A SYRIAN refugee who has performed at Glastonbury is releasing an album of traditional folk songs with proceeds going to support his community.

Percussionist Jamal Alsakka arrived in Brighton and Hove as a refugee last year after fleeing the war in Syria.

Jamal has more than 40 years experience as a musician and music teacher.

Since arriving in the UK he has toured with the Orchestra of Syrian Musicians, Damon Albarn, Gorillaz, and performed at the Glastonbury and Womad festivals.

He was introduced to amateur oud player Alaa Wehbi in the city’s Syrian Community Group, and the pair have been entertaining community meetings over the last year.

Now they are releasing an EP of traditional Syrian and Lebanese love songs.

Jamal, who lives in Hove with his wife and son, speaks very little English. His musical partner Alaa told The Argus: “There is a lively Syrian community in Brighton and Hove.

“My background is music, I have a relative who is a famous singer in Syria.

“After we were introduced we started playing at community meetings and events.

“We have also taught a children’s choir, we put on a small concert in Parliament last year, with the Sanctuary on Sea charity.”

Now the pair have produced “Night And Day”, which celebrates cultural diversity and supports those who have sought refuge here from the war in Syria.

It is believed to be the first record released by musicians who have fled Syria’s bloody civil war.

Every penny generated by sales of the £5 EP will go to the Sussex Syrian Community Hardship Fund, which is administered by the Syrian Community Group in the city.

It provides emergency funds to refugees who arrive needing support and help with paperwork.

Alaa explained it also provides language lessons.

“We teach the adults English,” he said, “But we teach the children Arabic, because we don’t want them to forget their own language.”

Phil Minns, chairman of Best Foot Music which is releasing the EP, said: “We’re very excited. We think this is the first thing done with a recently-arrived Syrian musician in this way,and it’s very much a Brighton-based thing which was crowd-funded in Brighton, and they’re gigging in the community.

“And it just reflects so well on Brighton and Hove.”

Jamal and Alaa’s EP is available through Best Foot Music.

Established in 2009, Best Foot Music is a volunteer-run charity that documents the musical cultures of communities and individuals who have moved to the UK, from Polish Roma through Kurdish, Indian, Greek, Turkish, Moroccan and beyond.

The £5.00 EP is available as two-track vinyl or four-track digital download, and can be pre-ordered now.

The official release date is March 2.

Go to www.bestfootmusic.net to buy and download.