Discovering a new world of music

To mark the 100th anniversary of the Danish women’s suffrage, the Copenhagen World Music Festival has a special focus on female artists in a broad program of both international and domestic music.

Organiser Annette Bellaoui says: “There is a lot of talk that there are too few women in modern music, but nobody really does anything about it. We have focused on promoting female artists in Denmark for many years. In this year, the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage, we think it is only right to heighten awareness of the many exciting female artists at the festival.”

So this year Radiant Arcadia with its unique multifaith make-up, Egyptian ‘Zar’ music band Mazaher, India’s violin virtuoso Kala Ramnath and the traditional Japanese biwa music of Junko Ueda all contribute to the overall theme.

Other highlights of the festival include Klezmophobia’s mix of upbeat and melancholy klezmer music, Jahcub and the Chosen Ones’ blend of African reggae, jazz and highlife, Bhjonko Balkan Party’s rhythmic mayhem, and Latin hip-hop from the ultra cool KNA Connected.

The opening concert at Rådhuspladsen on Wednesday is free and closes with Patchanka – voted the best live act of 2014 at the DMA awards.

There are many more bands and venues, so make you check out the website for samples of all the 50 or so acts as you plan your around the world in five musical days trip.