Sunday 21st March 6pm - 9pm $12
AZADOOTA
Iraqi - Assyrian World Music band
Always welcoming travelling musicians, backpackers and nomads of all persuasions, the fluid nature of Azadoota’s lineup means every performance is unique. The one constant however, is Iraqi-Assyrian front man, singer and songwriter Robin Zirwanda.
When putting together Azadoota’s 2010 lineup, Robin wanted to explore more of a Spanish flavour. He recruited young flamenco guitarist Chris Duff, and classical guitarist Marko West for the band. Then a chance meeting in a kebab shop gave him the opportunity to complement the nylon-sting guitars with something really unique.
For all the instrumentation Azadoota has utilised throughout the years, they’ve never used the most traditional of Iraqi instruments, the oud. So it’s with great excitement that Robin introduces, direct from Baghdad, Iraqi-Arab oud player Ahmed El Karawi.
Robin often describes Australia as a “healing country”, a place that encourages migrants to let go of old prejudices, ingrained from childhood. He says here we often find ourselves shaking hands with someone we’d be more likely shaking fists at in our home country. In Iraq, decades of bitterness prevents Assyrians from mixing with Arabs, so it’s with thanks to Australia that Robin welcomes Ahmed to the band.
See Azadoota defying ethnic barriers as well as musical ones when they perform their high-energy show at the Royal Exchange Newcastle on Sunday 21st March from 6 – 9pm.