Big World Festival is a new world music festival in Folkestone, running 1–4 October 2026 and produced by Shapeshifter Productions. The inaugural edition brings participatory events and world-class performances from artists including Suntou Susso, Andrew Cronshaw, Tigran Aleksanyan, Baka Beyond, Alfredo Martin Espindola and the London Bulgarian Choir.
Across four days the town fills with musical traditions from every latitude — the tabla, the duduk, the djembe, the kora and the bandoneon — a festival made to connect people, celebrate culture and strengthen community through music.
Artistic Directors
Alison Jones & Sarah Quist
Produced by
Shapeshifter Productions
The tide table
The ocean’s roar is music to the soul
Kollectiv The QuarterhouseThe Southcliff Hotel St Mary & St Eanswythe’sVenue TBC
01
Thursday
1st October
7.30–8.30 pm
Andrew Cronshaw with Tigran AleksanyanMulti-instrumentalist meets the Armenian duduk
Four days of world music at the edge of England. Kora and duduk, Bulgarian voices and Argentine tango — carried into a small seaside town by the same winds that built it.
Suntou Susso is a multi-instrumentalist – kora player, percussionist, singer and composer – from The Gambia who was born a Griot. His primary instrument, the kora, is a harp-lute with 22 strings and is unique to the Griots of the Mandinka people. Coming from a 700-year-old tradition, Griots play an important cultural role as peacekeepers, advisors and oral historians, preserving and transmitting a people's culture through the generations using song, music and poetry.
Since the release of his self-written debut album, Kanéfonyo (Never Give Up), in 2022, Suntou's career has gained serious momentum and he is an in-demand and charismatic performer. 2025 saw the release of his long-awaited second studio album, Jaliya Silokang – The Path of a Griot. Drawing on the wisdom of elders and youth alike, Suntou acts as a vessel imparting lessons in how to live a good and honest life in today's world. The album is both a journey into heritage and a bright, hopeful vision for what lies ahead – he is at once a guardian of the Griot tradition and a bold innovator of its future.
Suntou performs in a range of musical settings: solo with a more traditional sound, leading his seven-piece band whose music innovatively blends Mandinka musical traditions with jazz, funk and soul, and as part of a British-Gambian folk duo, among other collaborations and projects. Suntou's musical abilities are considered unique for his generation.
Suntou's family includes some of the world's most highly respected West African musicians, including Seckou Keita, Solo Cissokho and Mamudou Susso.
Career highlights and collaborations
2026: Awarded two Gold Medals in the Global Music Awards for Composer / Composition and Originality / Creativity categories
2026: Shortlisted in the Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik (German Record Critics' Award) in the Traditional Ethnic Music category
2025: Suntou released his second album Jaliya Silokang – The Path of a Griot with a large sold-out album launch at 229 in London
2025: Suntou and his Dad, Griot elder and kora master Jali Mamudou Susso, performed the Father & Son Tour in 15 venues across the UK (70% of shows sold out)
2024: Solo tour (80% of shows sold out)
2024: Played on Mark Radcliffe's BBC Radio 2 Folk Show programme
2024: Toured with half-brother Seckou Keita and his Homelands Band
2024: Performed at 29 music festivals including Glastonbury, WOMAD and Green Man Festival
2024: Recorded for Boris Grebenshchikov with Rolling Stones producer Chris Kimsey
2024: Featured and performed on BBC Radio Four's Last Word special about the life of legendary kora player Toumani Diabaté
2024: Honoured as an Honorary Benefactor Member of UNESCO Gambia for his contribution to cultural preservation
2024: Led a film crew to Gambia to make a documentary about his culture, and while there, performed a Homecoming Tour with his Gambian band
2023: Completed a 20-date UK album tour with his six-piece band
2023: Supported Vieux Farka Touré as part of his UK tour
