Jazz Jamaica. Left to right: Camilla George, Denys Baptiste, Mark Crown. Photo Credit: Ben Amure

The City of London Festival will present a weekend of music with free admission in Canada Square at Canary Wharf, showcasing a wide variety of acts playing music from as far afield as Jamaica and the Balkans.

Friday 13th starting 7 pm:

• Jazz Jamaica,  founded by double bassist, Gary Crosby OBE,  are heavily inspired by both the music of Jamaica and by jazz. They have been BBC Jazz Award and Parliamentary Jazz Award winners. Today they are also featuring Jamaican singing legend  Myrna Hague

Saturday 14th (Bastille day):

• From 1:30-2:45pm, the Santa Macairo Orkestar, a ten year old group from France who were brought together by their shared love of Eastern European folk music, Klezmer. Their name is derived from St Macaire en Mauges which is near Cholet.

• From 3:30-4:45pm the French artist, composer and performer L who takes her diminutive stage name from the first letter of her initials, which she shares with both her grandparents and Lady L from Romain Gary’s novel of the same name. She bases her music on traditional French music mixed with elements of rock, trip-hop and tango.

• 5:30-7:00pm will feature the KKC Orchestra an eclectic mix of styles from 4 flatmates from Toulouse. It features a DJ, a classical pianist, a swing guitarist and a rapper.

Sunday 15th:

• 12:00-1:00pm showcases Saravah Soul –  they are half-Brazilian, half British and stemmed from the multicultural underground music scene in London. Their music reflects this, being a mixture of Brazilian rhythms, 60’s soul and Afro-beat.

• 1:30-3:00pm, the Aurora Orchestra will be showcasing a collaboration between them and the Breakdancing groups (SEE VIDEO ON UNIVERSAL MUSIC’S SINFINI BLOG) ; Bboy’s Attic and Company Decalage who have been working with choreographer, Mickaël ‘Marso’ Rivière. The music will be varied, with a rendition of Biber’s Battalia and a new work by Julian Philips for chamber orchestra and breakdancers.