Rhythms of The World
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Rhythms of The World (ROTW) was first organised in 1992. ROTW is a concert which celebrates the culture and art which is expressed through all types of music and art. In the ROTW programme, it notes, "[ROTW aims to] provide an opportunity for people to engage in community activity, to provide a bridge of common interest across ages, race, ability and economic groups, to provide an outlet for the energies of young people, to stimulate the arts, and to promote North Hertfordshire".
The 2008 festival will take place on the 12th and 13th July at Hitchin Priory.
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[edit] Location
It is an annual event, that takes place in July in the market town of Hitchin, Hertfordshire. The ROTW festival was made up of nearly 190 acts on 11 stages, plus 12 fringe venues (pubs and bars offering live music in partnership with ROTW) in 2006. It now includes various workshops (music, art and otherwise), stalls and a myriad of other distractions.
It was announced on 2nd October 2007 that Rhythms of the World would no longer be held in Hitchin town centre and that the organising committee are looking for a greenfield site on the outskirts of the town for future events.
On 11th February 2008 it was announced that the 2008 festival will take place in the grounds of Hitchin Priory. Due to this change in venue, for the first time, an entrance fee of £5 has been ascribed.
[edit] History
Rhythms of The World was started in 1992 by the Hitchin Oxfam Campaigns Group as a way of raising money for Oxfam and to highlight their international issues through world music. The first four years were staged in Hitchin Town Hall and featured bands such as the Bhundu Boys and King Salsa. In 1996 the event moved outside to the Market Place, but had only one stage and due in part to terrible weather the organisers felt the benefit to Oxfam was not being reflected in the increasing effort required. In 1998 the Campaigns Group ceased the Rhythms of The World project.
In 1999 a new committee, including some of the original campaigners, restarted Rhythms. With two stages, a fringe pub, Horace X, and Baka Beyond, ROTW became more of a festival. This increase in potency started to interest larger numbers of local music professionals.
With the benefit of these professionals and supporting volunteers ROTW 2000 was on a different level to the previous years; a purpose built stage dominated the Market Place, along with four others, and world music bands such as the Dhol Foundation, Bollywood Brass Band and Kiki Dee featured.
From then on, ROTW has increased its success. 2001 and 2002 saw ROTW increasing the number of stages and venues (including more fringe venues), bringing an eclectic programme of world music from places such as Siberia, Africa, South America, Tibet, India and Hitchin itself. Bands such as Ayub Ogada, Motimba, Itang Bondi and Yat Kha helped create what has now become the typical Rhythms musical atmosphere.
2003 saw 140 acts on 8 stages and market stalls selling various souvenirs, crafts and clothes from all over the world. The local St. Mary's church became a venue, and Bancroft Gardens became a family chillout area. Banners adorned Hitchin, which were made by the children from the local primary schools. This was the beginning of art taking a stand in the ROTW festival.
2004 had two main stages (the Market Place and Portmill Lane), plus, the BBC, the Arts Council and Decibel partnered with ROTW to help showcase national and local world bands. Even more banners were launched on the town.
2005 was similar to other years. 160 acts performing on 10 stages, plus, more dance and more poetry.
2006 saw 193 acts performing on 11 stages, plus workshops, more dance and more poetry.
2007 saw 142 acts performing on 8 stages, a dance hall hosting dance classes, workshops, more art and poetry.
[edit] Genres
At Rhythms of The World there a large amount of genres present, below is a small sampling. ROTW is not just about more obscure world music, indeed, it offers a huge amount of indie, pop, funk, jazz and rock, etc. bands as well.