2023: Recorded with This Is The Kit on their latest album, produced by Gruff Rhys, and consequently performed with them at Glastonbury 2024 on the Park Stage
2022: Released his debut album, Kanéfonyo (Never Give Up), receiving a 4-star review from Songlines Magazine
2018: Performed alongside world-famous Senegalese singer Youssou N'Dour at the O2
2017: Key member of Norway-based Kristin Asbjornsen Trio, co-composed and recorded a successful album, performing at jazz festivals around Europe
2016: A member of Ghazalaw – an Indian-Welsh fusion project featured on BBC Radio 2, 3 and 6
2014: Performed with celebrated jazz singer Sarah Jane Morris and guitarist Tony Remy at Ronnie Scott's
2014: Performed alongside South African opera singer Pumeza Matshikiza and brother Sura Susso on ITV's This Morning
2012: Performed with Davide Mantovani in a kora and modern jazz fusion
The duo of Andrew Cronshaw and Tigran Aleksanyan reflects the UK's present-day multiculture in its unusual, richly melodic and seductive music, deeply rooted in the traditions familiar to multi-instrumentalist Cronshaw – particularly the old, strong monophony of English, Scottish and Finnish folk-song – and the winding Armenian melodies of duduk master Aleksanyan. Their musical conversation is, like all living traditions, an evolution from deep roots into the present day.
Andrew Cronshaw
Andrew's main instruments with the duo are his spacious-sounding 74-stringed electrified zither, chiming 44-stringed marovantele (his own invention, a double-sided Finnish kantele/Malagasy marovany hybrid), the soft-toned brass-reeded Chinese ba-wu, and the rippling harmonics of a huge Slovak fujara whistle.
Since 1974 he has released ten solo albums; Ochre was nominated for both the BBC Folk Awards and the BBC Awards for World Music. The most recent, Zithers, is entirely solo. Kulku, the most recent album by his Finnish/British/Armenian band SANS, topped the world music charts and won an EMMA (Finnish Grammy).
Tigran Aleksanyan
Tigran is one of the world's leading masters of Armenia's exquisitely soft-toned reed instrument, the duduk. Born in Artashat in the Ararat Mountains, at seventeen he joined the Armenian State Dance Ensemble and toured worldwide with them. He moved to Britain in 2001, and since then has played with Andrew Cronshaw, singer Yasmin Levy, the 35-piece La Banda Europa and others, and in studio and film sessions. He returns frequently to Armenia, where he co-founded the Armenian National Duduk Ensemble, whose debut album was released on US label Traditional Crossroads in 2010.
For over 30 years, Baka Beyond has been blending African and Celtic music into an electrifying mix that gets everyone dancing. Their music transcends mere beats, focusing on bridging cultures and spreading joy. Inspired by the Baka Pygmies of Cameroon, founders Martin Cradick and Su Hart were deeply moved by the Baka's spirit during their first visit to the Cameroon rainforest, prompting them to share this experience with the world.
Their debut album, Spirit of the Forest, catapulted them to global fame, yet they have remained true to their roots, ensuring royalties go back to the Baka through their charity, Global Music Exchange. The band now brings together Martin and Su with Irishman David O'Farrell on drums and fiddle prodigy Ben Weedon on Celtic flair, alongside Ayodele (Sierra Leone) and Kibisingo (Congo), who create the authentic African groove.
“Baka Beyond are the perfect festival band… great for parties and concerts. They are the full package. Our audience and volunteers love them.”Terry Wickham, Edmonton Folk Music Festival, Canada
“Keeping still is only an option for the dead, or those too mesmerised by the sheer joy of it all.”Metro
At Big World Festival
Baka Beyond bring their full live show to The Quarterhouse on Friday 2 October, opening the night alongside Wild Women are Wonderful. The following morning they lead a hands-on Baka Beyond Music Workshop at The Southcliff – a chance to learn the rhythms and grooves behind the band's sound, no experience necessary.
