Shakespeare said it all with ‘If music be the food of love, play on’. Music is the blood that runs through the veins of our very best human experiences. Celebration. Expression. Dance. Evolution. Art. Intimacy. Communication.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions we have no longer been able to congregate for performance and the music industry such as our favourite music haunts, festivals, artists, sound engineers, lighting designers and all those involved are at risk. Due to the #letthemusicplay campaign the government has pledged further support to the industry. And we want to continue our appreciation by reminding you of some of the last gigs we went to before lockdown and how amazing and insanely memorable they were.
Fatoumata Diawara – © Tato Fonseca
In February this year, we were astounded at the power of Fatoumata Diawara’s truly authentic show in Brighton. Her music is rooted in traditional West African Wassoulou music but is inspired also by soukous, highlife, funk and rock. At a moments notice, she can engulf you with an essence of deep spirituality that brings that blissful sense of peace and presence. – Check out our review.
Chico Trujillo – © Tato Fonseca
In November 2019 we were lucky enough to experience the activism and collective voice amplified by the performance of Chico Trujillo at EartH Hackney. Trujillo had a strong message on the night for the president of Chile and are using their art to fight the injustice in their country. Flags, unity and love lead us into the moonlight that night. The fight goes on. – Check out our review.
Africa Express: The Circus – © Brendan Bell
And let us not forget smaller festivals and day-long fiestas from last year such as Africa Express – The Circus at The Big Top in London. There are too many to talk about, can you remember your favourites from 2019? – Check out our review
When we can unite to play and dance again, we will be ready. Let’s help to support these groups by sharing our memories until we can fill our hungry bellies once more with new music and love!
The joy and of harmony and collaboration… for her new single ‘Ambè’, Fatoumata Diawara brought together an exceptional all-star all-female group of musicians of African origin or descent for a one-off, non-commercial song available only on YouTube and social media. The tun was composed during the first lockdown when…
Artists: Fatoumata Diawara
There are some performers that we have the pleasure of seeing on stage who bewitch, beguile and bewilder with their exuberance, their talent and their sheer ability to put on a show. Fatoumata Diawara is one such artist. Born in Ivory Coast to Malian parents and now living in France,…
Artists: Fatoumata Diawara
Earth Hackney hosted a vibrant show by Chico Trujillo as part of their 20th anniversary European Tour, Mambo Mundial. But this wasn’t an ordinary gig. It set the stage for a small protest against the current Chilean president for the handling of the riots currently engulfing their home country. At 9pm…
Artists: Chico Trujillo
It was another triumphant weekend at Walthamstow Garden Party. Sunbathing in glorious weather and indulging in radiant notes played by brilliant musicians, we enjoyed every minute of it. From its debut, basking in Saturday’s early afternoon heat with London African Gospel Choir and their rendition of Paul Simon’s Graceland, until Sunday…
Artists: Adrian Sherwood , Adrian Sherwood And Creation Rebel , Afro Cuban All Stars , Creation Rebels , Doña Onete , Fatoumata Diawara , Seun Kuti , Seun Kuti & Egypt 80
A one-off performance for a one-off event. It doesn’t happen too often that we get to enjoy a Fatoumata Diawara gig in London, but on the rare occasions when the Malian musician visits the British capital, her shows are always hard-to-forget experiences. That’s how it went on the 26th of…
Artists: Fatoumata Diawara
This year, we only got a glimpse of the music bonanza offered by the Womad UK weekend. Our stay in Malmesbury consisted of a hit-and-run or a ‘toccata-and-fugue’, in-keeping with the musical topic, and saw us pay a visit to Charlton Park on the last day of the event. Still,…
Artists: Ariwo , Benjamin Zephaniah , Benjamin Zephaniah and The Revolutionary Minds , Chico Trujillo , King Ayisoba , Msafiri Zawose , Noureddine Khourchid , Noureddine Khourchid & the Whirling Dervishes of Damascus
They came, they played, we danced all night to their wild cumbia vibes! That’s, in a few words, the recap of the short, but intense, London visit of Chico Trujillo. Between one gig and another of their Euro tour, the Chilean band found the time and energy to turn Rich…
Artists: Chico Trujillo
It happened little more than a year ago. On a quiet April night, London was stormed by a cyclone cumbiero. Camden and the Electric Ballroom were battered by the uptempo rhythms coming from Valparaiso and branded distinctly as Chico Trujillo. The sound of the band from Vila Alemana (a few…
Artists: Chico Trujillo
Although the story behind how Aliou Touré, Garba Touré, Oumar Touré and Nathaneal Dembélé became Songhoy Blues is not all roses — they were forced to fled to the capital Bamako after northern Mali was occupied by jihadists — their music is everything but sorrowful. A sold-out Roundhouse could not…
Artists: Fatoumata Diawara , Songhoy Blues
The historical Electric Ballroom in the heart of Camden Town, was indeed a ballroom on April 27th. Few bands are able to make the audience dance from the beginning until the very end, but Chico Trujillo is definitely one of them, with their music making it physically impossible to stay…
Artists: Chico Trujillo , DJ Cal Jader , Rokola
As it’s happening since 2001, for ten days in April, London sounds and plays Latino. The responsibility rests on ¡COMO NO! which, 15 years ago, started to organise one of the most chéveres Festivals of the London music scene. La Linea has indeed brought to the British capital some of the finest,…
Artists: A Guy Called Gerald , Adanovsky & Xavi y Los Imanes , Ana Moura , Ariwo , Baloji , Calexico , Chico Trujillo , Criolo , Daymé Arocena , La Yegros
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