Okinawan and mainland Japan folk song (min'yo) & dance on Saturday 20 October at SOAS World Music Stage, part of the Bloomsbury Festival

A one-hour performance of Okinawan and mainland Japan folk song (min’yo) and dance will take place in Russell Square, as part of the Bloomsbury Festival.

This will be held on the SOAS World Music Stage, from 5-6pm on Saturday October 20th.

The first half-hour features two wonderful UK-based professional Japanese musicians: Yoshie Asano-Campbell (singer and dancer who married a Glaswegian) and Hibiki Ichikawa (Tsugaru-jamisen; he teaches and also performs frequently around …England). They will be backed by David Hughes and other non-Japanese on shakuhachi, shinobue flute, taiko and vocals.

The second half-hour is by about 15 members of the London Okinawa Sanshinkai, who will sing songs and also do the lively Eisa drum-dance.

This is an outdoor stage, and all are welcome – no charge. A wide variety of other musics as well, from 12 to 7 Saturday and 12 to 5 Sunday – see the Bloomsbury Festival website. Lots of diverse food stalls too.

You can listen to an excerpt of a folk song from Akita (Aneko Mo Sa), with shakuhachi and guitar rather than shamisen here Aneko Mo Sa (1st verse only) .