The Tango Terra Quartet is a highly acclaimed, London-based Argentine Tango live music ensemble. From Golden-era composers to Astor Piazzolla and beyond, they bring fresh elements to the already dramatic journey of tango's signature sounds, with plenty of space for the genius of these accomplished musicians – and for the dancers who bring the music to life on the floor.
John Turville – piano
One of the leading pianists and educators on the UK jazz scene. A graduate of Cambridge and the Guildhall, his awards include the MOJO Jazz Album of the Year (2012), Best Album at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2011, and Best Instrumentalist at the 2010 London Jazz Awards. He has worked and recorded with many of Europe's leading jazz and tango groups, including Tim Garland's Lighthouse Trio, the London Tango Orchestra, the London Jazz Orchestra, Natacha Atlas and Gilad Atzmon.
Carola Hengstenberg – violin
A Bristol-based violinist classically trained from the age of three, Carola spent several years studying string quartet music under Vladimir Kovalev, former solo violist of the Moscow Contemporary Music Ensemble. Over the last decade her enthusiasm for tango music and dance has led her to explore both traditional and alternative tango styles, performing at UK tango events and festivals with ensembles including Tango Terra and Tango Calor. Since 2024 she has run the Bristol Community Tango Orchestra as part of the Creative Caminito project.
Javier Fioramonti – bandoneon
Javier moved to London from his native Argentina in 1991. He began with the music of Astor Piazzolla as a student at the National School of Music in Rosario, before moving into more traditional Argentine tango playing. He spent over five years touring the UK and Europe with Salsa Celtica, is composer/arranger and MD of his own project The Mantecas, and produces and records at Angel Studios for De Wolfe Music, the UK's oldest music production company.
Alfredo Martin Espindola – dance & percussion
A dancer and multi-instrumentalist who has played regularly in the UK tango scene for over 20 years, Alfredo is now based in Folkestone and continues to organise the iconic Tango Terra milonga in Covent Garden, London, now in its 15th year. A dedicated practitioner across both tango and contemporary dance, his analytical approach is shaped by an earlier career as a high-performance athlete and coach, representing Argentina internationally in track and field before turning fully to dance and choreography. His work spans collaborations with choreographers Jose Agudo and Claire Cunningham, productions at the Royal Festival Hall and the Roundhouse, and fusion projects bridging tango with contemporary dance theatre.
Carolina Burkhard – dance
An international dancer, teacher and choreographer originally from Buenos Aires, Carolina trained extensively in Argentina across contemporary dance, theatre jazz, ballet, tap and hip-hop, before specialising in Argentine Tango – spending over 14 years training intensively in Buenos Aires across classic tango salón, nuevo tango and stage tango. She completed the International Tango Salon Teacher Career at Corporación Tango, a qualification recognised by the International Dance Council (CID). Based in London since 2018, she teaches, performs and travels internationally, creating dance journeys that connect people with Argentine culture and the living essence of tango.
With the award-winning London Bulgarian Choir, you can count on crunchy harmonies, wonky rhythms and exuberant hiccups, woven into powerful tales of love and loss, fighting and celebration. Founded in 2000 by Dessislava Stefanova, a former singer with the legendary Philip Koutev Bulgarian National Folk Ensemble in Sofia, the choir is now 40-strong, and their playful and passionate performances transcend language barriers and stir the emotions.
The choir's spirited repertoire of London-flavoured Bulgarian folk songs, in traditional and contemporary arrangements, has been enjoyed at festivals and in concert halls and cathedrals all over Europe. They have released three albums – Alyana Galyana (2007), Goro Le Goro (2012) and Songs of Forbidden Love (2019) – collaborated with musicians from Cerys Matthews to Nigel Kennedy, and guest-starred on the BBC, on Netflix and at the National Theatre.
