Out Today : Mdou Moctar - 'Funeral For Justice'
photo by Nelson Antonio Espinal
(stream/purchase 'Funeral For Justice')
'Funeral For Justice', the incendiary new album from MDOU MOCTAR is out today and available in shops, streaming everywhere, and is either on the way to your doorstep or shall be after you've read this post.
‘Funeral for Justice’ Tracklist
- Funeral For Justice
- Imouhar
- Takoba
- Sousoume
- Imagerhan
- Tchinta
- Djallo #1
- Oh France
- Modern Slaves
There's a Bandcamp Listening Party for 'Funeral For Justice' today at 2pm eastern / 11am pacific. The band's Mikey Coulton will be answering questions in the chat.
Limited edition red vinyl (available at the Matador / Mdou Moctar stores and at shops outside of the US)
T-shirt bundle (available to purchase with an LP, or purchase separately)
Picture disc available exclusive at the Matador / Mdou Moctar stores.
Mdou Moctar on Tour
Tickets on sale at mdoumoctar.com
Wednesday, June 5 Anchor Rock Club, Atlantic City NJ *
Thursday, June 6 The Abbey Bar at ABC, Harrisburg PA *
Friday, June 7 Cheers Brown's Island, Richmond VA
Saturday, June 8 Haw River Ballroom, Saxapahaw NC ^
Sunday, June 9 The Orange Peel, Asheville NC ^
Tuesday, June 11 Pour House, Charleston SC ^
Wednesday, June 12 Saturn, Birmingham AL ^
Thursday, June 13 Terminal West, Atlanta GA ^
Friday, June 14 Bonnaroo, Manchester TN
Saturday, June 15 The Hi-Fi, Indianapolis IN #
Tuesday, June 18 Thalia Hall, Chicago IL +
Wednesday, June 19 Magic Bag, Detroit MI +
Thursday, June 20 Beachland Ballroom, Cleveland OH +
Friday, June 21 Asbury Hall, Buffalo NY +
Saturday, June 22 Green River Music Festival, Greenfield MA +
Sunday, June 23 Paradise Rock Club, Boston MA +
Wednesday, June 26 Warsaw, Brooklyn NY +
Thursday, June 27 9:30 Club, Washington DC +
Friday, June 28 Union Transfer, Philadelphia PA +
Wednesday, July 3 Electric Brixton, London UK
Sunday, July 7 Down The Rabbit Hole, Beuningen NL
Monday, August 19 Festaal Kreuzberg, Berlin DE
Tuesday, August 20 UT Kreuzberg, Leipzig DE
Wednesday, August 21 Ampere, Munich DE
Thursday, August 22 Magnolia Summerstage, Milan IT
Sunday, August 25 Petit Bain, Paris FR
Monday, August 26 OLT Revierenhof, Antwerp BE
Tuesday, August 27 Paradiso, Amsterdam NL
Friday, August 30 End of the Road Festival, Dorset UK
Saturday, August 31 Manchester Psych Fest, Manchester UK
Sunday, September 1 Moseley Folk Festival, Birmingham UK
Monday, September 2 Saint Luke's, Glasgow UK
Tuesday, September 3 Boiler Shop, Newcastle UK
Wednesday, September 4 The Brudenell Social Club, Leeds UK
* w/ BODEGA
^ w/ Bat Fangs
# w/ Lia Kohl
+ w/ J.R.C.G
Mdou Moctar Online
Official site
TikTok
Mdou Moctar - "Oh France"
"Oh France"
(photo by Ebru Yildiz)
On Friday, Mdou Moctar will release the greatly anticipated new album, 'Funeral for Justice'. Today, you can hear the record’s penultimate track, “Oh France,” a fiery indictment of French colonialism that stands among the group’s heaviest songs to date.
(stream / downlaod "Oh France")
(presave/preorder 'Funeral For Justice')
On Friday, Bandcamp will host a listening party for the album with Mdou Moctar bassist and producer Mikey Coltun on hand to answer questions throughout playback.
