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Banjo master Abigail Washburn, part of an Appalachian-Chinese mash-up called The Wu Force, performs at New York City's Webster Hall as a part of globalFEST on Jan. 12, 2014. Ebru Yildiz for NPR hide caption

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The Wu-Force 2014

January 16, 2014 • Hear a brand-new band featuring clawhammer banjo player Abigail Washburn. The Wu-Force merges Appalachian folk and a punk sensibility with traditional Chinese music.

The Wu-Force: globalFEST 2014

16:48

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44:56

Mauritanian artist Noura Mint Seymali performs at New York City's Webster Hall during globalFEST on Jan. 12, 2014. Ebru Yildiz for NPR hide caption

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Noura Mint Seymali 2014

January 16, 2014 • With her smoky-rich voice, this Mauritanian griot artist tips toward reggae, flamenco and rock along with traditional Sahelian tonalities and rhythms in a band that includes her husband.

Noura Mint Seymali: globalFEST 2014

44:56

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47:18

Vocalists Shourov Bhattacharya and Parvyn Singh from The Bombay Royale, performing live Sunday during globalFEST at Webster Hall in New York City. Ebru Yildiz for NPR hide caption

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The Bombay Royale 2014

January 16, 2014 • THis band crams vintage Bollywood, 1960s surf and blazing brass into a giddy new sound. The 11-piece band evokes memories of everything from the Village People to formulaic romances of the 1970s.

The Bombay Royale: globalFEST 2014

47:18

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43:16

Members of Romania's Fanfare Ciocarlia perform a blazing set during globalFEST at New York City's Webster Hall on Jan. 12, 2014. Ebru Yildiz for NPR hide caption

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Fanfare Ciocarlia 2014

January 16, 2014 • As soon as this oversized outfit of horns, winds and drums arrived on the main globalFEST stage, the audience knew exactly what to do: They began pogoing ecstatically until the floor shook.

Fanfare Ciocarlia: globalFEST 2014

43:16

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8:10

Congolese-Belgian artist Baloji started his globalFEST set at New York City's Webster Hall on Jan. 12, 2014 in high fashion — but by the end, he was working hard in rolled-up shirtsleeves. Ebru Yildiz for NPR hide caption

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Baloji 2014

January 16, 2014 • A Congolese-Belgian hip-hop artist pairs lilting African soukous with the swagger of American soul.

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2:55

The Ukrainian "punk-folk" band DakhaBrakha brought its singular style to globalFEST at Webster Hall in New York City on Jan. 12, 2014. Ebru Yildiz for NPR hide caption

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Front Row

DakhaBrakha: globalFEST 2014

January 16, 2014 • The group mixes everything from punk-pop to traditional Ukrainian songs in cool yet beguiling textures, often with the close harmonies usually associated with Balkan music.

Sergio Mendoza y La Orkesta: globalFEST 2014

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20:15

Mexican vocalist Salvador Duran's rich baritone was at the front and center of Sergio Mendoza y la Orkesta at New York City's Webster Hall during globalFEST on January 12, 2014. Ebru Yildiz for NPR hide caption

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Sergio Mendoza y La Orkesta 2014

January 16, 2014 • Hear a band from Arizona splice together mambo — by way of Mexico — with psychedelic cumbia and other Latin styles. The result sounds like Perez Prado reconfigured for the 21st century.

Sergio Mendoza y La Orkesta: globalFEST 2014

20:15

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57:35

Moroccan gnawa singer and instrumentalist Hassan Hakmoun, performing live at globalFEST at New York City's Webster Hall on January 12, 2014. Ebru Yildiz for NPR hide caption

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Hassan Hakmoun 2014

January 16, 2014 • Hakmoun and his band mates layer soulful vocals, complex African polyrhythms, jazz-tinged synth and a deep rock groove into a satisfying whole. At its heart, his music remains utterly joyful.

Hassan Hakmoun: globalFEST 2014

57:35

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44:54

Playing a single-stringed guitar, the Jamaican artist Brushy One String held court in the intimate Studio space at New York City's Webster Hall during globalFEST on Jan. 12, 2014. Ebru Yildiz for NPR hide caption

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Brushy One String 2014

January 16, 2014 • A YouTube sensation whose song "Chicken in the Corn" has received more than four million views, Jamaica's Brushy One String has captured listeners' imaginations with his stripped-down style.

Brushy One String: globalFEST 2014

44:54

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3:04

Lebanese singer Yasmine Hamdan brought her cool, underground electro-pop to globalFEST at Webster Hall in New York City on Jan. 12, 2014. Ebru Yildiz for NPR hide caption

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Yasmine Hamdan: globalFEST 2014

January 16, 2014 • A solo artist based in Europe after a childhood split between Lebanon, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi and Greece, Hamdan blends new material with reworked traditional songs in a smoky-cool electro-pop setting.

