NPR Music and WNYC to present live Webcast of globalFest

On January 11th, NPR Music and WNYC will present a live webcast of globalFEST 2009, an annual showcase that provides a “sneak peek” at global musicians on the verge of international fame.

NPR Music and WNYC will begin the evening at 6:00PM (ET) with a behind-the-scenes special, followed by a live webcast of the concerts at 7:00PM. The evening will be hosted by WNYC’s David Garland and Rob Weisberg and NPR’s Banning Eyre, who will report from the three stages. Both the pre-show special and concerts will be webcast at www.NPR.org/music and www.wnyc.org/globalfest

Founded to combat the climate of xenophobia and fear that followed 9/11, globalFest promotes musical exchange and celebration across national borders. It has grown into a must-see festival for anyone who wants to be ahead of curve on which global musicians are likely to tour North America in the next few years. This year’s event will feature 12 international artists performing simultaneously on three separate stages:

Brooklyn Qawwali Party
Calypso Rose
Chicha Libre
Hot 8 Brass Band
Kailash Kher's Kailasa
L&O
La Troba Kung-fu
Marcio Local
Occidental
Brothers Dance Band International Shanbehzadeh Ensemble
Tanya Tagaq
Watcha Clan

Beginning on Friday, January 16, full recordings of all of the artists’ performances will be available to listen to as free, on-demand streaming at www.NPR.org/music and www.wnyc.org During the week of January 19, select pieces will air on WNYC’s Evening Music and New Sounds, which can be heard nightly on 93.9FM and at wnyc.org. NPR Music’s weekly show All Songs Considered, which airs on NPR Member stations and is available as a stream and podcast at the site, will also feature the best of globalFEST in an upcoming broadcast.

More information about globalFest 2009, including sample audio from each of the bands, can be found at the globalFEST website