Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

Pioneering Iraqi guitarist and singer-songwriter Ilham Al Madfai was the first in his country to internationalise Arabic music and blend it with contemporary world styles.

He brings a group of musicians to present his own sequence of music, and introduces young oud player Khyam Allami, whom he has been mentoring as part of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3's new World Routes Academy.

Now resident in London, Iraqi, Khyam Allami, still in his twenties, came to the oud – the Middle Eastern lute – via the violin, drums and bass guitar.

He is the first recipient of this exciting scholarship, founded to foster artistic collaborations and support young artists working in world music.

This is the first public showcase of this new scheme in the UK (9 August).