02/07/2009

Available for over a year

The best of the world's arts, film, music, literature and music brought to you every day. Presented by Mark Coles. Steve Reich The American minimalist composer Steve Reich has been called 'the most original musical thinker of our time' (the New Yorker). His distinctive sound has been influential to composers and pop musicians all over the world. His latest creation, 2x5, is a rock piece and premieres tonight at the Manchester International Festival on a double bill with pioneering German electronic music group, Kraftwerk. Soul Power In 1974, some of the biggest names in American R&B travelled to Zaire to perform alongside African stars for Zaire '74, a three day music festival. James Brown, BB King and Miriam Makeba performed at the historic gig that was combined with the legendary boxing match between Mohammed Ali and George Foreman. For the first time footage from the concert has been released in a new documentary Soul Power and The Strand talks to director Jeffrey Levy-Hinte. Muhammad Ali, Bill Withers and Don King. Lunch with a punch; boxer Muhammad Ali, soul singer Bill Withers and promoter Don King. Fred D'Aguiar Though he was born in the UK, the writer Fred D'Aguiar was brought up in Guyana and it has long inspired his award-winning poetry and prose. In his latest book Continental Shelf, he returns to his Caribbean childhood but in the light of his experiences during the Virgina Tech Massacre in 2007 where he teaches. On The Strand he talks to Mark Coles about memory, loss and the power of poetry.