Beautiful, uplifting contemporary folk music from Galicia.

Award-winning musician, composer, folklore researcher, singer and expert of the pandeireta Galega (Galician tambourine), Xabier Díaz combines his soulful voice with the rhythms and radiant singing of seven members of Adufeiras de Salitre choir.

The adufe is a square frame-drum of Moorish origin used in Portugal and Spain and traditionally played only by women. Its name comes from the Arabic word for frame drum ‘al daf’ and it was used in religious festivals outside church doors, for dancing in social gatherings, and to accompany women while they worked in the fields.  The Portuguese took the adufe to Brazil where the ancient Moorish rhythms even played their part the development of samba.

They are accompanied by brothers Gutier Álvarez on hurdy-gurdy and violin and Javier Álvarez on accordion.

Over two years of work went into the 2016 album, Mr Tambourine Man, which won ‘Best Album in Galician’ in Spain’s Independent Music Awards. Popular songs from hillside villages are given a joyous reinterpretation through Díaz’s gently understated singing and the powerfully engaging ensemble performance of the Adufeiras.  In Galicia, with its influences from Portuguese and Celtic as well as Spanish cultures, there is a renewed interest from young and old in traditional music and dance

This is an exciting London premiere at Rich Mix ahead of their show at Glasgow’s Celtic Connections festival. Produced by Kazum.