Musical Director, Dessislava Stefanova
An experienced international performer while still at school, Dessi went on to become a professional singer and assistant conductor with the renowned Philip Koutev Bulgarian National Folk Ensemble. She settled in London in 2000, founded the choir, and quickly established a reputation as a teacher and conductor of Bulgarian singing. She leads international voice workshops and large choral productions, and directs the Swiss Bulgarian Choir. Her voice lends drama to key moments in films including Troy, The Brothers Grimm, The Virgin Queen, Borat and HALO 4 and 5. In 2023 Dessi was named a Bulgarian Ambassador of Culture by Bulgarian National Radio in recognition of her work raising Bulgaria's cultural profile worldwide.
“The choir does not aspire to being a simple carbon copy of a Bulgarian original, but has instead forged its own sound.”Songlines Magazine
“A guaranteed stunning, aural delight.”Time Out
“The London Bulgarian Choir filled the venue with their unearthly harmonies.”Cerys Matthews
Wild Women Katie Bradley, Sarah Quist, Alison Jones and Alice Phelps come together to tell their stories through a shared love of music, song and poetry – a compelling collaboration that celebrates the powerful voices of women across four generations. The four met in the beating heart of Folkestone's vibrant music scene, and are delighted to be opening for Baka Beyond at The Quarterhouse.
The title, “Wild Women are Wonderful”, was inspired by a song penned by Carol Grimes, and the project is a tribute not only to Carol but to all women across generations. Having premiered at the Music in May Festival, Folkestone, the artists are excited about it growing and developing organically. They are joined on stage by Nev Willis on guitar, Dan Bowery on bass and Mykola Mishurenko on drums/percussion.
“Wonderful gig, what an amazing line-up.”Audience feedback
Katie Bradley – vocals, harmonica
An award-winning British blues vocalist, songwriter and harmonica player, Katie has earned international acclaim for her album Anchor Baby Sessions, securing her Songwriter of the Year and nominations for Blues Vocalist of the Year at the British Blues Awards 2026 – the only UK female blues vocalist nominated every year for 12 consecutive years. A familiar figure on the UK blues circuit, she has performed at Ronnie Scott's, The 100 Club and London Hippodrome, and toured the UK, Europe and the USA alongside artists including Suzanne Vega and Georgie Fame.
Sarah Quist – vocals
An accomplished singer and actress with a career spanning international music and theatre, Sarah began performing alongside musicians including Herbie Flowers and Hazel O'Connor at venues such as Ronnie Scott's and The 100 Club. As a recording artist she has contributed to several albums, including sessions in Memphis with legendary soul producer Willie Mitchell. Alongside music, Sarah is an established actress who has appeared in productions for Netflix, HBO and the BBC, and worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre.
Alison Jones – violin
A highly accomplished violinist with over 45 years of professional experience, Alison performed internationally as featured soloist with Spirit of the Dance in sold-out arenas across the USA, Europe and Australia, and shared festival stages with Van Morrison, Suzanne Vega and the Pet Shop Boys. She later founded the performing arts charity Shapeshifter Productions – producer of Big World Festival – delivering award-winning community music projects. She now lives in Sandgate, where she remains active in the local creative and music scene.
Alice Phelps – harp, violin, voice
Alice composes from the harp and violin, creating orchestral and choral pieces reflecting on experiences she has witnessed or come across. After a sell-out show at the legendary Passing Clouds venue, she has taken London by storm playing at the Union Chapel, the National Portrait Gallery, the Royal Academy of Arts and Ronnie Scott's, and performs weekly at the acclaimed Jamboree with London's top jazz musicians.
Be a part of Big World Festival 2026. This is a call out for volunteers to help distribute flyers and help out at the venues. If you would like free access to our incredible events, follow the link below.
Shapeshifter Productions is a performing arts charity looking for passionate, experienced and committed volunteers who would like to support our new project: Big World Festival.
