WOMAD

George Kamikawa & Noriko Tadano

15:00 8th March on the Moreton Bay Stage (5)

George Kamikawa Biography

George hails from Japan and has spent the last 10 years honing his skills to become an exemplary country blues artist. His playing is typified by its raw energy and broad tonal range-from delicate harmonics to searing rips and slides on guitar, soulful singing and driving rythms on harmonica. With nearly 10 years of professional experience, George has fronted various rock and blues bands playing in pubs and restaurants in both Japan and New Zealand. In 2001 George moved to Australia and began busking and working in a blues duo performing at venues around Melbourne. In 2003 he recorded his debut solo CD 'Blue to the Bone' and toured extensively throughout Australia, New Zealand and Japan. In 2004 he won the Australian Country Music Busking Championship at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, receiving critical acclaim in the national print media.
(Provided by Myspace 2009)

Noriko Tadano Biography

Noriko Tadano plays both traditional Japanese folk songs (minyo) as well as original pieces on the Tsugaru Shamisen (Japanese Banjo). She has been playing Shamisen since she was 6 years old and has performed in Japan and at Festivals and events all over Australia. Noriko's ability and drive to cross over between traditional and modern Japanese music has recently seen her perform with renown blues and jazz musicians as well as traditional Japanese musicians. While traditional Minyo depicts the life and feelings of 'older' Japan, centering around the themes of love, family and the close connection with nature, Noriko's original pieces explore feelings and experiences through melodic notes and often heart pounding beats.
(Biography provided by Myspace 2009)