Global Music with Wedding Jam

(image: Buena Vista Social Club)

Whatever you call it - traditional music, folk, roots, global music - indigenous sounds from all corners of the world help to make music the magical melting pot that it is. Whether it's reggae, bhangra, bossa nova, Balkan folk, ceilidh, Latin, Afrobeat, Salsa, or something completely different, these wonderful styles and rhythms can illuminate any occasion.

The term 'world music' has come to be seen as problematic, due to the way in which it marginalises music rooted in non-Western cultures. It would be absurd to categorise rap, rock and pop under one single genre such as something like 'American music', which is why indigenous music needs to be treated with same level of respect as anything from the West. They are sounds to be celebrated and showcased - not shoved to the fringes - and at Wedding Jam we love and embrace the rich variety of sounds from around the globe, and are always looking for more elite traditional acts to add to our ever-expanding roster.

The ease with which music can be accessed and shared nowadays has seen a long-overdue growth in the appetite for global music, with music lovers' collections increasingly embracing eclectic sounds from around the world. We've seen a growing demand for roots music at weddings in the UK, too, and it's a buzz for us to be able to deliver on such inquiries.

So what have we got? Here's just a selection...

The thrillingly energetic Candela are an authentic Latin band with a sun-soaked vibe that is ideal for a summer wedding. These cats bring a whole host of rhythms and styles, such as salsa, Afrobeat, calypso, reggae, samba, rumba, cha cha cha, bolero and more, as well as taking modern classics from different genres and giving them the Candela treatment. An utter joy!

Faith i Branko serve up Serbian, Balkan, Gypsy and Roma Music...blending gypsy jazz, classical, Indian, Turkish, Balkan and contemporary compositions - and their ability to seamlessly switch up from romantic to raucous makes for the perfect wedding soundtrack if this is the kind of vibe you're after.

Offering a different spin on Candela's Latin flavours are the brilliant Caliente Groove, a red-hot 7 piece who blend traditional Latin rhythms with contemporary dance beats. Featuring a glorious horn section, they also boast one of the largest repertoires on the Wedding Jam roster.

From Birmingham, The Reggulites make the most delightful, good vibes reggae sounds, while The One Love Steel Band bring a different Caribbean flavour - delivering exactly what it says on the tin courtesy of their sun-drenched steel drum sound.

A number of our string musicians embrace indigenous sounds, with electric violinist Naomi in particular boasting a enormous range of Latin, Bollywood, Arabic and Bossa Nova tracks in her arsenal. Check out her incredible repertoire!

And from the world of roots music closer to home, we have the likes of The Rambling Fiddle Band who knock out the finest fiddle-driven Irish folk, with generous helpings of rootsy US country sounds too.

Ultimately, it's all just music. When you're a kid, in those formative years, and you hear something that moves you, something that sounds magical, the last thing on your mind is "what genre is this?". It's just music. At Wedding Jam, it's all just music. Music to dance to, music to change all of our lives - and your weddings - for the better.

And by way of a small celebration of these rich and magical sounds, we've put together 10 non-Western gems for you in this little playlist - incorporating Brazilian bossa nova, Afrobeat, gypsy/Romanian folk, Ghanaian Highlife, calypso, Iranian psych, Ethiopian jazz and more...it's all just music!