Big World Festival is a new world music festival in Folkestone, running 1–4 October 2026, produced by Shapeshifter Productions. The inaugural festival will feature participatory events and world-class performances from artists including Suntou Susso, Andrew Cronshaw, Tigran Aleksanyan, Baka Beyond, Alfredo Martin Espindola and the London Bulgarian Choir. Showcasing diverse musical traditions and instruments such as Kora, Tabla, Duduk, Djembe, Violin and Bandoneon, the festival aims to connect people, celebrate culture and strengthen community through music.
We will need volunteers to help with:
Flyering: do you know the best places to hang out in Folkestone and surrounding areas? Do you know which shops, record stores and venues accept flyers? We need you to support us by spreading the word!
Stewarding: festival stewards carry out a range of important roles to make sure the festival runs smoothly. You could be checking tickets at the venue door or ushering people in.
You will benefit from free entrance to the festival programme when not fully booked/sold out.
We need our volunteers to be available during 1st to 4th October 2026 and in advance to distribute flyers and posters from end of July through to September (very flexible). Areas to cover: Folkestone & Hythe, down to Romney/Dungeness; Ashford, Canterbury, Dover, Deal/Sandwich, Ramsgate, Broadstairs, Margate, Herne Bay, and Whitstable. Travel expenses will be covered on presentation of a receipt. A car is useful!
Big World Festival
Call for Volunteers
Be a part of Big World Festival 2026. This is a call out for volunteers to help distribute flyers and help out at the venues. If you would like free access to our incredible events, follow the link below.
For press enquiries, partnerships, artist bookings, or any general questions about Big World Festival, get in touch with the team — we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
Curious who's behind Big World Festival? Read more about our Artistic Directors, Sarah Quist and Alison Jones, and the story of Shapeshifter Productions.
For more than 40 years Sarah Quist has been performing, creating, and bringing people together through music, theatre, and storytelling. She is a professional singer-songwriter, actress, performance poet and writer whose work brings together music, storytelling and the spoken word. Sarah is also a public speaking coach for people such as the investigative, award-winning journalist Carol Cadwalladr.
With a voice described as soulful, powerful and deeply expressive, Sarah has built an international career performing jazz, blues and original material across the UK, Europe and beyond. Sarah is also co-creator of the Wild Women Are Wonderful Project, a project conceived together with Carol Grimes and Katie Bradley that celebrates the power of women’s voices.
Alongside her music career as a singer/songwriter, Sarah trained at RADA and has enjoyed a successful acting career, is a published children’s author, performance poet and writer, and is currently developing two original screenplays. Her passion for storytelling runs through everything she creates.
“Big World grew from a desire to create a space where people can discover music, stories, and cultures from around the world. Inspired by my Ghanaian heritage and Folkestone’s strong sense of community, it’s a celebration of connection through music. I hope it inspires curiosity, joy, and a shared sense of belonging.”Sarah Quist
Alison Jones brings over 45 years’ experience as a professional violinist, performing internationally at festivals including WOMAD, Celtic Connections and Irish dance spectacular, Spirit of the Dance. Alison’s work fuses global musical traditions, as experienced in her original compositions such as Express Symphony and Resonance.
As Artistic Director and founder of Shapeshifter Productions, her passion for cultural exchange, developed through delivering award-winning community music projects and large-scale works such as WILDFIRE! supported by Creative Scotland, East Winds and WAM supported by Arts Council England, has led to the creation of Big World, in collaboration with Sarah Quist, aiming to bring communities together in Folkestone through experiencing high quality music from around the world.
Founded in 2007, Shapeshifter Productions has long used diverse programming to inspire, educate, transform and unite people. With extensive experience producing music and cultural events, they have worked with world class artists to share international experiences with local audiences. Big World will be their first festival production of this scale dedicated to world music, combining performance, engagement and cultural celebration.
“Our aim is to inspire audiences of all ages and backgrounds to not only come and experience this vibrant programme, but to join in the workshops and talks, discover beautiful music and make new friends, creating a wonderful annual event to look forward to with its own unique identity.”Alison Jones
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