Lyricist-composer-singer (Montreal/Venezuela)

A trained classical singer who is also a gifted composer, her sonorous amber voice makes a powerful impression. Philippe Renaud, La Presse, 2005 With her deep, strong and rich voice, Soraya Benítez has been causing a sensation since her beginnings in Montreal in 1998. She has since won the hearts of Quebecers and has an extensive fan base. A generous, committed performer she sings, with finesse and emotion, songs in both Spanish and French.

With: Soraya Benítez (vocals and guitar), Víctor Simón (piano), René Orea-Sánchez (flute), Christophe Papadimitriou (bass) and Damian Nisenson (saxophone).

Alpha Thiam, Sergiu Popa ensemble, Small World Project, Dave Gossage ensemble, Apadooraï, Bambara Trans, Wesli and the WesliBand.

In 2010, Musique Multi Montreal celebrates twenty years of existence. To mark the occasion, MMM presents a concert formula reminiscent of its early days, an evening where the public and broadcasters enjoy a wealth of world music through seven groups drawn from the Montreal music scene. Forty musicians will parade on stage for a diverse overview of world music: African, Gypsy, Celtic, Aboriginal, North African, Haitian and fusion!

Roots, Afrobeat, Creole Reggae

The 11-member Wesli Band offers a mélange of roots music, Afrobeat, groove and reggae that is inspiring, engaged, profound and rhythmic. Drawing inspiration from daily struggles and focused on sincerity and a return to roots traditions, the Wesli Band invites the audience into a warm, festive and colourful world. With an Afrobeat brass section, a solid percussion section and transcendent voices, Wesli Band has a very original sound that pleases many an ear. The group was named Révélation 2009 by Radio-Canada in the world music category.

As the members of the chorus and the horn players dance and Wesli shifts from vocals to guitar and percussion, the driving reggae melodies create a trance-like state and the roots rhythms prompt spontaneous dancing, for resistance is all but impossible. Even when playing as a band of 5, 7 or 9 musicians, the Wesli Band is still very impressive. The audience swings to the musical groove as the horns and the voices, the percussion and other instruments combine to create an integral, authentic sound.

This most popular Colombian a cappella ensemble, only passing through for Montreal's MMM Festival, works miracles with sound effects and creates “ear illusions” using only vocal cord arrangements. In November 2008, N’Voz recorded its first album, al natural, which comprises various musical styles including Cumbia, Perillero, Scribble, Champeta, Paseo Vallenato and reggae, to name a few.

Singers: Ana Maria Ulloa, Carlos Gomez, John A Nunez, Ricardo Nunez and David Montes.

MG3, Small World Project with Solorazaf (France-Madagascar)

Get ready because this night is gonna groove! Direct from Paris, the Malagasy guitarist Solorazaf joins the MG3 and Montreal artists from the Small World Project. Crazy about stringed instruments, the seven players will invade the Outremont scene for a blend of charangos, ukuleles, banjos, bass and more. These high-level musicians will interpret their own creations as well as classics reedited on their own way.

20 $

This most popular Colombian a cappella ensemble, only passing through for Montreal's MMM Festival, works miracles with sound effects and creates “ear illusions” using only vocal cord arrangements. In November 2008, N’Voz recorded its first album, al natural, which comprises various musical styles including Cumbia, Perillero, Scribble, Champeta, Paseo Vallenato and reggae, to name a few.

Singers: Ana Maria Ulloa, Carlos Gomez, John A Nunez, Ricardo Nunez and David Montes.

With his cheerful voice and guitar, the Senegalese Oumar Ndiaye has created the African feeling sound, an acoustic music style that mixes Wolof rhythms and Fouta melodies. We can hear his captivating compositions in Un cargo pour l’Afrique, a movie by Roger Cantin. Deeply involved with the children of Senegal, he has given them a voice.

7 $

Co-produced in collaboration with the Kabir Cultural Centre

For the first time in Montreal the female percussionist group, Stree Shakti, coming to us direct from India, will perform under the direction of the Queen of Tablas, Anuradha Pal. In an explosion of unrestrained and mesmerising rhythm, they will interpret traditional music from Hindustan and the Carnatic Coast with their own contemporary approach.

