NU X-Pression
NU X-Pression is a diverse cross-art form performance company of young and emerging artists who came together through Community Arts North West’s three-year Urban Music Theatre Project.

NU X-Pression is now an independent arts company developing their own new work with support of CAN.

Contact: Amirtharaj (Raj) Govindarajah
Mobile: 07956 031983
Email: araj_2006@hotmail.co.uk
Website: http://nuxpression.wordpress.com/

Afrocats
Afrocats are one of the most dynamic and energetic performance groups around. Combining the most exciting elements of dance, drama and music in their work, they aim to create unity within diversity.

Afrocats perform and teach African, Caribbean and other forms of dance and drama. They work with all ages, groups and communities and regularly perform at a variety of venues and events across the UK. They have also worked with disadvantaged youth and refugees, sharing culture and tradition while teaching important career skills.

Afrocats was a nominated finalist in the Art Council's prestigious Art06 awards for its production of Where is Home?, a theatre piece which explores the issues faced by young refugees in the UK.

Contact: Magdalen Bartlett
Mobile: 07834 083437
Email: afrocats@hotmail.co.uk
Website: www.afrocats.co.uk

Kurdistan Art and Culture
Traditional Kurdish dance group. See below for details

Nestac
NESTAC Dance Group is unique in promoting the art of African-Caribbean Dance, while teaching the history behind every single dance; the use of various African-Caribbean instruments and their origins. It is therefore a mixture of 'Art and Educational activities', for the best of our body, mind and soul. Structured workshops are available for all, including schools, and dancers are available for performances.

Contact: Maggie Howlett
Telephone: 01706 868993
Email: maggie@nestac.org
Website: www.nestac.org

Asian Music Talent
Asian Music Talent is a bank of talented artists who perform Asian classical music such as the Ghazal and modern fast beat Asian music like Bhangra. The group includes singer and instrumentalist Kashif Ali and Ateeq who coordinates education activities.

Asian Music Talent are passionate about sharing their knowledge and abilities with communities across Manchester. They organise events such as solo artist nights, variety shows, festivals, and education workshops in schools on Asian music. They can give training in Asian instruments such as tabla, sitar, suntoor, dhool drum and harmonium.

Contact: Kashif Ali
Mobile: 07900 190512
Email: kashifali5@hotmail.com
Website: www.asianmusictalent.co.uk

Beating Wing Orchestra
Formed in Manchester from musicians of refugee and other migrant backgrounds coming from countries as diverse as Kurdistan and Cameroon, Bangladesh and Brazil, Beating Wing Orchestra speaks a global music vocabulary, forging new connections between the city's rich mix of communities.

Beating Wing were set up by Community Arts North West as part of the Exodus project. They had their debut performance in July 2007 to huge acclaim and 5 star reviews with a new piece commissioned by the Manchester International Festival and composed by Palestinian musician Reem Kelani. They performed again for Manchester International Festival 2009, this time with the African duo, Amadou and Mariam.

Contact: Community Arts North West
Telephone: 0161 234 2975
Email: katherine@can.uk.com
Website: www.can.uk.com/exodus/exodus_orchestra.htm

Britannia Rumba
Britannia Rumba is an exciting, talented dance and music band, consisting of 12 Congolese musicians aged 19-30 years. Many have played with the best of the Congolese bands in their home country. Their music is a fresh and unique British version of Congolese Rumba.

Band leader Jean Azip and the band are also available for a range of workshops in schools. For more details see here.

Contact: Jean Azip Blanchard
Mobile: 07944 803 444
Email: plaisir@deplaizir.com
Website: www.britannia-rumba.com; www.deplaizir.com

Educated Thugz!
Educated Thugz! is an 8-man strong Hip Hop/Rap/RnB group. Their love for the stage and their bond as a group of best friends is a huge factor in creating their music. Roles range from writing, producing, singing and of course rapping, allowing each member to get involved in all creative aspects of the group.

Most members are African in origin and others like B & May-Hem are of mixed cultural heritage. Educated Thugz! make Hip Hop with multi-cultural influences. They are a commercial group aiming for global success.
Contact: B
Mobile: 07784 280848
Email: educated-thugz@hotmail.com
Website: www.myspace.com/educatedthugzz

Ejovi
Ejovi is a Nigerian Gospel and R&B singer whose debut album Another State sold over 45,000 copies in Nigeria. Ejovi has performed at Exodus Live and Exodus Festivals.

Contact: Jeff Ukiri
Mobile: 07908 273196
Email: blissint@yahoo.ie

Heritage Survival
Heritage Survival is a group of talented musicians from Zimbabwe who have relocated to Manchester. The band plays Roots, Afro-jazz, reggae and world music, fusing guitars and Mbira, a Zimbabwean traditional instrument.