Mdou Moctar on Tour
Tickets on sale at mdoumoctar.com
Wednesday, June 5 Anchor Rock Club, Atlantic City NJ *
Thursday, June 6 The Abbey Bar at ABC, Harrisburg PA *
Friday, June 7 Cheers Brown's Island, Richmond VA
Saturday, June 8 Haw River Ballroom, Saxapahaw NC ^
Sunday, June 9 The Orange Peel, Asheville NC ^
Tuesday, June 11 Pour House, Charleston SC ^
Wednesday, June 12 Saturn, Birmingham AL ^
Thursday, June 13 Terminal West, Atlanta GA ^
Friday, June 14 Bonnaroo, Manchester TN
Saturday, June 15 The Hi-Fi, Indianapolis IN #
Tuesday, June 18 Thalia Hall, Chicago IL +
Wednesday, June 19 Magic Bag, Detroit MI +
Thursday, June 20 Beachland Ballroom, Cleveland OH +
Friday, June 21 Asbury Hall, Buffalo NY +
Saturday, June 22 Green River Music Festival, Greenfield MA +
Sunday, June 23 Paradise Rock Club, Boston MA +
Wednesday, June 26 Warsaw, Brooklyn NY +
Thursday, June 27 9:30 Club, Washington DC +
Friday, June 28 Union Transfer, Philadelphia PA +
Wednesday, July 3 Electric Brixton, London UK
Sunday, July 7 Down The Rabbit Hole, Beuningen NL
Monday, August 19 Festaal Kreuzberg, Berlin DE
Tuesday, August 20 UT Kreuzberg, Leipzig DE
Wednesday, August 21 Ampere, Munich DE
Thursday, August 22 Magnolia Summerstage, Milan IT
Sunday, August 25 Petit Bain, Paris FR
Monday, August 26 OLT Revierenhof, Antwerp BE
Tuesday, August 27 Paradiso, Amsterdam NL
Friday, August 30 End of the Road Festival, Dorset UK
Saturday, August 31 Manchester Psych Fest, Manchester UK
Sunday, September 1 Moseley Folk Festival, Birmingham UK
Monday, September 2 Saint Luke's, Glasgow UK
Tuesday, September 3 Boiler Shop, Newcastle UK
Wednesday, September 4 The Brudenell Social Club, Leeds UK
* w/ BODEGA
^ w/ Bat Fangs
# w/ Lia Kohl
+ w/ J.R.C.G
Mdou Moctar Online
Official site
TikTok
Mdou Moctar - "Imouhar" Live Outside The School (Agadez, Niger)
Pre-order 'Funeral for Justice'
Mdou Moctar has released a live rendition of his brand new song "Imouhar," taken from the forthcoming album 'Funeral for Justice' (out May 3), recorded in Agadez, Niger. Bassist / Producer Mikey Coulton said of the new video:
At the beginning of 2023 we all met up in Agadez, Niger. It was the first time the band was all together in Agadez in years. It felt special. The idea was to set up a bunch of generator shows throughout Agadez in that week and record it all. 'Outside The School' was one of the very first locations we shot. We set up all the gear, plugged in a generator that powered the lights, amps, and recording setup, and handed out a couple Iphones on gimbels to a couple of our friends, Guichene, and Ahmoudou with the one instruction, 'don't hit the stop button'. With no advertisement ahead of time for these shows the kids heard the music, and they came. When they hear Mdou Moctar, they freak out.
The word Imouhar is the Tuareg equivalent to "brother" or "comrade.” It’s a familial way to say “Tuareg people” that expresses a shared bond.
