The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts has revealed its 2025 artist roster for the West Holts Stage, highlighting the inclusion of esteemed cellist and vocalist Abel Selaocoe among acts such as Doechii and Parcels.
Selaocoe will perform under the moniker Abel Selaocoe & The Bantu Ensemble, a group he established in 2022 that incorporates a distinctive fusion of classical music, traditional African sounds, jazz influences, and his original compositions. His latest album, Hymns of Bantu, was recently issued through Warner Classics, where he is an exclusive artist.
The Bantu Ensemble’s lineup features Selaocoe on cello and vocals alongside Alan Keary on electric bass, Fred Thomas on piano, and Dudù Kouaté providing African percussion. Since its inception, the ensemble has graced prestigious venues including the Vienna Konzerthaus, Berlin Konzerthaus, Luxembourg Philharmonie, and Carnegie Hall.
Additional musicians scheduled to join the ensemble at Glastonbury include Bernhard Schimpelsberger (percussion), violinists Eva Thorarinsdottir, Max Baillie, Will Newell, and Alessandro Ruisi, violists Ruth Gibson and Nick Bootiman, cellist Peteris Sokolovskis, bassist Toby Hughes, and vocalists Alice Zawadzki and Irini Arabatzi.
Expressing enthusiasm on social media, Selaocoe stated, “GLASTONBURY, LET’S GO! So excited to be hitting the West Holts stage with The Bantu Ensemble this year! This one’s gonna be special — see you in the fields!”
Glastonbury’s official website praises Selaocoe as an “outstandingly engaging performer” who uniquely bridges African and classical music traditions. It notes his performances are deeply visceral, showcasing virtuosic cello playing, body percussion, and vocals that soar and soothe, even incorporating Xhosa throat singing. The festival highly recommends his deeply emotional artistry.
Background and Career Highlights
Originally from South Africa and now based in the United Kingdom, Abel Selaocoe holds artistic partnerships including his role as an artistic partner with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, artist in association with the BBC Singers, and artist-in-residence at the Kölner Philharmonie. He founded the Chesaba trio, which specializes in African music featuring many of his compositions.
Recent notable achievements include the world premieres of two compositions he wrote for the Signum Quartet and The Hermes Experiment, performed at the Kölner Philharmonie and Wigmore Hall respectively.
A graduate of the Royal Northern College of Music, Selaocoe performs on a replica of a circa 1735 Montagnana cello built by luthier Robin Aitchison in 2020, an instrument supported by the Alan Powell Trust.
— The Violin Post Editorial Staff
