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GALITCHA Since 1996 Kuljit Sodhi, Galitcha's lead singer, composer and percussionist has been building an ensemble which integrates music with a strong North Indian footprint overlaid with influences from western folk and jazz and instrumentation from around the world. From heartfelt devotional and love songs, to compelling lively dance tunes, Galitcha (meaning tapestry) takes audiences on a musical journey from one end of the emotional spectrum to the other. The songs are mainly sung in Punjabi, Urdu and Hindi with explanations in English and/or French. Vocalists Kuljit Sodhi also on East Indian dholki drum and Chris MacLean also on guitar, the accordion-like harmonium, Appalachian dulcimer and a one-stringed banjo called gopichand; Linsey Wellman on saxophones and flutes; and Shawn Mativetsky on East Indian tabla drum, dhol (barrel drum) and percussion; create a culturally diverse Canadian sound. But Galitcha's performances are not just about the music. There is an inspiring sense of devotion - to the muse, to each other, to the audience - which is consistently part of their presence on and off stage. Based in Ottawa, Canada, they have performed in concert halls, schools and folk festivals across Canada and at:
Galitcha has also been chosen to perform official mainstage showcases at the following industry conferences:
Galitcha has received financial support from the Government of Canada through the Canada Music Fund for promotion and for attendances at NERFA, Contact Ontario, Pacific Contact, the Vancouver Island MusicFest and the Festival au Désert in Mali. Assistance was also provided by the Canadian Embassy in Mali for travel to the Festival au Désert in January 2005 and from the Department of Foreign Affairs Canada for travel to the US in August 2004. Galitcha's premiere full-length recording entitled SATRANG, (2002), has done well on radio across Canada. Their concerts have been recorded live for CBC radio's Bandwidth and Global Village and for Radio Canada. The CD has reached 'top 10' status on world music charts on stations from Toronto to Victoria. Galitcha was awarded CIUT's (Toronto) 'Porcupine Award' for Musique du Monde CD of the year (2003). Philly Markowitz, host of CBC's Roots and Wings, chose SATRANG as a 'Pick of the Year' (2003). The group released their second full-length disc in November 2006. The recording, entitled Célébration Blé d'inde Celebration, reflects Galitcha's progress as a group and tells the story of their travels both geographically, historically and musically. It features 2 collaborative pieces with legendary Quebecois accordionist, Yves Lambert. The CD is distributed by Festival Distribution. Continuous creativity and performance excellence are the primary goals of Galitcha. With a solid base in Ottawa Canada, Galitcha is steadily working at reaching out to an ever widening audience - across Canada, in the US and internationally. Here’s what they are saying about Galitcha: 3 ½ stars Célébration Blé d'Inde Celebration - "… (Galitcha) may specialize in East Indian folk music, but they broaden their songs about spirituality, strife and love with everything from Appalachian dulcimer to slide guitar and saxophone. Especially fun on their sophomore disc are Blé d'Inde and J'entends le Moulin, crazy-quilt blends of Indian and French Canadian music that point to music's borderless nature…" Patrick Langston Ottawa Citizen August 2006 " Tout comme
en 2003, Galitcha a encore une fois enflammé le public de Mémoire et Racines.
Quel band enlevant !!! " "It was an evening
of love. Galitcha is that rare blending of superb musicianship and emotional
connection. There is something truly addictive about Galitcha's music."
"Their name means
'tapestry' and that's exactly what they are. Uncompromisingly Galitcha
scales peaks around the globe culminating in tabla driven songs that are
danceable, touchable and irresistible. ....Their CD called Satrang is
the kind of album you just want to keep on listening to - never a dull
moment on it which is no mean feat!" "4 stars - SATRANG
- a first-rate collection of East Indian folk songs and sparkling instrumentals
meticulously fused with tasteful elements of jazz, flamenco, Celtic rhythms,
Chinese classical, and a host of western and world flourishes." "I saw them at the
most recent Northeast Folk Alliance Conference, ..... in terms of musicianship,
they were really a notch above many of the other performers." "Gatlicha's performance was an education for the audience, but it was far from a dusty classroom experience. Galitcha gave a performance that shook the senses and left the audience in such a happy state! Often cliched buzz-words like "electric", "virtuoso", "versatile" and "captivating" really do fit this group!" Ron Olesko, Producer/Host WFDU-FM NJ "The Punjabi folk songs were immediate hits with festival (Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival) crowds this weekend. The words are Urdu but the emotions tug at the universal heart." Stephen Pedersen Arts Reporter Halifax Herald For
bookings in CANADA (not Québec) contact: For Bookings in
Québec Contact: For
bookings in USA contact: For school performances
in Eastern Ontario and West Québec: For meida inquiries
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