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1:02:22

Roël Calister and Diamanta von Lieschdeck from Amsterdam's KiT, blending music from Curaçao with house and hip-hop, perform onstage during globalFEST at Webster Hall in New York City on Jan. 12, 2014. Ebru Yildiz for NPR hide caption

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KiT 2014

January 16, 2014 • KiT, or Kuenta i Tambu — "Stories and Drums" — takes music from the Caribbean island of Curaçao, merges it with European dance-floor music and kicks it all into high, sweaty gear.

KiT: globalFEST 2014

1:02:22

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6:12

Ebru Yildiz for NPR

Front Row

globalFEST: Fatoumata Diawara

January 16, 2013 • The Malian singer originally moved to France to study acting, and appeared in several films before picking up the guitar and writing her own songs. Hear Fatoumata Diawara, recorded live in concert.

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9:52

Ebru Yildiz for NPR

Front Row

globalFEST: La Santa Cecilia

January 16, 2013 • The Los Angeles band, named after the patron saint of musicians, blends Latin styles such as cumbia, norteño and ranchera. Hear La Santa Cecilia, recorded live from New York City's Webster Hall.

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5:00

Ebru Yildiz for NPR

Front Row

Christine Salem: globalFEST 2013

January 16, 2013 • Watch the extraordinary singer from the Indian Ocean island of Reunion as she performs with her band, recorded live at Webster Hall in New York City.

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5:35

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Front Row

Mucca Pazza: globalFEST 2013

January 16, 2013 • See the 30-piece marching band give a wildly exuberant performance, recorded live at the Webster Hall Ballroom in New York City.

Oliver Mtukudzi And The Black Spirits: globalFEST 2013

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8:40

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Oliver Mtukudzi And The Black Spirits 2013

January 16, 2013 • Hear one of Zimbabwe's greatest artists, recorded live in concert with his band The Black Spirits at New York City's Webster Hall.

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6:13

Ebru Yildiz for NPR

The Stooges Brass Band 2013

January 16, 2013 • The Stooges Brass Band got its start when members of two rival high-school marching bands in New Orleans decided to join forces. Today, the group mixes hip-hop, funk and R&B in its live performances.

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43:13

Ebru Yildiz for NPR

La Shica 2013

January 16, 2013 • Madrid's La Shica blends traditional flamenco sounds with rock and pop elements, led by singer and dancer Elsa Rovayo. Hear the group, recorded live in concert at Webster Hall in New York City.

La Shica: globalFEST 2013

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Kayhan Kalhor & Erdal Erzincan: globalFEST 2013

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33:33

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Kayhan Kalhor & Erdal Erzincan 2013

January 16, 2013 • Iran's Kayhan Kalhor joins Turkish artist Erdal Erzincan for this intimate performance, recorded live at New York City's Webster Hall.

Kayhan Kalhor & Erdal Erzincan: globalFEST 2013

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47:54

Ebru Yildiz for NPR

Lo'Jo 2013

January 16, 2013 • Hear the French worldbeat group, recorded live in concert from New York City's Webster Hall.

Lo'Jo: globalFEST 2013

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40:03

Ebru Yildiz for NPR

A Tribe Called Red 2013

January 16, 2013 • The Canadian group A Tribe Called Red features three DJs who mix Native powwow chant with hip-hop and dubstep, while a dancer spins multicolored hoops. Hear the group, recorded live in concert.

A Tribe Called Red: globalFEST 2013

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Martha Redbone Roots Project: globalFEST 2013

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50:09

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Martha Redbone Roots Project 2013

January 16, 2013 • Hear the contemporary Native American musician, recorded live from New York City's Webster Hall.

Martha Redbone Roots Project: globalFEST 2013

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54:58

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Stephane Wrembel 2013

January 16, 2013 • French-born guitarist Stephane Wrembel plays so-called "Gypsy jazz," a style pioneered by legendary guitarist and composer Django Reinhardt. Hear Wrembel and his band at New York City's Webster Hall.

Stephane Wrembel: globalFEST 2013

Listen · 54:58 54:58

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1:02:17

Wang Li performs during globalFEST at New York City's Webster Hall on Jan. 8. Ryan Muir for NPR hide caption

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Wang Li 2012

January 10, 2012 • Hear this Chinese master of deeply felt and highly atmospheric music perform live in concert.

Wang Li: globalFEST 2012

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