Mikahely is a singer-songwriter who hails from the beautiful island of Madagascar, but his music is out of this world! A self-taught musician, he draws inspiration from traditional Malagasy rhythms to create his own unique and healing sounds on guitar and valiha (a zither-like instrument made from bamboo). Singing his all original music in his native language of Malagasy, Mikahely transcends boundaries. Having toured in Madagascar and Europe, he now brings his music to new audiences in the United States.  He is also featured in the documentary Guitar Madagascar.

John Hughes is an internationally renowned composer, kora player, percussionist and vocalist whose style crosses myriad cultural boundaries and fuses disparate influences.  Playing ancient traditional instruments not often heard in the United States, many of which he builds himself, John takes his audience on an intimate musical tour of universal expressions of joy and hope that soothe and up-lift the spirit.  Whether playing elegant and stately pieces from the classical repertoire of the Jeli’s (Griot’s) of West Africa or original compositions, John Hughes' kora playing has an uncommon beauty that is, at once, exquisitely detailed and bold.  His signature pieces are rhythmically nuanced and laced with syncopations that cascade off the strings into whirlpools of mesmerizing sound.  John has released 6 CDs of original music.  Please visit his website to learn more:  www.johnhughesmusic.com

“What is so impressive about Hughes’ work is the way he has absorbed so much of the stylistic language of Mande kora music, and yet freed himself to compose within the idiom… it is confident, original, and above all, highly musical.” - Banning Eyre, Afropop Worldwide