Recorded by : Mikey Coltun & Nelson Antonio Espinal
Mixed and Mastered by : Seth Manchester at Machines With Magnets, Pawtucket, RI
Shot by : Mohammed Guichen, Ahmoudou Mohamed
Edited by: Tiff Pritchett
Mdou Moctar on Tour
TICKETS
Sunday, April 14 Coachella, Indio CA
Sunday, April 21 Coachella, Indio CA
Wednesday, June 5 Anchor Rock Club, Atlantic City NJ
Thursday, June 6 The Abbey Bar at ABC, Harrisburg PA
Friday, June 7 Friday Cheers Brown's Island
Saturday, June 8 Haw River Ballroom, Saxapahaw NC
Sunday, June 9 The Orange Peel, Asheville NC
Tuesday, June 11 Pour House, Charleston SC
Wednesday, June 12 Saturn, Birmingham AL
Thursday, June 13 Terminal West, Atlanta GA
Friday, June 14 Bonnaroo, Manchester TN
Saturday, June 15 The Hi-Fi, Indianapolis IN
Tuesday, June 18 Thalia Hall, Chicago IL
Wednesday, June 19 Magic Bag, Detroit MI
Thursday, June 20 Beachland Ballroom, Cleveland OH
Friday, June 21 Asbury Hall, Buffalo NY
Saturday, June 22 Green River Music Festival, Greenfield MA
Sunday, June 23 Paradise Rock Club, Boston MA
Wednesday, June 26 Warsaw, Brooklyn NY
Thursday, June 27 9:30 Club, Washington DC
Friday, June 28 Union Transfer, Philadelphia PA
Wednesday, July 3 Electric Brixton, London UK
Sunday, July 7 Down The Rabbit Hole, Beuningen NL
Monday, August 19 Festaal Kreuzberg, Berlin DE
Tuesday, August 20 UT Kreuzberg, Leipzig DE
Wednesday, August 21 Ampere, Munich DE
Thursday, August 22 Magnolia Summerstage, Milan IT
Sunday, August 25 Petit Bain, Paris FR
Monday, August 26 OLT Revierenhof, Antwerp BE
Tuesday, August 27 Paradiso, Amsterdam NL
Friday, August 30 End of the Road Festival, Dorset UK
Saturday, August 31 Manchester Psych Fest, Manchester UK
Sunday, September 1 Moseley Folk Festival, Birmingham UK
Monday, September 2 Saint Luke's, Glasgow UK
Tuesday, September 3 Boiler Shop, Newcastle UK
Wednesday, September 4 The Brudenell Social Club, Leeds UK
Mdou Moctar Online
Official site
TikTok
Mdou Moctar - "Imouhar"
"Imouhar", directed by Lauren Greenhall
photo by Ebru Yildiz
(stream/download "Imouhar")
(presave/preorder 'Funeral For Justice')
Mdou Moctar have released a new single and video, "Imouhar", taken from the group’s forthcoming album, 'Funeral For Justice', out May 3rd. A hypnotic rock song building to a feverish crescendo, ‘Imouhar’ calls on the Tuareg people to which the band belong to preserve their Tamasheq language - it's at risk of dying out, and Moctar is one of the few in his community who knows how to write it. "People here are just using French," says Mdou. "They're starting to forget their own language. We feel like in a hundred years no one will speak good Tamasheq, and that's so scary for us." Watch the video, directed by Laura Greenhall above.
In April, the band will return to the US to perform at the Coachella Music and Arts Festival. In June, they will launch US and European headlining tours with festival appearances at Bonnaroo, Green River, Glastonbury, and End of the Road, among others. Find a complete itinerary below
‘Funeral for Justice’ Tracklist
- Funeral For Justice
- Imouhar
- Takoba
- Sousoume
- Imagerhan
- Tchinta
- Djallo #1
- Oh France
- Modern Slaves
Mdou Moctar on Tour
TICKETS
Sunday, April 14 Coachella, Indio CA
Sunday, April 21 Coachella, Indio CA
Wednesday, June 5 Anchor Rock Club, Atlantic City NJ
Thursday, June 6 The Abbey Bar at ABC, Harrisburg PA
Friday, June 7 Friday Cheers Brown's Island
Saturday, June 8 Haw River Ballroom, Saxapahaw NC
Sunday, June 9 The Orange Peel, Asheville NC
Tuesday, June 11 Pour House, Charleston SC
Wednesday, June 12 Saturn, Birmingham AL
Thursday, June 13 Terminal West, Atlanta GA
Friday, June 14 Bonnaroo, Manchester TN
Saturday, June 15 The Hi-Fi, Indianapolis IN
Tuesday, June 18 Thalia Hall, Chicago IL
Wednesday, June 19 Magic Bag, Detroit MI
Thursday, June 20 Beachland Ballroom, Cleveland OH
Friday, June 21 Asbury Hall, Buffalo NY
Saturday, June 22 Green River Music Festival, Greenfield MA
Sunday, June 23 Paradise Rock Club, Boston MA
Wednesday, June 26 Warsaw, Brooklyn NY
Thursday, June 27 9:30 Club, Washington DC
Friday, June 28 Union Transfer, Philadelphia PA
Wednesday, July 3 Electric Brixton, London UK
Sunday, July 7 Down The Rabbit Hole, Beuningen NL
Monday, August 19 Festaal Kreuzberg, Berlin DE
Tuesday, August 20 UT Kreuzberg, Leipzig DE
Wednesday, August 21 Ampere, Munich DE
Thursday, August 22 Magnolia Summerstage, Milan IT
Sunday, August 25 Petit Bain, Paris FR
Monday, August 26 OLT Revierenhof, Antwerp BE