They have performed in a number of prestigious venues around the UK including Cholton Arts Festival 2009, Ocean in London, Manchester Academy, Womad Festival, Luton Carnival, Manchester Carnival, 'In The City' Manchester and have supported the famous Lagbwaja from Nigeria.

Heritage Survival also lead dance, percussion, song and drumming workshops in schools, colleges, community centres and at festivals around the UK.

Contact: Norman Muza
Mobile: 07512 793446
Email: jekanyika@hotmail.com
Website: www.myspace.com/theheritagesurvivalband

Kokoriko
Kokoriko play Jazz and Latin standards in an original style, fusing British and African sounds. It was formed by Cameroonian pianist and composer Serge Tebu working together with musicians from the UK and Africa. The band have performed at festivals and events across the North West, and they also run workshops.

Contact: Serge Tebu
Mobile: 07950 500267
Email: sgtebu@gmail.com
Website: www.myspace.com/kokorikospace

Kurdistan Art & Culture
Kurdistan Art and Culture (KAC) are a highly ambitious group of Kurdish artists that include visual artists, musicians, dancers, writers and film makers. The musicians and dancers have performed several times at the Exodus Festival, Exodus Live and across the North West. Their films show an insight into Kurdish culture and have been highly received at Exodus Shorts and other film festivals. The group is passionate about sharing their culture with other communities across Manchester.

Contact: Amang Kamil
Mobile: 07759 263611
Email: k.art_culture@yahoo.co.uk
Website: www.kurdistanculture.org

Nouvelle Alliance
Nouvelle Alliance is a live band created in 2005. Composed of Congolese and African musicians, Nouvelle Alliance shares Congolese culture through music and dance. As well as live concerts, Nouvelle Alliance leads workshops on Congolese music and dance in schools and colleges.

In January 2006, Nouvelle Alliance released Toyembela Yawhe, their first 10-track album with a video to promote their work. As a band, Nouvelle Alliance has built a strong reputation as one of the most exciting live music and dance groups in UK. Firm festival favourites, they electrify the crowd with their music and dance wherever they appear.

Contact: Louvain Ngandu
Mobile: 07728 551515
Email: nouvelleallianceuk@yahoo.fr
Website: www.myspace.com/nouvelleallianceband

Testimony
Testimony is a women's gospel band singing joy and hope, through performances and work with Manchester communities. Testimony's music is a fusion of African classical grooves and contemporary American gospel that will make you want to join in and dance.

Their work aims to bring people together in order to unite communites and promote well being. Testimony perform at different events including festivals, social and educative gatherings in schools, and churches across Manchester.

Contact: Emmanuella Machozi Yogolelo
Mobile: 07528 863388
Email: sremmanuela@gmail.com

Tolu
Tolu means Sunrise. Tolu are two musicians from Afghanistan who perform contemporary and traditional songs. They have recorded a 2 track demo at Community Arts North West's studio, and performed at many Exodus events since 2005.

Contact: Shahram Naurozi
Mobile: 07861 639053
Email: shosh-n@hotmail.com

Ya Freddy
Ya Freddy is a Congolese pop singer-songwriter. Ya Freddy has written and recorded a tribute song to Marc Vivien Foe the Manchester City player who tragically died in 2003. He has performed the song Foe, We All Miss You to 48,000 fans at Manchester City Stadium and in Albert Square.

Contact: Freddy Wanga
Mobile: 07950 455388
Email: yafreddywanga@yahoo.co.uk

Kurdish Creative Film Centre
Kurdish Creative Film Centre (KCFC) was founded in Manchester in 2006. KCFC is committed to the development of skills involved in theatre and film and to offer those skills to culturally diverse communities. KCFC focuses on preserving the cultural identity of diverse communities through the process of the work and providing the environment for the necessary skills to grow.

KCFC works with refugees, asylum seekers, ethnic minorities, youth groups and members of the host community who want to share their differences and similarities. They have made many short films, and are currently working on a feature film. They run an annual Kurdish Film Festival.

Contact: Alan Amin
Phone: 0161 234 2791 / 07916 288095
Email: kcfcfilm@yahoo.co.uk
Website: www.kurdishcreativefilm.com

Amang Kamil
Amang Kamil is a visual artist born in 1970 in Kurdistan. He finished his art study in Kurdistan, completed the Art and Design course at Stockport College and recently gained the City and Guild's National Diploma in Media and Film Making. He is the chairman of Kurdistan Art and Culture in Stockport.

He has participated in several group and private exhibitions in Kurdistan, Europe, Canada and UK. As he has come from a war torn country, his art reflects the suffering of the Kurdish people who have faced death and killing every day of their lives.

Contact: Amang Kamil
Mobile: 07759 263611
Email: k.art_culture @ yahoo .co.uk
Website: www.kurdistanculture.org