ARTUBA with DOCTAH EDSON BURTON presents: Long Time Gal

As part of our Black History Month celebrations, we are thrilled to be welcoming ARTUBA and Doctor Edson Burton to Front Room.

Long Time Gal is a heartwarming odyssey from the Caribbean to Britain, including original and much loved traditional songs from ARTUBA with storytelling from Doctah Burton.

ARTUBA’S musical influences are drawn from a wide range of styles such as Calypso, Reggae, Blues, Caribbean folk songs, Ska and Balkan melodies. Expect to smile, dance  and  even laugh at a mix of sumptuous original songs, alongside unique interpretations of some much loved covers.

ARTUBA  are a highly experienced pair of musicians who formed a duo in 2021. Since that time they have played in and around the South West of England including numerous gigs in the Bristol area. Notable highlights include playing on the Bristol Ferry and Strange Brew as part of the Diaspora Festival, performing at the Bristol Beacon at the Celebrating Age Festival. They recently performed Caribbean folk songs at Trinity Centre Bristol as part of their Windrush Celebration Day and also played at Circomedia as part of St Paul’s 2025, carnival celebration ‘Back a Yard’.

ARTUBA developed much of their music in the Caribbean and make regular trips to Grenada as well as to St Vincent and the Grenadines, to write and perform their tunes. They are active members of the Bristol based Diverse Artists Network and were recently featured on a BBC Bristol radio program which was broadcast across the region. In 2025 they released their debut album, Inspiration Carriacou.

Dr Edson Burton is a writer, storyteller and historian. Edson began his writing career in 2005 having completed his PhD thesis since then he
has become a prolific writer of audio, live drama and poetry. Edson won the 2025 Tinniswood Prize for Man Friday an adaption of Daniel Defoe’s
Robinson Crusoe. His previous audio dramas include the acclaimed R4 series Deacon starring Don Warrington. Recent live work includes the listening journey Duppy Hunter produced by Tamasha Theatre, Coney and the Trinity Centre Bristol and the theatrical promenade Destination
Old Market. He is the author of the poetry collection, Seasoned. Edson is a board member of Bristol leading poetry festival Lyra festival.
He is currently working on a new audio drama, a libretto, and various screen writing projects.