Tuesday, August 27 Paradiso, Amsterdam NL
Friday, August 30 End of the Road Festival, Dorset UK
Saturday, August 31 Manchester Psych Fest, Manchester UK
Sunday, September 1 Moseley Folk Festival, Birmingham UK
Monday, September 2 Saint Luke's, Glasgow UK
Tuesday, September 3 Boiler Shop, Newcastle UK
Wednesday, September 4 The Brudenell Social Club, Leeds UK
Mdou Moctar Online
Official site
TikTok
Coming May 3rd: Mdou Moctar - 'Funeral for Justice'
(photo: Ebru Yildiz)
Pre-order 'Funeral For Justice' / Stream "Funeral for Justice"
Out May 3, ‘Funeral for Justice’ is the new album by Mdou Moctar. Recorded at the close of two years spent touring the globe following the release of 2021 breakout ‘Afrique Victime,’ it captures the Nigerien quartet in ferocious form. The music is louder, faster, and more wild. The guitar solos are feedback-scorched and the lyrics are passionately political. Nothing is held back or toned down. Watch a video for the album’s blistering title track HERE. The quartet will perform at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April and will embark on a headline tour in June with dates in the US, UK, and EU. Find a complete itinerary below.
Damon Locks (Black Monument Ensemble) on ‘Funeral for Justice’:
There is a beauty in listening to music made in the spirit of energetic transformation. When the sounds transform the air and the listener. This record transports the listener into the heart of the music of Mdou Moctar. The blending of intention and motivation creates a burst of sound that embraces and shakes and invites one to dance! It invites one to breathe. It invites one to be in solidarity with the music. It invites one to be in touch with the human condition. What does it mean to be free in these times? Can the world be liberated from the colonial mindstate that has caused such harm and mistrust? Can we mourn our losses yet build anew to form something more astounding, more fantastic? ‘Funeral for Justice’ says we can.
A sound that carries weight makes an impact. A sound that carries time transcends time. We are not only listening to music but we are living through it. We are living with it. We are living in it. The artist sees history and makes poetry from it for the present. Mdou Moctar’s ‘Funeral for Justice’ requests your presence. Show up open to the celebration of life, loved as it should be loved. Experience the exaltation and exuberance. The words speak of ascension, awareness, sorrow, apathy, knowing, and growth. The guitars speak of power, energy, jubilation, transcendency, immediacy, and tradition. The drums and percussion mark the pulse of now as well as a timeless dance that involves us all, as it did those that came before us. The wires that carry the message feel alive with fire and purpose, explosive with possibility. This “funeral” is an acknowledgment. This “funeral” is abundant. This “funeral” overflows into the street filled with dance. This “funeral” stretches late into the night, kicking up the dirt, with the hum of a generator, an ever present member of the rhythm section. This “funeral” is a clarion call for reason and a belief that change is possible.
So join Mdou Moctar in this funeral for justice, knowing rebirth is possible. A new justice is possible. With your voice, your heart, your dance, your stomp, a new justice is born. Mdou Moctar welcomes you with joy and open arms. Be here. Feel here and do, alongside this music. Don’t stand alone, join with others and do. Fight for liberation. Stand against oppression, alongside this music and do!
The songs on ‘Funeral for Justice’ speak unflinchingly to the plight of Niger and of the Tuareg people. "This album is really different for me," explains Moctar, the band’s singer, namesake, and indisputably iconic guitarist. "Now the problems of terrorist violence are more serious in Africa. When the US and Europe came here, they said they're going to help us, but what we see is really different. They never help us to find a solution."
"Mdou Moctar has been a strong anti-colonial band ever since I've been a part of it," says producer and bassist Mikey Coltun, who has been playing with Moctar since 2017. "France came in, fucked up the country, then said ‘you’re free.’ And they’re not." The song ‘Oh France’ tackles this head on: “France veils its actions in cruelty/ We are better without this turbulent relationship/ We must understand their endless lethal games.”
