Whitby’s Musicport Festival 2024
A magnet for world-class musical diversity
Hosted in Whitby’s landmark Pavilion

Friday October 25 – Sunday October 27

Headline Artists include:
Afro Celt Sound System, Ashley Hutchings & Becky Mills,

Chahat Mahmood Ali Qawwal Group,
Divanhana, Fulu Miziki, Jah Wobble and The Invaders of the Heart,
Justin Adams & Mauro Durante, Orchestra Mambo International,
Rokia Koné, Tashi Lhunpo Monks

https://www.musicportfestival.com/

Musicport Festival 2024

Yorkshire is known and loved for many things: great architectural landmarks; industrial innovations; its friendly folk; best brew tea; Yorkshire puddings and the sweeping moors that provide the background setting for some of the most beloved classics of English literature.  Yorkshire hosts many festivals to celebrate its history, agriculture, literature and a wide variety of the arts, including its own annual day of celebrations, called Yorkshire Day. Yet there is one festival that has been attracting musicians from all around the world to the historic port of Whitby, Yorkshire for the last twenty years plus; the well-established multi-cultural festival called Musicport Festival.

Musicport offers an impressive range of world and folk music groups, choirs, groups and duos, storytellers and DJs from across the UK and from all around the globe. Musicport Festival takes place over the last weekend of October, under the impressive roof of a 19^th century landmark entertainment complex, the Whitby Pavilion. Standing atop West Cliff and facing the North Sea, Whitby Pavilion provides a unique setting for both audiences and performing artists in its welcoming performance spaces. These include a café which doubles up as the DJ hub, the downstairs hall aka North Sea Stage, the main concert hall, a breathtaking Edwardian theatre with its lush interior and theatre bar with extensive sea views. There’s also The Royal Hotel ballroom where a variety of creative workshops are held one hundred yards from Whitby Pavilion.

Musicport Festival Past + Present

Since its beginnings in 2000, Musicport Festival has proved a magnet for musical stars.

The festival was started and continued for these last twenty years plus, thanks to the vision and dedication of its founder, Jim McLaughlin, who recalls putting together the first programme of events. It featured global music, folk and reggae stars, E2K and renowned soul, jazz, funk singer-songwriter of the hit single, ‘It Must Be Love’, the great Labi Siffre. Back then, Musicport only occupied one concert space in the Whitby Pavilion, but word of mouth grew fast, and, by its second year, the festival had extended into all available performance spaces, which continues to today. As Musicport founder Jim McLaughlin recalls,

"The festival was my slightly off-the-wall idea back in 1999 and really only meant to be a one-off Millennium event … The festival is important for an area that is culturally quite isolated and it has been great to see over this 20 odd years how it has affected people lives, especially the young people we have involved in our activities. The festival’s future really depends on further developing the youth elements and embedding itself more fully within the local community.”

Working in conjunction with leading and award-winning global music booking agencies and promoters such as Concerted Artists, Midnight Mango, SASA Music Agency, Saya Arts and Serious has created a continuous stream of national and international musicians performing for  Musicport’s many stages.

Amazing Headline Acts for Musicport 2024

The diversity of Musicport 2024 is remarkable!
Headline acts for Musicport 2024 include: Grammy nominees and pioneers of the global music scene, Afro Celt Sound System; the one and only Jah Wobble (PiL’s John Lydon, Brian Eno) and The Invaders of the Heart. Songlines Music Fusion Award winners, star duo guitarist Justin Adams (Robert Plant, Tinariwen) with virtuoso violinist, Mauro Durante will also headline at Musicport 2024. Mauro Durante is one of the leading players in the internationally acclaimed Italian music ensemble, Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino. English folk-rock music legend Ashley Hutchings will be accompanied by Becky Mills for folk music and songs with charm and good humour. Afro-Futurist collective Fulu Miziki from DRC bring their dynamic fusion of  sounds as they make “music from garbage” literally performing on instruments they design, build and play from upcycling.

Songlines Music Award winners Divanhana are performing at Musicport 2024 for the first time with their fresh twist on sevdah songs and music. Malian star singer Rokia Koné will delight Musicport audiences with her emotive performances. Musicport 2024 is also delighted to present Sufi and qawwali songs and music from the sensational Chahat Mahmood Ali Qawwal Group.

Bosnian Supergroup Divanhana

Divanhana are the #1 sevdah group in Bosnia and Herzegovina, breathing new and exciting life into traditional Balkan folk songs. Sevdah - which translates as sadness - encompasses songs of longing and loss but their emotive and engaging renditions has led to a vigorous European and international touring schedule.

