Since 2001 Way Art West has produced tours and commissions on its own behalf. With a knack for finding new talent and delivering major tour and media success, it has developed strong links with Spanish acts. Two recent tours featured the most popular re-interpreters of flamenco; electro-pop flamenco fusionists Chambao and flamenco jazz sensation Buika. Neither artist was know in the UK but effective media campaigns delivered substantial audiences and press interest including a World Music Award nomination for Buika in 2009

Way Art West fund raised, brokered relations between artist, record company funding bodies and PR. Additionally it booked, and produced the tour from preproduction, contracting handling all UK tax and permit matters.

Running from November 2006 until January 2008 this complex commission was managed on behalf of Music Beyond Mainstream. In order to deliver funding was sought and delivered by Arts Council and South West Screen. Additionally partnership and financial commitment was delivered by WOMAD, Realworld Records and The South Bank Centre

The project had a total of twenty eight personnel including artist and crew. On stage the line-up included Martin and Eliza Carthy, Billy Bragg, Sheila Chandra, Chris Wood and the Copper Family. With members of The Dhol Foundation, Transglobal Underground and Afrocelt Sound System, the band was completed with film contributions from John Copper and Benjamin Zephaniah.

From initial rehearsal at the Realworld Studios in Wiltshire, the live show incorporated folk, electronica and filmed elements, making it the one of the most complex world music show to tour in recent years. By securing the funding and support of the partners, the show was premiered to critical and audience acclaim at WOMAD in July 2007, touring the concert hall circuit including Brighton Dome, Bridgewater Hall Manchester and Sage Gateshead culminating in a packed house at London's Royal Festival Hall.

Women of Cape Verde / Palop Africa

Palop Africa and Women of Cape Verde introduced UK audiences to the music of Portuguese speaking Africa and in the process launched the international careers of Manecas Costa and Lura

This long term touring and artist development project comprised album releases, touring and broadcast. Initially funded by a grant from the Portuguese Arts Trust, research was carried out into the African music scene in Lisbon. From this research contacts were established and a revue style band created that was fronted by well known artists from Mozambique, Angola, Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde. After rehearsals, in Lisbon a UK tour took place visiting 10 cities. To coincide with the tours records were released including the album Palop Africa compiled by Way Art West and released in the UK on Sterns records.

Following on from these tours two artists careers were launched in the UK. After completing his UK debut with Palop Africa project Way Art West represented Manecas Costa. This resulted in negotiations and the signing of a recording contract with BBC Worldwide. Lura who first toured the UK as part of Women of Cape Verde was featured on the front cover of The Times Knowledge and received two nominations in the BBC world music awards. Her debut tour sold out in most venues.

Crossing the Tracks

Platforming performance and music from Britain's diverse communities in the Southwest, turning Colston Hall into a festival site

Way Art West successfully raised funds from the Arts Council England for a project at Bristol’s Colston Hall; the first time that the venue had received project funding from ACE. This was for the mini festival Crossing the Tracks a show case event fro Britain’s culturally diverse performing arts. The event spread over two days also provided the venue with many experimental ways to present performance in a variety of spaces, including the opportunity to run two performances simultaneously, performance in the round and cabaret.

On the club night performers included Sister India, DJ Erik Soul and DJ Pathaan and Netsayi. The Jazz night included and Andy Hamilton and the Bluenotes and Dele Sosimi’s Afrobeat Orchestra.

Bristol Night Safe

Multi media club night reclaims the streets  for 6000 in Bristol

Nightsafe was an open air club night in the heart of Bristol’s old financial district, which was now home to many of Bristol’s clubs. Funded under an initiative from the home office to make city centres safer, we took the decision to hit club culture head on with an event that brought people into the centre whilst appealing

Bristol’s Blackout Arts provided the visuals, projecting film and moving images onto buildings with VJ The Ombudsman mixing images. Live featured I am the Mighty Jungulator and Hextatic; their drum and bass workout of Nancy Sinatra’s These Boots are Made for Walking was a site to behold!

The event attracted in excess of 6000 people through the night mixing regular town centre punters with an eclectic group of Bristolians from other parts of the city. A safe night of fun and frolics.

Eddie Palmieri / Spanish Harlem Orchestra

Tour Management and Productiont

Way Art West has produced and toured artists on behalf of a range of clients taking work into clubs, concert halls and fesitvals.

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