Born in the Congo, based in London, Kasaï Masaï brings us the traditional sound of remote equatorial villages with a sophisticated urban twist. Led by percussionist, singer and dancer, “Voodoo King” Nickens Nkoso, the band plays ancestral music rooted in the healing power of percussion and chanting - combined with the provocative sound of the Congolese folk guitar and the sensual growl of the saxophone.

Hiroshi began playing taiko drums at 10 and by 15 had joined Oedo Sukeroku Daiko, a leading professional taiko troupe based in Tokyo. He was conferred the title "Master of Taiko" at 27 and in the late 1980s formed a "taiko-rock" group called Musashi. With his outstanding technique, dynamic rhythm, and innovative spirit, Hiroshi Motofuji is at 43 widely acknowledged as one of Japan's premier taiko drummers.

Based in Chennai, Oikyotaan comprises musicians from diverse musical and cultural backgrounds who have interacted with the folk musicians of the West Bengal Baul tradition - using Fakiri, Bhatiyalli, Jhumur and Bhavaiyya Bengali folk melodies as their inspiration - and adding to it a cool and captivating contemporary flavour.

With 16 albums to his credit, Orlando "Cholo" Valderrama has been acclaimed as a true master of the llanero (South American cowboy) tradition which features the harp as a key instrument. This is music that celebrates magical nights under open skies and the freedom of the rugged llanero lifestyle, with an undercurrent of yearning for a distant home and the comfort of loved ones.

This versatile quartet plays (in their own words) "a big assortment of things and all sorts of hoedown pan-celtic old-timey up-beat down-home music. All this combined with bizarre physical nonsense and clowning about. And singing. And dancing. Sheer visualosity and laughableness, boundless energy, exuberant spectacles and beautiful music executed with kindness. What could possibly go wrong?"

The name "Yakande" is a merger of Yakhouba Sissokho (a wizard of the mystical kora from Gambia) and Kandet Dioubate (a bewitching Guinean diva with an enchanting voice). Their sizzling musical rapport and sensuous groove will get you swaying and gyrating in ecstasy.

Fusing indigenous Igorot and Manabo folk motifs with an eclectic mix of Afro-Cuban, Arabic, Asian and other world-beat flavours, this exciting 10-piece band is fronted by a diminutive but dynamite female vocalist named Carol Rodriguez Bello, noted for her primal Manabo singing style. The festive and funky Pinikpikan sound celebrates our rhythmic connection with all of life.

Oud player and composer Adel Salameh was born in Nablus, Palestine, in 1966. He immigrated to Europe in 1990, quickly gaining a reputation as a master of the oud. Adel performs with celebrated Algerian vocalist NAZIHA AZZOUZ who began singing ancient Andalusian songs at age 12. She met Adel in 1998 when studying Arabic music with him and soon discovered they shared a common musical destiny. The French newspaper, Le Monde, on Naziha's vocal quality: "This is no ordinary voice. This voice is coming from Paradise."

Fast emerging as a major force in the evolution of fado - the oldest urban folk music in the world – this high-energy 7-piece group is charactised by eclectic modern influences like Frank Zappa and rooted in ancient African rhythms and mediaeval Iberian folk. Dionízio Faízca’s distinctive fado guitar technique and Toninho Arreboutas’s lyrical basswork adds a muscular edge to the soulful passion that marks Fadomorse as one folk-fusion band that totally rocks!

Danceable and dynamic folk-fusion from seven polished musicians of Polish origin, with a distinctly Celtic soul. Their music is exuberant, passionate, spontaneous, soul-stirring, and irresistible. The lineup includes Adam Romanski on fiddle; Grzegorz Chudy on accordion and bansuri (Indian flute); Jan Galczewski on mandolin, bouzouki, bodhran, guitar and Galician bagpipes. Get ready to sweat!

Artiste extraordinaire, Sheldon Blackman purveys a new brand of Caribbean music known as jamoo, which was invented in 1978 from an indigenous Trinidadian style called soca, which itself developed from calypso. Sheldon’s late father Garfield Blackman, aka Ras Shorty I, invented the genres jamoo and soca. The Love Circle, Trinidad and Tobago's royal family of music was founded by Ras Shorty I and his widow, Claudette Blackman, who remarkably still tours with the band. The group also features former Calypso Queen Abbi Blackman and famed “To The Ceiling” artiste and producer, Isaac Blackman. The music of The Love Circle is a contemporary world beat blend of African, Indian, and new age rhythms, and includes sounds of the steel pan – their country's national instrument. From soothing sounds to energetic rhythms, Sheldon Blackman & The Love Circle live is an experience of true world music fusion.

This is the resident cultural troupe of the awarding winning Sarawak Cultural Village- the living museum.  Their performances portray the richness of the culture of the Malay community of Sarawak. They will present their unique traditional musical instruments and dances like zapin, joget, lakon beradat, keris and many more.

The group has also performed extensively overseas in places like the Asian region, Canada, Germany, Australia, China and the Middle East.

Kan’id (meaning cousins) is inspired by the ancestral songs of the Kelabits from central Borneo, and draws upon the wealth of the musical traditions of the Orang Ulu tribes along the Baram. The original compositions learnt from their grandparents, uncles and aunties evolve into dynamic improvisation, and arrangements of traditional styles bridge the ancient and the contemporary.

Members of two contemporary East meets West, Indian world-jazz-fusion music-centric groups – Prana and Inner Space – combine their considerable talents to present original compositions with a spicy, piquant flavour and danceable rhythms. Featuring Sivabalan S. Shanmuga Sundram (mridhangam), Kumar Karthigesu (sitar), Jyotsna Prakash (piano), Vickneswaran Ramakrishnan (tabla) and Jamie Wilson (guitar). Akasha arose from the bonds of friendship forged through many years of shared musical passion studying at and performing for the Temple of Fine Arts in Kuala Lumpur.

The resident band of Sarawak Cultural Village, Tuku Kame had performed numerous times in the previous festival. Widely exposed to world music scene due to their chances of performing in Japan, Australia, Germany, Middle East, Singapore, Indonesia, Canada and Kuala Lumpur. Playing mostly Sarawak’s traditional musical instrument, Tuku Kame does not confine their music to just traditional tunes. Exploring and experimenting on their creativity, Tuku Kame have cleverly blend traditional tune with contemporary beats.