‘Galle Concerto 2024’

By Sanath Weerasuriya

 ‘Galle Concerto 2024’- Sri Lanka’s South Coast Festival season, six vibrant Festivals in Art, Food, Literature and Music, will come alive during the months from January to March as tourism promotional events to ’Call for Extended Stays on SL’s South Coast’.

During the South Coast peak season of January through March of 2024, the ‘Galle Concerto’ series gives impetus to a symphony of heritage and contemporary festivals in art, food, literature, and music. ‘Rhythms of Paradise’, Gourmet Galle, Southern Book Fair, Galle Literary Festival, Matara Festival for the Arts (MFA) and Opera at the Anantara are the six fixed programmes for the ‘Galle Concerto 2024’.

Leading Lankan and international culture makers will be headlining the events - speaking, presenting and creating on topics pertinent and inspiring to Sri Lanka and the global momentum in 2024.

The festivals are independently led, with the coming together of a ‘Concerto’ of events - organized to amplify the positive economic and touristic impact of cultural programming to host communities and the country - being conceived by President Wickremesinghe and supported by the Presidential Secretariat, SLTPB and SLTDA, and other ministries and local governmental bodies.

Independence Day 2024 Concert by MFA

The first ever ‘February 4th- Independence Day Concert’, a multifaceted celebration of music and artistic expression, organized by ‘Matara Festival for the Arts’ (MFA) set to ignite the Mahinda Wijesekara Grounds within the historic Matara Fort on Sunday, February 4th, 2024.

Matara Festival for the Arts (MFA), a celebration of Contemporary Art and Music from Sri Lanka and beyond, will kick off its first edition on independence weekend, 2 to 4 February 2024.
It follows the weekend after the Galle Literary Festival, providing tourists and Lankans alike with further reason to spend the start of the year out along the south coast.
The festival is banking on the distinctive power of an arts-led economic and social restart for the UNESCO-listed Matara Fort, Matara town, and the district. It also seeks to build bridges of vibrant and educative exchange via the arts with those from other parts of the country and international collaborators.

The primary programme is curated by esteemed contemporary artist and archaeologist Professor Jagath Weerasinghe, and musician and educator Dr. Sumudi Suraweera of Music Matters, and will see the unveiling of a feature exhibition and a concert – with artist and performer details to be announced ahead.

This electrifying concert on the Independence Day, curated by the musician and educator Dr. Sumudi Suraweera, promises an immersive journey through a vibrant tapestry of sounds.

‘This Independence Day, we wanted to create a sonic landscape that reflects the richness and diversity of Sri Lanka's multi-lingual musical heritage and contemporary evolution, while pushing the boundaries of artistic expression’ said Dr. Suraweera. ‘From avant-garde approach to traditional ritual music, to modern pop and jazz, to funky groovy riffs with sonic explorations, bossa nova and reggae rhythms, and a genre-fluid DJ set.’

Independence Day Concert will feature the pop-folk fusion of Amila Sanduruwan, the rituals and rhythms of Baliphonics, the smooth artistry of the Matara Jazz Quintet, the infectious energy of ‘Orange Mango’, the electrifying beats of Paloma, the dynamic collaboration of SDP Ft. Paula, the Carnatic-infused RnB and hip-hop stylings of Rolex Rasathy, and the beloved experimental blends of ‘The Soul’, and other surprise features in store.

The United States Agency for International Development is to be a Festival Patron and Music Programme partner for the ‘Matara Festival for the Arts’ Independence Day Concert. ‘This event embodies the spirit of cultural exchange and celebrates the power of music to connect people across borders and backgrounds. We believe supporting art and cultural events like inspires people to make their communities stronger, more vibrant and better for all who live there.’

Starting in January and entering into the festival period, USAID will be working with the MFA team on the ‘Freedom Sounds’ Community programme that collaborates with youth in Matara (ages 21-40) to explore the possibilities of music to facilitate self-expression, critical introspection and action social-good. Through activities that will tap into the practices of story-telling, empathy and activism - this programme will help aspiring Matara performers harness their capabilities for connecting with others and making positive change through music. Participants in the Freedom Sounds project will interact with all the performers and bands participating in the concert through its series of activities - some of which will also be open to the wider public attending the festival. This will also allow them to learn more about how these musicians have made viable careers through music, giving them insight into creative-economic pathways they too may wish to pursue more fully.

The number of passes will be limited to ensure the enjoyable capacity for the concert.

Follow MFA on Instagram and Facebook @mataraforarts or via our festival WhatsApp Community linked to those pages to learn how to secure these limited concert passes when they are released.

For any additional information, including partnerships please email your inquiries to info.freedomhublk@gmail.com