Two New Clubs in NYC Show the New Face of World Music

Is world music moving from being granola crunchy to cutting edge? Or was it only some people's perception that it was granola crunchy? Did you know there are two new world music clubs in New York City: Drom, started by the relatively young Rom-centric music promoters behind the New York Gypsy Festival, and perhaps more surprisingly (because it is in Harlem), The Shrine, named after Fela's place in Lagos and I hear run by an African man. Not the world music of yesteryear.

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Comments

[Jesse Brenner]

The Shrine is indeed owned by an African and run by numerous Africans.... and it accordingly has a truly African vibe. You are just as likely to see an Ethiopian wedding shower with traditional food served as you are a dj dance party. Highly recommended.... but as might be expected, just take the posted schedule times with a grain of salt!

[Cal Koat]

Hi DubMC,

Thanks for the posting on the new Balkan and African –flavored clubs opening in New York. The city (as one interviewee recently told me) remains a "magnet for the arts". And, as such it is a barometer for music trends. You can find a start of the year posting I wrote on global music trends at www.calcopyrite.com .

I believe the 'granola crunch' aspect of world music has stymied the form, relegating its day to day live exposure to coffee houses and folkie hangouts. Not that there's anything wrong with that but it doesn't reflect the new world music consumer who is educated, affluent and globally sophisticated. That sophistication is revealing itself in the current crop of global music buzz bands, from the punky avant-garde of Gogol Bordello and Brazilian Girls to the brassy, political punch of Antibalas to the club chic, chill vibe of Pacha Massive. The next logical step in the development of these sounds is the creation of like-minded venues as we're seeing in New York.

I'll be keeping the links to those clubs you provided handy for the time when this magnet for the arts finally pulls me away from the west coast for a long overdue visit.

Best,
Cal Koat,
Executive Producer
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