The Galle Music Festival 2016 

The historic walled city of Galle will come alive when it hosts the Galle Music Festival on 14th May. Bound by the sentiment that “music cuts through all barriers and boundaries, helping people to connect and immerse themselves in multiple cultures and experiences” Sri Lanka and Norway embarked on a cooperation with music at the fore and established a successful annual Music Festival in 2009. The annual Music Festival alternates between Jaffna and Galle and this upcoming festival in Galle is the seventh iteration of the Music Festival. 

The Royal Norwegian Embassy supports the music festivals as an activity that is part of this ongoing music cooperation. The Sevalanka Foundation implements the activities under the Music Cooperation in partnership with Converts Norway. Held to foster ethnic harmony through cultural interventions these festivals offer a platform for artists and audiences from varied ethnic and cultural backgrounds use music as a medium to connect. The Music Festival provides a place for artists to meet each other and enjoy the traditions and performances of each other and celebrate the similarities and difference in their musical genre. Essentially is also provides a a great atmosphere for audiences who come from all walks of life from all parts of Sri Lanka. 

“These festivals provide Sri Lanka’s diverse community artists with the opportunity to showcase and celebrate their unique art forms on a national stage. What’s more, the festivals are interactive spaces and it is always wonderful to see our artists and audiences connecting and learning from each other. This year in Galle, we are particularly excited by our series of artist collaborations that will offer our audiences some innovative music fusions,” says Festival Director Kaushalya Navaratne. 

The Music Festival in Galle which is a free event will be in two halves, the first being between 10am to 1pm at the Court Square and the second from 5-10.30pm at the Samanala Grounds inside the Galle Fort. There will be performances by Sufi, (The Islamic Social Heritage Cultural Association) – Akkaripattu; Puli Kooththu – Batticaloa; Karagam – Mullaitivu; Thappu Drummers (Kaveri Kala Manram) – Kilinochchi; Kolam – Ambalangoda; and Colombo Drummers (Sandasi Drum and Dance Academy) – Colombo, Urban Rappers: OJ Da - Nuwara Eliya, Pamuditha Anjana - Dematagoda, Krema Diaz – Galle, and Imaad Majeed - Colombo; University Students Collaboration (University of Peradeniya, Eastern University and University of Jaffna), Music Matters and Eastern University Collaboration; and Soul Sounds, Colombo Drummers and Thappu drumming collaboration. and international artists Raghu Dixit a folk fusion group from India. 

By Tina Edward Gunawardhana