This duo brings echoes of their respective traditions to a vibrant new sound full of world rhythms, contemporary song-writing and joy. Both experienced collaborators in their own right, the binding force of their collaboration is freedom to explore genres on their traditional instruments: for Kate the clawhammer banjo and Matchume the timbila.

With lineage from Zavala, Inhambane Province, the centre of Mozambique’s timbila tradition, Matchume is regarded as one of the new masters of timbila. Kate has been described as ‘one of the top banjo players in the country’ by virtuoso Dan Walsh.

Kate and Matchume met during Making Tracks online residency amidst the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, where despite the barriers of virtual collaboration they resonated deeply with each other’s creative practice and music. Two years later they met in Maputo (Mozambique) to feel the magic in person and are now sharing their global sound in this UK tour.

Their show features Matchume’s arsenal of percussion including timbila, xitende, mbira, and congas, Kate’s banjo, and a supporting trio of Evan Carson on drums, Ben Evans on bass, and Ford Collier on low whistle and guitar.