AFRICA!

Featuring direct from Senegal West Africa DAARA J alongside Melbourne's rising stars DIAFRIX at the Arts Centre, Hamer Hall (23rd April 2006, 5pm)
DAARA J will also be doing a free workshop will be at 1pm.

On Sunday April 23rd, Mix It Up features music & culture from across Africa. International hip hop sensation Daara J, from Senegal, West Africa, make a welcome return to our shores since their explosive appearance at Womadelaide 2005. In their only Melbourne show, they are performing in a double bill with our own positive hip hop/RnB/dancehall maestros, Diafrix, who have created a unique collaboration with established local artists especially for this concert.

Africa! resonates in a blur of colour, sound, rhythm, movement and global hip-hop, at the Arts Centre’s Hamer Hall, April 23, 2006 as part of the MIX IT UP program. Prepare to have your notions of African music seriously challenged with performances from Africa’s finest hip-hop outfit Daara J and Melbourne's own Diafrix with special guests. Daara J have enthralled audiences around the world and were without a doubt one of the high lights of Womadelaide 2005, where thousands of eager festival goers thronged to the stage swaying to Daara J’s unique blend of African infused hip-hop, Dancehall, Cuban Son and Reggae. This show at the Arts Centre programmed by Systa bb from Planetary Chaos of PBS FM will also feature roving entertainment, workshops and a free marketplace in the foyers of Hamer Hall, where you can taste, smell, hear and see the true essence of Africa.

Read more about the show at the Arts Centre's What's on web site at
http://www.theartscentre.net.au/whats-on_detail.aspx?view=377

AFRICA! market-place at the Arts Centre, Foyers of Hamer Hall - FREE music, dance, story-telling and performances and food for purchase

23rd April 2006, 12noon-5pm

The free foyer program begins at 12pm and features hair braiding, henna painting, Ethiopian coffee ceremonies, exhibitions of photography, and performances by artists including Ethiopian Circus performers, Sudan Azza, Etienne Dinanga, Valanga Khoza and more. Workshops led by Aliou Sylla & King Marong cover Senegambian drumming; and African dance workshops are led by Kuukua Acquah, Lamine Sonko & King Bell.

There will also be Senegalese food available.

Read about the market-place event at the Arts Centre's What's on web site at
http://www.theartscentre.net.au/whats-on_detail.aspx?view=394

Artists: DAARA J and DIAFRIX
When: 23 April 2006, 5pm (concert in Hamer Hall)
When: 23 April 2006, 12noon-5pm (market-place in Foyers of Hamer Hall)
Where: Hamer Hall, The Arts Centre
More information:

Download media release.

Download poster.
Ticketing: There are many ways to buy tickets to the performance at the Arts Centre, simply select the method that suits you best from the options below.

At the box office The Box Office is located in Theatres Building, in the Smorgon Family Plaza. It is open from 9am to 9pm, Monday to Saturday. The Box Office sells tickets for all the Arts Centre and Ticketmaster7 events. There is also a Box Office at Hamer Hall Box Office which is open one hour prior to performances.

By fax, the Arts Centre accepts bookings by fax on (03) 9645 7770

By email, mailbook@theartscentre.net.au

By mail, Send bookings to Mail Bookings PO Box 7153 Melbourne 8004

Online, Search What's On to find the event you wish to book for, then book onpne from the More information page. Tickets can also be purchased onpne at http://www.ticketmaster.com.au/

Through Ticketmaster7 Tickets can be purchased by phoning Ticketmaster7 on 1300 136 166 or at http://www.ticketmaster.com.au/

Special charges, Please note: phone, mail, email, onpne and fax bookings will incur a $7.15 transaction fee. (inclusive of GST)