15 Mar 2020

Live: Minyo Crusaders at WOMAD 2020

From the collecton Womad
Minyo Crusaders

Minyo Crusaders Photo: supplied

The Minyo Crusaders are a 10-piece orchestra who have a unique take on traditional Japanese folk music known as Min'yō.

Their repertoire has adopted historical tales of the working class, sung in the traditional way, but with the large ensemble playing reggae, cumbia and Afrobeat influenced grooves.

The band describe their music as transforming what’s considered to be ‘highbrow art’ into a catchy, danceable art form.

The groups beguiling sound can catch the listener off guard in the most delightful way, and the capacity audience who witnessed their show at the Bowl of Brooklands thought so, where the Minyo Crusaders went down a storm!

Song Titles: Kushimoto Bushi, Ho Hi Bushi, Otemoyan, Haiya Bushi, Yasuki Bushi, Torajo Sama, Tanko Bushi, Aizu Bandaisan.

Recorded and produced by Darryl Stack for RNZ Music