entertainment

Lilting vibes of Lulu

by Mahes PERERA

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She started her musical career when she turned just eighteen years and since then she has been in the limelight entertaining music lovers with her inimitable style that has brought her success. Remember her - Lulu? And the song Lulu's back in town is appropriate, especially to her fans. She is now a solo act on our stages and enjoys herself. You were a regular singer with the Gypsies do you miss singing with them?

"Yes. Very much. But whenever they request me to join them for gigs I go. Now as a solo singer I perform at corporate events, dances, fashion shows - in short I choose my performing events. I have a daughter of five years and try as far as possible to be with her.

Lulu is currently working in a construction company as a director of marketing which is a totally different scenario for her. Musically she launched off with Dream Team managed by Malcolm Perera then moved over to sing with Summerset before joining the Gypsies, with whom she had her exciting moments singing not only in Sri Lanka but touring England, Dubai, Bangkok, Singapore and Oman. Now as a solo act she has sung on stages in Germany, Bangkok, Dubai, Qatar and China. She was a featured singer at the Agra anniversary celebrations and started off her appearance with songs by Abba what with Mama Mia in town and won an enthusiastic response from the audience.

To all musicians and singers New Year's Eve is vital - where will you be performing on December 31.

"I'm a family person, I won't be performing on 31st night. I'm visiting my family to see 2009 into our lives, and I hope it will be a happy and peaceful year for all of us."

Ravi Bandu Ensemble and 'Bollywood dancers'

A first mention of the name Ravi Bandu and images of his exotic drumming fast flashes through your mind. Not forgetting of course his prowess in oriental dancing. He has also extended his musical artistry to establishing an ensemble called the Ravi Bandu Ensemble comprising an acoustic guitarist, saxophonist, flautist, sitarist, tablist and keyboardist. The music of the group was entertainment at its best when they performed at the first anniversary celebrations of Agra the restaurant with a fabulous Indian ambience in structure and cuisine. Coincidentally it was also the fiftieth birthday celebrations of the owner Shanker Somasunderam. The theme for the evening was Bollywood - vibrant, colourful and glamorous, with the dancers in red and orange, and tiny lights in the colours of red, green, yellow and orange and a magnificent fire works display.

 M.P

Acoustic and electronic concert

The Goethe-Institut Sri Lanka will stage an acoustic and electronic concert on November 20 at 7.00 p.m. at the Barefoot Gallery. The concert is being presented in collaboration with Barefoot, and features the Thomas Siffling Trio. Trumpeter Siffling's trio comprises acoustic bass and drums. He started playing with a Quartet in 1922 playing classical jazz and then switched his interest to electronic music especially Nu Jazz, House Music and Chill Out. "I was fascinated by the question of how to combine Jazz and Electronics, how I could integrate all these influences into my music. After having experimented a lot, I finally found the right set-up." Thomas Siffling Trio have released two CD's the first was 'Change' in 2004 and the second one titled 'Kitchen Music' was released last year to coincide with their successful tour of Germany.

M.P.

'Traditions Meet'

For the first time musical lovers will be treated to a concert that combines the musical traditions of Norway and Sri Lanka.

The Norwegian Embassy in collaboration with The Concert Institute Norway and the Aru Sri Art Theatre, Sri Lanka will present "Traditions Meet" which will be held at the Hindu Cultural Centre in Kandy on November 13 and a second concert in Colombo at Ananda College, on November 14. Aptly titled, the concert will see an amazing interaction of folk music, classical and contemporary traditions of the two countries and will feature Sri Lankan and Norwegian artistes - saxophonists, guitarists, violinists, flautists, drummers and singers - bringing together string and wind music, Sri Lankan folk dance and drums.The Norwegian Ambassador in Sri Lanka Tore Hattrem commented that "by initiating a programme for musical collaboration between Sri Lanka and Norway, we hope progressively to contribute to more interaction and understanding between people." Music as we all know, cuts across barriers of language, region, ethnicity and religion, uniting divided communities and reconnecting fragmented societies and appealing to people's hearts and to their emotions.