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In the beginning of March, The Galle Music Festival, celebrating Sri Lanka’s unique, rich cultural heritage, returns to Galle!
The Festival is funded by the Royal Norwegian Embassy and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and implemented by Sewalanka Foundation, Arusri Art Theatre and Concerts Norway.
Sister of Jaffna Music festival
The festival is the sister event of the Jaffna Music Festival, which attracted an audience of over 13,000 people to Jaffna in March 2011. It will host an exciting line up of musicians, dancers, performers and ritualist at the Samalana Grounds in Galle. This year the focus will be on traditional and contemporary music and dance.
From Jaffna Music Festival 2011. Photo: Tom Gravlie
Vibrant music village
Galle Music festival will turn the scenic Samanala Grounds into a colorful and vibrant music village. During the 3rd and 4th of March rhythms, rituals and dances of Sri Lanka’s multi ethnic, multi-cultural community will fill the air. In addition, International performers from Bangladesh, India, Norway and Palestine will join.
The Norwegian group Tindra performed at Jaffna Music Festival in 2011. Photo: Mark Laurenson.
Showcases diversity
The aim of the Galle Music Festival is not only to showcase the diverse traditions and performers from the different regions of Sri Lanka but to also specifically introduce these traditional artists to school children and young people.
Free of charge!
There will be no entrance fee. All artists will lead simultaneous performances during these two days. In addition, traditional huts housing each folk group will be arranged to facilitate exchange and interactions between artists and between the public and the artists.
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