Divanhana made their highly successful London debut performance earlier in 2024 at the Songlines 25th Anniversary concert at London’s Barbican Centre. They are including Musicport in their debut autumn tour of England and are the headline act on Saturday October 26th. Divanhana’s Musicport show will follow on from their mega London show at the Jazz Café (Oct 24) before heading off to the Midlands Arts Centre in Birmingham (Oct 25) and from there to Musicport Festival. Divanhana’s latest album “Zavrzlama” – translating as ‘Knot’ and released through CPL Music - led them to be crowned Best Group in the 2023 Songlines Music Awards. This is a unique opportunity to see the #1 Balkan sevdah band in action with their passionate and powerful live performances.

Malian Star Singer, Rokia Koné
Taking to the stage for the headline slot on Friday 25 October at Musicport is a very special performance from Malian star singer, Rokia Koné. Rokia’s voice soars above infectious Mande guitar grooves and traditional percussion, and her captivating performances run the gamut of emotion from joy to despair, fury to tenderness, wielding that astounding voice with grace and power.

Following the release of her widely lauded debut album BAMANAN through Real World Records in 2022, in collaboration with rock producer Jacknife Lee (U2, R.E.M., Taylor Swift) which brought her two All Africa Music Award nominations and The New York Times Critic’s Pick, Rokia now presents her music in an intimate new setting for the very first time for a series of shows in Autumn 2024. Rokia will be performing at Musicport as part of her national tour which includes Nottingham’s Lakeside Arts (23 Oct), Bristol’s The Jam Jar (24 Oct), Musicport Festival (25 Oct) and the next evening concluding the tour at the Howard Assembly Rooms at Leeds (26 Oct). One of Mali’s most beloved and dynamic artists, Rokia Koné is a force to be reckoned with.

Chahat Mahmood Ali Qawwal Group

Musicport 2024 is delighted to present Chahat Mahmood Ali Qawwal Group whose soul-stirring sounds of traditional qawwali and Sufi music have taken the UK by storm. Since their first performance in 2023, they have performed a staggering amount of high profile and national events. The group was founded by Mahmood Ali and his son Chahat Ali who was recently hailed by Simon Broughton in the Financial Times as “Chahat Ali is only 21 years old, yet performs like a master”.

Ashley Hutchings MBE

Joining Musicport 2024 is bassist, vocalist, songwriter, arranger, band leader, writer, and record producer, Ashley Hutchings MBE. As a founding member of Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span, and The Albion Band, Ashley Hutchings has had a profound influence on shaping the folk- rock genre. He will be joined at Musicport by the immensely talented Becky Mills from North Yorkshire for performances that blend contemporary and classic folk traditions with wit, humour, and charm.

Participating Artists

The excitement continues with the uplifting Afro-cuban grooves of Orchestra Mambo International,  The Ukrainians in conversation and the pagan neo-folk of Galdorcraeft. Also featuring is the all-female vocal Chechen group Pankisi Ensemble, the award-winning duo, Qadasi and Maqhinga performing traditional Zulu Maskandi music. Poet, musician and comedian John Hegley will be accompanied by Eleanor Moreton on violin while singer, accordionist and song collector, Karolyn Werzygn, performs Polish folk music.

Tibetan Buddhist Tashi Lhunpo Monks
Masked sacred dances and Buddhist chants from the exiled Tibetan Buddhist Tashi Lhunpo Monks are a very special feature for Musicport 2024. Sharing their unique culture from their exiled monastery, the monks are performing as part of their international tour.

A Message from Musicport’s Creative Director, Simon Williams
“What's special to me about Musicport is its atmosphere, a coming together of people with passion for art, music and performance from every corner of the globe. It is a highlight of the year, one we really look forward to. It feels like coming home when Musicport is on. With a heap of enthusiasm and a bundle of ideas a small team of people gathered to continue Musicport. That team integrates its aspirations to continue to attract new generations to the festival whilst maintaining the world class international flavour of talent and creativity it is famous for. We strive moving forward to cater for a wide age range, to attract families whilst maintaining the safe, eclectic, warm and creative atmosphere that Musicport fans love.”

This year Musicport offers the best of Afro-Celtic beats, Bosnian sevdah, Chechen folk songs, Cuban grooves, English folk songs, Malian music, Sufi Qawwali and Tibetan sacred chants and music. This diversity keeps audiences returning and new ones excited to join the experience of Musicport for an unforgettable weekend. Musicport 2024 will take place from Friday October 25th to Sunday October 27 at Whitby Pavilion.

Musicport Festival 2024
Dates: Friday October 25 – Sunday October 27
Venue: Whitby Pavilion, West Cliff, Whitby, Yorkshire, YO21 3EN

Wheelchair Access
The Whitby Pavilion has ramps and a lift within the venue giving access to all areas with the only exception being the theatre balcony. 

https://whitbypavilion.co.uk/plan-your-visit/accessibility/

Musicport information
https://www.musicportfestival.com/

Artist Line Up
https://www.musicportfestival.com/artists-a-z/

Ticket Link
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/musicportfestivallimited/1058991