest-rising and most visionary Brazilian percussion collectives.
Dinner @ 6 PM / Fado Blues @ 8 pm / Maracatu @ 10:30 pm
$15 / $59 dinner & show package including both live performances
Saturday May 13
Lula Lounge & Daniel Stone Present
THIS IS SALSA! THE LULA ALL-STARS IN CONCERT
A spectacular collective of salsa all-stars from Toronto’s top bands takes you on a breathtaking tour of the unique salsa dialects of countries across the Americas, demonstrating the power of salsa to inspire and unite. Not to be missed!
Dinner @ 7 pm / dance lesson @ 9 pm / show @ 10 pm
$15 / $54 dinner & show package (Members $10/$49)
Sunday May 14
GARY TOPP Presents
MAMAPALOOZA
Consider this from Lynda Kraar, founder of the hugely popular U.S. performing moms’ collective: "I am not Britney Spears, nor do I have any desire to be running with the twentysomething pack," says Kraar. "I have survived birthing two children, becoming a mother, losing a mother, and now I have no intention of growing old gracefully."
Doors @ 12 pm, show @ 1 pm
admission tba
 We gratefully acknowledge both our festival sponsors and event organizers in the Lula community for their support both financially and through resources & energy that make this celebration possible.
 Lula Lounge would like to thank our sponsors CBC Radio, Digital Propaganda, Gary Topp, Small World Music, ComPosition, Ticketweb, Breakfast Television, Toronto Hispano, TO Salsa, The Live Music Report, Music Africa, xguru Inc., Howard Laurie, One Up Audio, Cañasanta, Latin Jazz, Meyer Sound, our staff, our Lula Lounge members, the musicians and the many other individuals and companies who have made the past four years of Lula possible.
About Lula Lounge
In 2002 Lula Lounge opened its doors at Dufferin and Dundas, with a focus on salsa and providing a home for Toronto's rapidly-growing Latin music scene. Since then, Lula has evolved to become one of Toronto's essential world-music & multi-genre destinations as a result of:
- Our own commitment to debuting and supporting young & local musicians through Lula-presented programming; the Lula stage has been the birthplace of many musical projects & experiments that have evolved into some of Toronto’s finest ensembles.
- Strong relationships with visionary promoters such as Gary Topp and Small World Music who consistently offer such a diverse array of the best in local and international talent.
- The dedication of our entire team – from management to sound engineers, from the kitchen to the dance floor – to providing a top-quality experience for artists, audiences, the media, and everyone involved in making a great event happen.
Performers who have graced the stage include: Mahotella Queens, Broken Social Scene, Seu Jorge, Jason Mraz, The Sun Ra Arkestra, John Cale, Hilario Duran, Randy Brecker, Black Umfolosi, Jane Bunnett, Norah Jones, Metric, Black Umfolosi, Lura, Isaac Delgado.
|
... just passing along the news