The keyboard and accordion virtuoso Hailu Mergia is arguably the greatest of Brian Shimkovitz's A&R discoveries for his label Awesome Tapes From Africa.
He started out playing keys for iconic Ethiopian group Walias Band, whose 1977 recording "Muziqawi Silt" is a defining piece of the country's musical history, before going on to work with legendary Ethio jazz vibraphonist Mulatu Astatke.
His first new material in two decades came out this year on ATFA in the form of new album Lala Belu, with Pitchfork commenting that it "radically updates a style that already sounded like the future".
Opening the show on the night will be Krar Collective, who serve up a colourful feast of mind-blowing Ethiopian grooves and are led by Temesgen Zeleke, a former student of Mulatu's.
Content Related To These Artists
Rhythm Passport Presents… #3 (January 2022)
This year, we decided to have a different go at the usual end of the year list. Thanks to RTM.FM and Taco!, we could change the medium and move from written words to on-air ones… Our first podcast of 2022 and third Rhythm Passport Presents… features a “best albums of…
Artists:
Abdul And The Gang ,
Arooj Aftab ,
Baianasystem ,
Balimaya Project ,
Bareto ,
Bejuco ,
Blue Lab Beats ,
Cochemea ,
Combo Chimbita ,
dal:um ,
Farhot ,
Giacomo Sferlazzo ,
Go Dugong ,
Guedra Guedra ,
Hailu Mergia ,
Imed Alibi ,
Joao Selva ,
K.o.g. ,
Khalil EPI ,
Little Simz ,
Moor Mother ,
Oliver Nayoka ,
Tanya Tagaq ,
Urban Village ,
Xenia Rubinos ,
Zohra
Bandcamp’s Fundraiser Special – Albums (Friday 20th March 2020)
It doesn’t happen everyday that online music platforms champion the cause of musicians, but Bandcamp has showed us, more than once, to be different from the vast majority of music platforms. Today (until 11.59PM Pacific Time), to support all the artists affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Oakland-based company will…
Artists:
Cheb Runner ,
DJ Doraemon ,
Hailu Mergia ,
Hamish Napier ,
Irreversible Entanglements ,
Jeich Ould Badou ,
Let Drum Beat ,
Lina Raul Referee ,
Raül Refree ,
Simo Lagnawi ,
Simo Lagnawi & Gnawa London ,
Son Rompe Pera ,
Spoek Mathambo ,
The Sorcerers ,
Tino Contreras
Event Review: Africa Express – The Circus @ The Big Top (London; Friday 29th March 2019)
If you have attended any of the previous Africa Express shows, you know they never disappoint your thirst for music. For hours and hours, they stun you with a deluge of quality acts and unexpected collaborations, not only featuring the exceptional artistry of the musicians involved but also their welcoming…
Artists:
Batida ,
Blur ,
Damon Albarn ,
Django Django ,
Dobet Gnahore ,
Ellie Rowsell ,
Georgia ,
Joan As Policewoman ,
Krar Collective ,
London Community Gospel Choir ,
Mounir Troudi ,
ONIPA ,
Rokia Traoré ,
The Turbans ,
Tony Allen
London Gig Guide (April 2019)
At times, we are the first to lose track of how many exciting music events happen in London each month, so we have decided to offer you some sort of “public musical service”, meant for all the locals and passers-by, with the aim of suggesting where to listen to some…
Artists:
Awalé ,
Brother Culture ,
Calibro 35 ,
Gerald Toto ,
Hailu Mergia ,
Horseman ,
K.o.g And The Zongo Brigade ,
Kokoko! ,
Koral Society ,
Krar Collective ,
Lafawndah ,
Midori Takada ,
Oumou Sangare ,
Prince Fatty ,
Psychedelia ,
Que Vola? ,
Soom T ,
Steam Down ,
Terakaft ,
The Heliocentrics ,
The West African Blue Project ,
Yelfris Valdes
![Album Review: Hailu Mergia – Yene Mircha [Awesome Tapes From Africa; March 2020]](https://www.rhythmpassport.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/hailu-mergia-yene-mircha-cover-620x620.jpg)
![Album Review: Hailu Mergia – Lala Belu [Awesome Tapes from Africa, February 2018]](https://www.rhythmpassport.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/hailu-mergia-lala-620x620.jpg)
There are no comments
Add yours