The Kuricorder and Friends Concert series is returning once again to promote cultural exchange between Laos and Japan following the success of last year’s performance.
The Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, along with the Embassy of Japan in the Lao PDR and Japan Foundation Asia Centre are hosting two performances on October 19-20 in Vientiane with support from Arts Council Tokyo (Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture).
On October 19 a Kuricorder and Friends Concert will take place at Lao Plaza Hotel Cafe Lounge at 7pm with the second at the National School of Arts (National School of Music and Dance) located in Phonpapao village, Sisattanak district on October 20 at 6pm.
Kuricorder and Friends is a project by a group of likeminded Japanese musicians namely the Kuricorder Quartet, Toshiaki Chiku and The Beautiful Hummingbird.
Kuricorder Quartet was established in 1994 and is made up of Masaki Kurihara, Yoshiyuki Kawaguchi, Takero Sekijima and Kenji Kondo who showcase their intimate and distinctive sound by using a variety of instruments.
The Beautiful Hummingbird is the duet of Mitsuko Koike and Nobuaki Tabata established in 2002. Their songs feature a combination of Mitsuko’s free and open voice and Nobuaki’s firm but freeform guitar sound that creates their own musical space.
Meanwhile, Toshiaki Chiku is a singer/songwriter who established Tama, a Japanese smash-hit band in the 1990s and after their breakup in 2003 began to create his own unique sound.
Locally based Khao Niew Theatre Group is also joining the show to promote cultural exchange between the two nations.
The group will perform three puppet shows, namely Sarng Khanhome, Huabua and Huamakphao which mixes music with puppetry at the National School of Music and Dance, Khao Niew Theatre Group, Managing Director Mr. Lattanakone Insisiengmay said.
He thought the programme would show students at the National School of Music and Dance how the two different art forms and cultures could be successfully combined.
Kuricorder and Friends recently performed in Japan and a good turnout is expected for the free entry concerts.
Source: Vientiane Times
