AFRICAN SOUL REBELS ON TOUR 2006 - SOUAD MASSI / AMADOU & MARIAM / EMMANUEL JAL | FLY

Anyone who was enthralled by the 2005 African Soul Rebel Tour is going to be eager to see the latest line up. Even if you missed out last year, it would be a good idea to go as Amadou & Mariam were proclaimed as the “world music crossover success of 2005” by The Times and their album Dimanche A Bamako got into The Observer’s Top Twenty Album’s of the year. This follows their appearance in Brixton less than six months ago. Manu Chao’s contribution to the big hit ‘Sénégal Fast Food’ has helped, also check out the funky ‘Coulibaly’, the soulful blues ‘Gnidjougouya’ and the rockin’ ‘C’est La Vie’.

Not quite as well known is Souad Massi from Algeria who featured in the ‘Editor’s End Of The Year Round Up’. In addition to that duet on ‘Manensa Asli’ (I Won’t Forget My Roots) with emerging world music star Daby Touré, the album Mesk Elil was produced by Jean Lamoot whose past credits include Charlie Gillet favourites, Noir Desir and Salif Keita.

Completing the line up is BBC Radio 3 World Music Award 2006 nominee, Emmanuel Jal from Sudan who is promoting his album Ceasefire, which he made with Abdel Gadir Salim. A different approach to African hip hop flava compared to Daara J of last year but the rap influences have been absorbed to form a peace vibe that is almost modal at times.

African diaspora will be out in force for the eleven dates and they’ll not be the only ones eager to catch the tour.

African Soul Rebels Tour 2006
February

17 Manchester : Bridgewater Hall 0161 907 9000
18 Poole : Lighthouse 01202 685222
20 Leicester : de Montford Hall 01162333111
21 Brighton : Brighton Dome 01272 709709
22 Basingstoke : Anvil 01256 844244
24 Warwick : Warwick Arts Centre 02476524524
25 Edinburgh : Usher Hall 0131 228 1155
27 London : Barbican 0207 638 8891
28 Gateshead Sage 0191 443 4661

March

3 Bristol Colston Hall 01179223686
4 Liverpool Philharmonic Hall 0151 709 3789

AFRICAN SOUL REBELS - AN EXTRA TREAT!
To compliment the African Soul Rebels 2006 concert, the 52-min documentary ‘The Making Of Dimanche à Bamako’ by Amadou and Mariam will be screened at some venues before the start of the main concert.

Links:
African Soul Rebel Tour 2006 http://musicbeyondmainstream.com
Wrasse Records www.wrasserecords.com for Souad Massi
Amadou & Mariam www.amadou-mariam.co.uk www.worldmusic.net
African Diaspora Film Festival www.nyadff.org

I’ve been spending too much time recently on the Internet looking for something in particular that I can’t find and I’m hoping you will be able to help (my girlfriend thinks I’m getting obsessed…). I was simply stunned after attending the African Soul Rebel Tour date at the Edinburgh Usher Hall, all of the acts were terrific; I was stuck up in the stalls but was jiggling away in my seat none the less (would have loved it if they made a stop in my home town of Glasgow). The thing that I can’t find any info regarding is the supporting musicians; Amadou and Miriam’s backing band in particular were superb and I was trying to find out if they have played on any of their other releases (I have ‘Dimanche a Bamako’ which is a little more laid back, however the gig was fierce, in a good way!).
There doesn’t appear to be any info on the official sites or anywhere else on the net that I can find, either that or I’m not looking in the right places, can you help? I would be really thankful if you can give me any pointers on who to contact/ info. If not then not too worry, I’m sure I can get over it! Thanks for your time.

John