On the lead single and title track, Moctar addresses African leaders directly, bidding them: "Retake control of your countries, rich in resources / Build them and quit sleeping”. The song ‘Sousoume Tamacheq’ deals with the plight of the Tuareg people to which the band belong, and who are mainly spread across three countries: Niger, Mali and Algeria. "Oppressed in all three/In addition to lack of unity, ignorance is the third issue." Another song, ‘Imouhar’, calls on the Tuareg to preserve their Tamasheq language - it's at risk of dying out, and Mdou is one of the few in his community who knows how to write it. "People here are just using French," laments Mdou. "They're starting to forget their own language. We feel like in a hundred years no one will speak good Tamasheq, and that's so scary for us."
Blood Red LP available on the Matador / Mdou stores and at independent record stores outside of the USA
T-shirt available exclusively on the Matador store, available to purchase separately and to bundle with the LP / CD
Picture disc available exclusively at the Mdou / Matador stores
Standard black vinyl and CD available at Matador / Mdou stores and at retailers everywhere
Mdou Moctar in its current iteration is first and foremost a band. Alongside Moctar, it consists of rhythm guitarist Ahmoudou Madassane, drummer Souleymane Ibrahim, and American bassist and producer Mikey Coltun.
The band got their start performing at traditional weddings. These are high energy events – amps are dialed up to 11 and the whole town is invited to attend. "I grew up in the DC punk scene and this is no different," explains Coltun. "It’s a DIY punk show: people bring generators, they crank their amps. Things are broken, but they make it work."
Conveying that energy and feeling of community to a new audience has been an important goal for the band. Their first concerts in the US were sometimes, mistakenly, organized to be tame seated affairs. That’s no longer the case. Over 100s of shows, they’ve proven themselves as one of the world’s most vital rock bands – a group rooted in Tuareg tradition, but undeniably its own singular organism. An Mdou Moctar concert is now recognized to be a place for dancing, if not full-force moshing.
"‘Ilana’ was the gateway album, saying that this is a raw rock band. And ‘Afrique Victime’ was a summation of that vision,” says Coltun, who recorded the entire record over five days in a mostly unfurnished house in upstate New York. “With ‘Funeral for Justice’, I really wanted this to shine with the political message because of everything that's going on. As the band got tighter and heavier live, it made sense to capture this urgency and this aggression – it wasn't a forced thing, it was very natural.”
In July 2023 – after ‘Funeral for Justice’ had been completed – Niger’s democratically elected government was deposed in a military coup. The president was placed under house arrest and the nation plunged into a state of chaos and uncertainty. The French have withdrawn. The area continues to be threatened by terrorism. The band – then on tour in the US – was, for a time, unable to return to their families.
"I don't support the coup," explains Mdou, "but I never in my life liked France in my country. I don't hate France or French people, I don't hate American people either, but I don't support their manipulative policies, what they do in Africa. In 2023 we want to be free, we need to smile, you understand?"
'Funeral for Justice' Track List
1. Funeral For Justice
2. Imouhar
3. Takoba
4. Sousoume
5. Imagerhan
6. Tchinta
7. Djallo #1
8. Oh France
9. Modern Slaves
Mdou Moctar on Tour, Dates in Bold On Sale Friday
TICKETS
Sunday, April 14 Coachella, Indio CA
Sunday, April 21 Coachella, Indio CA
Wednesday, June 5 Anchor Rock Club, Atlantic City NJ
Thursday, June 6 The Abbey Bar at ABC, Harrisburg PA
