Mondo gratis

>> Around the world on your ass at Lafontaine Park

by RUPERT BOTTENBERG

Imagine yourself on a magic flying carpet travelling the globe, surveying its myriad cultures in all their splendour from a bird's-eye vantage point. Fuck, yeah! Alas, magic carpets are pure fiction. But wipe the tear from your eye, there, Sinbad, here's some good news. This weekend, you can tour the wild world while planted squarely on a lowly beach towel, and it involves no down payments of your first born to evil sorcerers. In fact, it's free.

This weekend marks the 10th edition of Traquen'Art Prductions' Musique et Traditions du Monde, a three-day compact worldbeat fest consisting of six free, outdoor concerts at the Théâtre de la Verdure in scenic Lafontaine Park. All events start at 8:30 p.m.

The journey begins tonight, Thursday, July 19, as Ongo Trogodé, from the Central African Republic, hit the stage. Standard-bearers for the region's Banda culture, these 14 guys have an unusual tradition in instruments to uphold. They play a particular kind of horn that only hits one note--so obviously they've brought a truckload over--as well as drums, xylophones and more.

Followng them are Aditya Verma and Vineet Vinya. Indo-Canadian Verma's a top-flight sarod player with over a decade of studies in India under his belt. Backed up by tabla man Vinya, he'll unspool the sacred ragas with utmost panache.

The next night, Friday, July 20, you, your frapuccino and Pikachu (or whoever's printed on your towel) soar over the clouds to Georgia. No, not the American state, so suppress your Charlie Daniels jones. It's the Russian Georgia, the one that was always on John Lennon's mind and the source point for the polyphonic vocal mosaic of Toronto-based groups Darbazi and Hérétie. If you've been grooving on those mysterious Bulgarian ladies, come see what the boys can do with their pipes.

The final night, Saturday, July 21, takes you over the Atlantic. The Montreal-based feliz bronca Cubano of percussionist Lazaro René's Asere slather on the salsa and merengue--with tasteful jazz touches to boot. They're followed by Bayuba Cante, and this one's a whole global village on one stage. Members hail from Holland, Germany, Chile, Cuba and Madagascar, and the music, while Afro-Cuban in its base, draws on Latin jazz, flamenco, funk and Indian styles.