Celebrating Sanctuary: Refugee Week Takeover at MAC

Film, spoken word, and acoustic song from Kausary (Peru).

Film, spoken word, community performances.

Ukrainian School choir, Mohammed Osman (Sudan) Czech and Slovak Club, Kausary (Peru).

Headline acts - Zirak Hamad and Dahol Band (Kurdistan). More to be announced!

Zirak Hamad is a violinist, drummer and singer who came to the UK in 2002 from Iraqi Kurdistan. A graduate of the Institute of Fine Arts in Iraq, he has a wide range of artistic experience in his home country where he worked as a teacher, festival organiser, broadcaster, television presenter and music critic. During his time in the UK he has worked as a freelance artist delivering Middle Eastern dance and music workshops for schools, community groups and festivals, in the UK and internationally. He performed with eclectic trio Village Well and gypsy/klezmer band Karaj, as well as forming Daholl Kurdish Band. Zirak also performs as a solo artist introducing audiences to a range of Middle Eastern music and drumming.

Daholl Kurdish Band is an energetic blend of Kurdish and Middle Eastern music which ranges from traditional to contemporary popular dance music.

Kausary are one of Europe’s best-known Andean bands. They boast an exciting, expressive and talented line-up that will enchant any audience with their sounds of Latin America. Whether it is music for the heart or for the feet. Formed in 1995, in the UK, Kausary has a repertoire of traditional Andean and contemporary Latin sounds. Music of the Andean highlands, coastal lowlands, Amazon basin and forest, Cuban and Latin are all played with a depth of emotion unequalled. “Our passion is to promote Peruvian and South American music, together with raising more awareness of Peru and Latino - America in the UK and the rest of the world.”