18 $ / 13 $ (students and senioors) / 35 $ (VIP)

Passing through Montreal the legendary Suns of Arqa will put us under a trance with its blend of Indian and Rastafarian rhythms. Created in 1979 under the direction of Micheal Wadada, this group of Hindu, Jamaican and Scottish artists has blazed the planet with their original mix of Indian regas, dub-reggae and techno dance, merging ritual, tribal and modernity into one style.

7 $

This most popular Colombian a cappella ensemble, only passing through for Montreal's MMM Festival, works miracles with sound effects and creates “ear illusions” using only vocal cord arrangements. In November 2008, N’Voz recorded its first album, al natural, which comprises various musical styles including Cumbia, Perillero, Scribble, Champeta, Paseo Vallenato and reggae, to name a few.

Singers: Ana Maria Ulloa, Carlos Gomez, John A Nunez, Ricardo Nunez and David Montes.

Presented by the Maison de la culture Ahuntsic-Cartierville as part of celebrations of the 20th MMM

This most popular Colombian a cappella ensemble, only passing through for Montreal's MMM Festival, works miracles with sound effects and creates “ear illusions” using only vocal cord arrangements. In November 2008, N’Voz recorded its first album, al natural, which comprises various musical styles including Cumbia, Perillero, Scribble, Champeta, Paseo Vallenato and reggae, to name a few.

For the first time in Canada

Singers: Ana Maria Ulloa, Carlos Gomez, John A Nunez, Ricardo Nunez and David Montes.

This most popular Colombian a cappella ensemble, only passing through for Montreal's MMM Festival, works miracles with sound effects and creates “ear illusions” using only vocal cord arrangements. In November 2008, N’Voz recorded its first album, al natural, which comprises various musical styles including Cumbia, Perillero, Scribble, Champeta, Paseo Vallenato and reggae, to name a few.

Singers: Ana Maria Ulloa, Carlos Gomez, John A Nunez, Ricardo Nunez and David Montes.

Artist in residency for creation through the UNESCO-Aschberg artist bursary program and in collaboration with the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec.

From Paris to Kinshasa, the Congolese guitarist and composer Pytshens Kambilo sings melodies of life with all his heart and soul, employing African languages such as Lingala, Bambara, Swahili, and even Ndoa, a language of his own creation.

This unique show will be presented in collaboration with musicians from Montreal's diverse communities.

Kobo Town (Toronto), Tombouctou in Québec (Québec) et Shauit (Mielotenam)

Born in Jamaica during the sixties, reggae has become present all around the world. Reggae groups exist across the globe, from Serbia all the way to Papua New Guinea! Whether it comes in the form of dub, roots, dancehall or ragga, the musical style will remain associated with the awakening of black conscience and with Bob Marley, the first international music star from the developing world. World Reggae has invited artists from multiple origins - Caribbean, African, Quebecois, Acadian and Innu - to celebrate its diversity.

Alexandre Lapierre, better known as the artist Caillasse, is a newcomer to the Montreal music scene. Set to his own original reggae sound, the fullness of his lyrics evokes in listeners images that are distinctly Quebecois. This original approach will bring back memories of the music of Les Colocs.

Once upon a time in the sky above Vancouver two brilliant stars where shining… The prodigious Chinese lutenist Qiu Xia He and the Quebecois multi-instrumentalist André Thibault met fifteen years ago. Creating a bridge between traditional Chinese sounds and other world music styles, these important members of the Silk Road Music company make a pair of atypical musicians.

The José Maria Gianelli ensemble, the trio Bataclan and Irem Bekter with his Diabluras and with the participation of Sergiu Popa, Willy Rios and the duo Silk Road (Vancouver)

Montreal, the city of Tango! Montreal is now considered as the fourth biggest Tango city in the world. Even if the city counts almost 10,000 passionate dancers within its confines, styles like singing Tango, Candome del Rio de la Plata and traditional Argentine Tango still relatively unknown. The group Los Argentinos invites us to experience this rich tradition first-hand with the José Maria Gianelli ensemble.

Les Gitans de Sarajèvo, Briga, Marcos Marin, Miguel Medina and his ensemble

We call them Manush, Gypsies or Roma. Originally hailing from India, they travelled one millennium ago from the Orient to Occident. The MMM festival closing its 20th edition with a Main Concert of Gypsy music. During this event, the group Les Gitans de Sarajevo with the flamenco guitarist Marcos Marin presents their new show, Balkan Dance.