I saw a great show with Bela Fleck and the Flecktones at the Chicago Bluegrass and Blues Festival in the Congress Theatre just before Xmas.  He featured the great Tuvan throat singers Alash (I will definitely be playing them on air). A highlight was seeing him play Jingle Bells and Charlie Brown’s christmas with the throat singers providing “harmonies”. Bela is in category by himself and so musically gifted, he plays the banjo like no one else. A thoroughly enjoyable one day musical fest. He will be at Eisenhower on March 3rd featuring a collaboration with African musicians. Snakes Alive!

The March third collaboration with African musicians sounds great.  His recent recorded collaboration , Throw Down Your Heart: African Sessions is a terrific CD,  and has gotten quite a bit of airplay on the Folk Show.

I wanted to follow up on your mention of the Tuvan group ALASH, too. 

ALASH with be at the WPSU studios on SAT MAY 1 for an Acoustic Brew Concert. 

  Their singing style is unusual,  to say the least,  but beautiful,  and emotionally powerful as well.  For more info,  go to acousticbrew.org  (and sign up for the ABC email and snail mail ! )