This clip, produced by the Playing for Change movement, combines a number of delightful human characteristics in a way that just makes you feel downright happy. Musical talent, individual artistic interpretation and diverse locations all come together to produce one of the all-time great covers of Ben E. King’s classic ‘Stand by Me’.

The whirling silks of this Tshechu dancer’s costume blossom into an impressive shape as he loses himself in the rhythm of the traditional Cham (or Tscham) dance as part of the Lhuntse Tshechu, an annual festival held in northeastern Bhutan. These masked dancers perform to a musical accompaniment provided by brother monks or other locals.

Human Planet, which originally screened in the UK in January 2011, was another worthy contribution to the BBC’s documentary legacy. The eight-part series focused on examining what it refers to as “the most remarkable species of all” – humankind, especially the sheer range of habitats and environments in which we’re able to make ourselves at home.

This year will be the second annual Festival da Primavera, following the smashing success of last year’s inaugural event. The host island of Morro de São Paulo, Brazil, is expected to attract international and Brazilian visitors alike. The Spring Festival started in 2010 to commemorate the municipality Cairu’s 400th anniversary.

Lao musical artists’ devotion to their craft dates back thousands of years. In their spirit of devotion, the best musicians have experimented and created unique traditions and styles. This same persistent approach can be heard today in the mesmerising music of Aluna, the princess of pop in Laos.

This year, Ouro Preto’s Festival Tudo é Jazz will pay homages to Tom Jobim, the great master of Brazilian music. In its 10th year, the festival usually brings jazz fans from all over Brazil, who gather around a few stages erected around the town.

My chance encounter with Sadriddin occurred in a local coffee shop in Bukhara, Uzbekistan. What started as an inquisitive chat between tables ended with an invitation to join him and a musician friend for a jam session in his living room. After three or four songs, he suggested that, later that night, I attend a local wedding reception at which he was performing.