From Mozambique to Sheffield, musician kicks off UK tour with family gig

Multi-instrumentalist Matchume Zango, who performs on percussion instruments including the congas, timbila and the xitende, will make his debut with leading banjo player Kate Griffin next Sunday July 7.He met UK-based Kate, who is well known in Sheffield, in 2020 during an online music residency. The pair immediately connected over their approach to traditional music with modern composition.

Thanks to a grant from Arts Council England, they went on to record a six-track EP together in Maputo, Mozambique.Now they are sharing their mesmerising sound on a UK tour called Tchopo.

The second date is at a Sheffield Concerteenies family gig at Kommune food hall in Sheffield city centre.

Polly Ives, founder of charity Concerteenies which produces events for children and families, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be hosting one of the first gigs of a UK tour by Matchume and Kate.“Kate performs at our concerts regularly and the story of how she met and then worked with Matchume - despite the 5,000 miles between them - is compelling.“This gig will be a celebration of cross-cultural collaboration and the creation of a vibrant new sound.“Hopefully our family audiences will love being among the first to hear this new music.”

Matchume has performed since the age of six, is regarded as one of the ‘new masters of timbila’ and has recorded several albums.UK-based Kate has toured internationally with her Indo-folk collective Mishra. She was described as ‘one of the top banjo players in the world’ by virtuoso Dan Walsh.Together they bring echoes of their respective traditions, contemporary songwriting, fresh genres and world rhythms to their joyful new work.Their uplifting tour will feature Matchume’s arsenal of percussion including timbila, xitende, mbira, and congas plus Kate’s banjo.

It also stars a supporting trio of Evan Carson (Sam Kelly & The Lost Boys, The Drystones) on drums, Ben Evans on Bass, and Ford Collier (Mishra, The Drystones) on low whistle and guitar. Tickets for the concert next Sunday, July 7, at 11am are now on sale, costing £4.50 for children and £12 for adults, at concerteenies.com/events. Babies under one go free.The Tchopo tour will continue to Somerset and London after Sheffield, with the album due to be released next year.