Sines, Portugal - The 6th edition of FMM - Festival Músicas do Mundo (World Music Festival) will take place in Sines (southwestern Portugal) next 29th, 30th and 31st of July. The 2004 program includes eight major concerts in the Castle, five documentary showings, two small concerts indoors, meetings with three artists in the Misericórdia Chapel, and three late-night concerts on a second stage, next to the beach, 100 meters below the Castle.

The major concerts in the Castle begin on the night of July 29th (Thursday). The Portuguese project Ronda dos Cuatro Caminhos “Terra de Abrigo” opens the event with a rare and exciting encounter between Alentejo’s traditional choirs and orchestral music. They are followed by Warsaw Village Band, the young folk band from Poland granted the “Newcomer” award in BBC Radio 3 World Music Awards 2004.

The second night of concerts in the Castle - July 30th, Friday - includes Savina Yannatou (Greece), one of the world’s great voices, now singing the Mediterranean songbook, David Murray Creole Project feat. Pharoah Sanders, two historical saxophones joining the rhythms of Guadalupe, and Tom Zé, the extraordinary Brazilian singer and composer, one of the most creative musicians in the world.

The festival in the Castle ends Saturday, July 31st, with three more concerts. First, Septeto Roberto Rodriguez, a happy marriage between Cuban and Jewish Music. After the Septeto, Rokia Traoré, the young and sophisticated Malian singer, already granted two critics award by BBC Radio3. Finally, Femi Kuti, full Afrobeat power enhanced by a fireworks ending.

All three nights, after the concerts in the Castle, the festival transfers to a second stage by the beach. Di Grine Kuzine, from Germany, perform on July 29th. Portuguese groups Nike Ensemble and Refilon perform the next two nights.

The documentary showings in the Misericórdia Chapel take place all nights from the 24th to the 28th of July. Also in the Chapel, 50mts west the Castle, the artists David Murray, Tom Zé and Roberto Rodriguez meet the fans on the 29th, 30th and 31st . The 16th century temple will host concerts as well: Pangeia Instrumentos, on the 30th of July, and München, on the 31st.

FMM - Festival Músicas do Mundo, organized since 1999 by Sines' City Hall, on the last weekend of July, is a music festival driven by a very open conception of world music, which embraces tradition, folk, jazz, blues and reggae.

In its five years of life the festival has entertained inside the walls of the old Castle more than 60,000 people of all ages, social origins and professional backgrounds.

[Photo 1, Ronda dos Cuatro Caminhos. Photo 2, Rokia Traoré. All photos courtesy of Festival Músicas Do Mundo].