We have a pair of tickets to give away for Sidi Touré’s London gig at The Lexington next Friday 25th October. His latest album Alafia was released on 16 September via Thrill Jockey which Helen, one of our reviewers, said:
And as beautiful and bright and happy and sad as Alafia is – and it is all of these things and more – its real heart and soul are to be found in its power to bring people together, to unify and to heal. It’s a beacon in the darkness of uncertain times and we could all benefit from letting some Alafia into our lives. (read the full review here)
Sidi Touré first emerged on the international scene in 2011, he was regularly compared to Ali Farka Touré, his countryman and predecessor. There was a similarity in means, sound and even surnames, and both musicians hail from the Songhaï region of Northern Mali. The signature blues-inflected guitar and plaintive vocal melisma of Songhaï folk music carries melodic and repertory characteristics that extend from Ibrahim Dicko – Touré’s mentor – to Ali Fakra Touré’s pioneering work. Over the course of two recordings – last year’s critically-lauded Koïma and his revelatory debut Sahel Folk Touré’s musical identity has fully come into its own.
Alafia was recorded between two locations – Nantes, France and Bamako, Mali – during what has become the most contentious political impasse for Mali since the country’s independence decades ago, Alafia mirrors the dramatic nature of the situation.
Giveaway Details
For the chance to win a pair of tickets to see Sidi Touré at The Lexington, London next Friday 25th October just email me here alex [at] www.folkradio.co.uk with your name and include ‘Alafia’ in the subject title. Closing date Thursday 24th October, the winner will be notified by email on that Thursday.
Fri Oct 25th London, UK – The Lexington – tickets