Join FOCUS ORGANIZATION & KAZUM for a first class night of African music and dance with the Songlines Awards 2014 Nominee (Best Newcomer and Best Artist) SIMO LAGNAWI and The GNAWA BLUES ALL STARS from Morocco and the almighty KRAR COLLECTIVE From Ethiopia
"one of the most rousing, reliable new African bands of the year" The Guardian

THE BEST from AFRICA
Saturday 4th April 2015
8pm - 1am
£12.50, £10 advance

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**** KRAR COLLECTIVE (Ethiopia)

Krar Collective serve up a colourful feast of mind-blowing Ethiopian grooves. Led by Temesgen Zeleke, a former student of Ethiojazz legend Mulatu Astatke, Krar Collective perform a rootsy yet contemporary take on traditional music from Ethiopia based on other-worldly modes and driven by hypnotic rhythms. The traditional acoustic krar lyre is associated with the azmari minstrel tradition; electrified, in the hands of Zeleke it becomes a gritty, ancient rock guitar. Accompanied just by traditional kebero drums and fronted by stunning vocals, Krar Collective with a minimal line up create a surprisingly full band sound, leading them to be dubbed 'The Ethiopian White Stripes'
With songs that journey from gently, rippling acoustic numbers to truly rabble-rousing, this music that is at once African, and yet unique to Ethiopia will move your soul and rock your feet.

www.krarcollective.com

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**** SIMO LAGNAWI and The GNAWA BLUES ALL STARS (Morocco)

Simo has been nominated for 2 SONGLINES awards for 2014; BEST NEWCOMER and BEST ARTIST.

Gnawa Master from Morocco
Simo Lagnawi is the U.K's leading Guembri player and Gnawa Master.
This Summer he performed on the BBC3 Late Junction Stage at Latitude Festival with his band Electric Jalaba. They also performed at Rhythm Tree Festival, 'Re Re Riga' festival Latvia, Bestival, and the Smugglers Festival in Kent.
His Solo Debut Album 'Gnawa London' was featured in Songlines magazine as one of their 'Top of the World Albums' in September.
Also, he was a winner of one of the World Music network battle of the bands competitions this Summer.

Since his arrival in the U.K in 2008 he has performed at Glastonbury Festival, V&A, BBC 6Music (Cerys Matthews Show), BBC World Service, British Museum, Leighton House, Larmer tree, Secret garden party, Roundhouse, Ritzy, Rich Mix, Hootananny, Hackney Attik, Passing Clouds, The Third line Dubai, 5.0 Refuse Kuwait, Film Middle East Now Italy, Tabernacle, Troxy, Momo London and Dubai among many others. Playing traditional Gnawa (sacred trance music from Morocco) and Gnawa Fusion with, Electric Jalaba, Kamba band and Gnawa Griot. Simo continuously pushes new boundaries fusing Gnawa with music from countries such as Gambia, Burkina faso, Senegal, Guinea, Mali, India, Japan, Venezuela, and the Caribbean. He collaborates with the visual artist Hassan Hajjaj who took the photo on this page, and who has recently designed his album cover.

www.gnawa.co.uk

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**** Dj: Chief Commander Yaaba

With Chief Commander Yaaba Playing Hi-life, Afro beat, Afro funk, Latin grooves, Broken-beat, Reggae, Soul n Funk. This is truly a night not to be missed!

www.focusorganization.com

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