Songhoy Blues (ML)

Transcendental desert blues, a triumphant return, full of spark and wonder: these are just some of the descriptions being given to Songhoy Blues’ most recent album, which came out in January. Hailing from Timbuktu, the band have spent the last 15 years sending fresh wind through the Malian music scene, particularly in the north of the country – home to the Songhai people and, of course, to the late Ali Farka Touré. It was perhaps The Guardian that best captured the spirit of the group’s latest record. ‘Malian rockers take a gorgeous acoustic turn’ is the headline, and one with which we wholeheartedly agree.

If Héritage does sound more acoustic, it’s a fascinating development for a group of young rebels whose first recordings were made in exile in Bamako, far from their home base in the north. A successful audition with the Africa Express NGO led by Damon Albarn took them into the studio; there they recorded their first track, ‘Soubour’, which was produced by Yeah Yeah Yeahs guitarist Nick Zinner and subsequently appeared on the second Africa Express compilation. Their work with Zinner led to the recording of a debut LP, Music in Exile, which came out in 2015, and catapulted the band to stages and festivals all over the world. The album coincided with release of the film They Will Have To Kill Us First, which featured the band prominently and was shown at Kino Šiška during the 2016 edition of Druga Godba.

Boubacar Coulibaly (lead vocals), Garba Touré (guitar), Oumar Touré (bass), Arouna Dembelé (drums and percussion)

The Covid pandemic hit shortly after the release of their third LP, Optimisme, which forced them to remain at home in Timbuktu. It is only this year, after a hiatus of half a decade, that the band are finally returning to the European stage. And if it wasn’t for Druga Godba, the only place you’d be able to see them this summer would be the UK. So the invitation goes out to fans from every country on the continent. Europe! Songhoy Blues and Druga Godba are waiting for you!

Co-produced by Druga Godba & Kino Šiška.