As we enter the Celtic New Year following Samhain, it’s time to review the month, and prepare for the remainder of the year.
Last month, we delivered a whopping 85 workshops and rehearsals, working with ten organisations directly and many more in the background to organise and plan those workshops. We also found time to play four gigs, to audiences in Dublin and Tallaght.
Many of these workshops were part of a festival called the Big Scream, which promotes the celebration of Samhain or Hallowe’en in a safe, inclusive and family-friendly atmosphere. Our performances last night were part of the festival. We returned to Sheriff Street/North Wall for what must be the 15th year, and then put on a short stage show on Sean MacDermott Street, to round the evening off.
As always, there is a lot of invisible work going on, with funding proposals and meetings with potential partners and supporters. These are the activities that can be tedious but are vital to keeping Masamba going. We also had the fun activity of purchasing some new instruments, funded through the Arts Council/Music Network Music Capital Scheme. While many of these instruments simply replace gear that has worn out due to a huge workload, but it is always nice to open boxes and unwrap new equipment, and of course, get it into the hands of musicians!
Despite being a little exhausted, there is no time to rest - November starts literally with a bang. This is bang is an echo of the Big Bang Festival that took place 30 years ago. Masamba was created as a direct result of the festival, and we see it as our birthday.
On Monday, Nov. 4th, the current line-up of the band will take to the stage of the Sugar Club, where we will present a show tracing the history of the band’s music, with a few anecdotes thrown in. We are honoured to welcome Dudu Tucci back to Dublin who will perform solo and join the band for a couple of numbers. Dudu has been a friend and mentor to the band since 1996, so we have known him from almost the very start of our journey.
Masamba 30 is a free event, but tickets must be booked through Eventbrite here: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/1047904619927?aff=oddtdtcreator
The Masamba 30 celebrations are funded through the Dublin City Arts Office. https://www.dublincityartsoffice.ie
Our participation in the Big Scream Festival is funded through the DCC North East Inner City (NEIC) initiative. https://www.neic.ie https://bigscream.ie
Masamba Samba School received core funding through the Community Services Programme, and initiative of the Department of Rural and Community Development. https://www.pobal.ie/programmes/community-services-programme-csp/
The Music Capital Scheme is a programme delivered by Music Network, on behalf of the Arts Council of Ireland. https://www.musicnetwork.ie/what-we-do/music-capital-scheme
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