Samba Kernow on stage logo

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Updated 12/07/05

Samba Kernow was formed in the summer of '99 and has quickly built up a reputation as an enthusiastic, high energy band playing irresistibly danceable percussive music. The band plays a wide range of Brazilian styles which blend African, European and native Indian cultures to produce complex and dynamic grooves.

Among the band's repertoire, played on authentic instruments, you will hear the sounds of batucada, usually heard on the streets of Rio de Janeiro during carnival and samba-reggae developed from Northeast Brazil's distinctive afro grooves which grew out of their passion for Bob Marley's music.

 Close up of band
Close up of band

Samba Kernow draws its membership of dedicated and enthusiastic players from St Ives, Penzance, Newlyn, Lamorna, Helston and Truro.

In April 2002, at the Acorn Theatre, the band launched their first CD "Free Spirit" which was their most ambitious project with the inclusion of vocals, a wider range of percussion instruments and rhythms adapted and arranged by Samba Kernow's founder mestre Dave Brotherton from timbalada, maracatu, afoxe and candombe as well as the more familiar grooves usually heard on the streets and piers of West Cornwall and across Brazil.

Samba Kernow has entertained many audiences including those at the St Ives September Festival (where one year the band was filmed for BBC TV's Food and Drink programme), St Ives May Day celebrations, Golowan Festival in Penzance, Newlyn Fish Festival, Truro City of Lights and the Royal Cornwall Show as well as numerous appearances at the Acorn Theatre.

It is essentially a community band which often performs to support other charities with their fundraising. They have pledged 10% of CD sale proceeds to be shared between "Task Brazil" for street children in Northeast Brazil and, closer to home, the League of Friends of West Cornwall Hospital.

 Close up of band

"Free Spirit" our first CD

Click on any of the tracks below to download or hear an extract.
Buy this CD on-line at the UK Samba Association shop

Link to Task Brazil charity Play sample of Track 13 Chatterbox Play sample of Track 12 Bom Dia St Ia Play sample of Track 11 Olinda Play sample of Track 10 Night Train to Parati Play sample of Track 9 Papagaio Play sample of Track 8 Free Spirit Play sample of Track 7 The Kapok Tree Play sample of Track 6 Earthbeat Play sample of Track 5 Maracatu Granito Play sample of Track 4 DiDá Play sample of Track 3 The Serpent's Tongue Play sample of Track 2 Guaraná Play sample of Track 1 Rip Tide Free Spirit CD cover with track listing

 

Samba Kernow has built up a loyal following among local people of all ages and they look forward to meeting old friends and making new ones at their forthcoming gigs around the county of Cornwall.

To book the band, and for all enquiries or phone 01736 797220 to speak to Joan.

See and hear us in 2006

During the summer, catch us on Friday evenings (weather permitting) in St. Ives town.

Lands End - BH Monday 17th April (evening)

St. Ives - BH Monday 1st May

Golowan Festival Penzance - 15th to 25th June

Mazey Day Penzance - Saturday 24th June

Falmouth - Sunday 18th June

Saltash - Saturday 1st July

St. Ives Festival Ball - Saturday 23rd September

Oyster Festival Falmouth - Sunday 22nd October

Join us

We welcome new members, so if you'd like to meet the band, come along to our regular Monday rehearsals.
We meet from 7pm until 9 at the Church of the Vine, St. Ives.

By the Fire Station turn into Penbeagle Lane, follow the road to the corner of the Industrial Estate, you will find us in the building next to the car sales area (Paul Trevoro) show map.

Page last updated 20th March 2006 © Samba Kernow 2006