The spirit of the African ‘Festival au Désert’ arrives in Florence for coffee.

(TRAVPR.COM) UK - July 10th, 2012 - From 19th to 21st July, visitor to the Le Murate café in Florence’s Piazza delle Murate will host a music festival celebrating the traditions of Mediterranean and African cultures.

The Festival au Désert idea is not new, annual concerts having played in Mali since 2001, involving participation by big names in western music like Bono and Damon Albarn, attracted by the infinite freedom of performing in the open desert, and by the very different musical styles and inspirations there.

Despite political difficulties within Mali, the festival endures. But to counter the problem of ensuring the safety of European visitors, organisers and performers headquartered in Florence, Tuscany arranged various concerts at home, to echo the festival’s exotic musical style, and to import as much of the feeling of their origins as possible.

The music is a really exciting alternative to conventional sounds and forms typically used and preferred by western composers and performers.

A deep throb, distinct from western bass patterns and made by unfamiliar instruments, creates a very different atmosphere. Hypnotic rhythms and long-sustained single-key sections give instrumentalists and vocalists time to develop themes and riffs, and no opportunity to improvise is missed.

The accompanying dance and lyrics encourage learning about the music’s faraway origin, and the desert people there.

The café Le Murate is a cosmopolitan spot, ideally suited to the festival; performance of music and dance from another continent is likely to be much appreciated by the open-minded clientele of this Tuscan city.

Quality Villas Italy (www.QualityVillasItaly.co.uk) can provide great value holiday villas in Tuscany for anyone looking to visit Florence for the Festival au Désert event.

More information about the Festival au Désert can be found at http://www.festivalpresenzedafrica.eu/. 

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