The return of joyous kora grooves from Gambia

After a breathtaking concert in September 2024, we’re delighted to invite back the amazing Suntou Susso, a kora player, percussionist, singer and composer from the Gambia. He was born a Griot in the 700-year old tradition of the kora – a harp-lute with 22 strings, unique to the Mandinka people. As part of this incredible musical lineage Suntou has a unique societal role transmitting and preserving a people's culture through song, music and poetry.

Suntou's family includes some of the world's most highly respected West African musicians, such as his brother Seckou Keita, and his musical abilities are outstanding. It takes real accomplishment to make it look so easy.

We first met Suntou playing a small festival in Hampshire a couple of years ago when he’d just moved to the UK, and were delighted we could entice him to Petworth. He’s an incredibly charismatic performer, whose smile is as broad as his talents.

“Suntou Susso’s music brings nothing but good vibes as it combines the rich, traditional sound of his West-African Mandinka culture with Afro funk and soul” - Songlines ★★★★

+ Jess Tuthill

We’re delighted to welcome back Jess Tuthill - a singer from Reading whose pop songwriting is a breath of fresh air.

She has been honing her writing for over 20 years, culminating in her recent brilliant debut album “A Beautiful Disaster” produced by Mercury nominated Ed Harcourt.

For the last 8 years, her instrument of choice has been the ukulele, mainly so she can feel like a giant when she plays.