Friday, June 7 Friday Cheers Brown's Island
Saturday, June 8 Haw River Ballroom, Saxapahaw NC
Sunday, June 9 The Orange Peel, Asheville NC
Tuesday, June 11 Pour House, Charleston SC
Wednesday, June 12 Saturn, Birmingham AL
Thursday, June 13 Terminal West, Atlanta GA
Friday, June 14 Bonnaroo, Manchester TN
Saturday, June 15 The Hi-Fi, Indianapolis IN
Tuesday, June 18 Thalia Hall, Chicago IL
Wednesday, June 19 Magic Bag, Detroit MI
Thursday, June 20 Beachland Ballroom, Cleveland OH
Friday, June 21 Asbury Hall, Buffalo NY
Saturday, June 22 Green River Music Festival, Greenfield MA
Sunday, June 23 Paradise Rock Club, Boston MA
Wednesday, June 26 Warsaw, Brooklyn NY
Thursday, June 27 9:30 Club, Washington DC
Friday, June 28 Union Transfer, Philadelphia PA
Wednesday, July 3 Electric Brixton, London UK
Sunday, July 7 Down The Rabbit Hole, Beuningen NL
Monday, August 19 Festaal Kreuzberg, Berlin DE
Tuesday, August 20 UT Kreuzberg, Leipzig DE
Wednesday, August 21 Ampere, Munich DE
Thursday, August 22 Magnolia Summerstage, Milan IT
Sunday, August 25 Petit Bain, Paris FR
Monday, August 26 OLT Revierenhof, Antwerp BE
Tuesday, August 27 Paradiso, Amsterdam NL
Friday, August 30 End of the Road Festival, Dorset UK
Saturday, August 31 Manchester Psych Fest, Manchester UK
Sunday, September 1 Moseley Folk Festival, Birmingham UK
Monday, September 2 Saint Luke's, Glasgow UK
Tuesday, September 3 Boiler Shop, Newcastle UK
Wednesday, September 4 The Brudenell Social Club, Leeds UK
Mdou Moctar Online
Official site
TikTok
Out Today: Mdou Moctar - Niger EP Vols. 1 & 2
The Niger EP Vols. 1 & 2 by Mdou Moctar are available today at your preferred record store on limited yellow and green vinyl. The new EP series compiles live and alternate recordings that span Moctar's catalog.
Stream / Purchase Limited Yellow 'Niger EP Vol.1'
Stream / Purchase Limited Green 'Niger EP Vol. 2'
Stream / Purchase 'Afrique Victime'
Mdou Moctar on Tour
Friday, March 10 Theatre Royal, Castlemaine AU
Saturday, March 11 Golden Plains, Melbourne AU
Sunday, March 12 Womadelaide, Adelaide AU
Tuesday, March 14 Sydney Opera House, Sydney AU
Friday, March 17 WOMAD New Zealand, New Plymouth New Zealand
Thursday, April 27 Art Co, Dallas TX
Friday, April 28 Austin Psych Fest
Sunday, April 30 New Orleans Jazz Festival, New Orleans LA
Tuesday, May 2 Intuition Ale Works, Jacksonville FL
Wednesday, May 3 Miami Beach Bandshell, Miami Beach FL
Thursday, May 4 The Social, Orlando FL
Friday, May 5 The Georgia Theatre, Athens GA
Saturday, May 6 Cat’s Cradle, Carrboro NC
Monday, May 15 Electric Ballroom Camden, London UK
Mdou Moctar Online
Official site
Mdou Moctar - Spring '23 U.S. Tour
Purchase / Stream ‘Afrique Victime’
Stream / Pre-order ‘Niger EP Vol. 1’
Stream / Pre-order ‘Niger EP Vol. 2’
Ahead of the physical release of The Niger EPs vols. 1 & 2 next month, Mdou Moctar has announced several shows in the U.S. slated for this Spring. Tickets available this Friday at 10am local time HERE.
Mdou Moctar on Tour
Thursday, March 2 Perth Festival, Northbridge AU
Saturday, March 4 Nine Lives 2023, Brisbane AU
Thursday, March 9 Brunswick Music Festival, Brunswick West AU
Friday, March 10 Theatre Royal, Castlemaine AU
Saturday, March 11 Golden Plains, Melbourne AU
Sunday, March 12 Womadelaide, Adelaide AU
Tuesday, March 14 Sydney Opera House, Sydney AU
Friday, March 17 WOMAD New Zealand, New Plymouth New Zealand
Thursday, April 27 Art Co, Dallas TX
Friday, April 28 Austin Psych Fest
Sunday, April 30 New Orleans Jazz Festival, New Orleans LA
Tuesday, May 2 Intuition Ale Works, Jacksonville FL
Wednesday, May 3 Miami Beach Bandshell, Miami Beach FL
Thursday, May 4 The Social, Orlando FL
Friday, May 5 The Georgia Theatre, Athens GA
Saturday, May 6 Cat's Cradle, Carrboro NC
Monday, May 15 Electric Ballroom Camden, London UK
Mdou Moctar Online
Official site
black midi x Mdou Moctar: Morgan and Souleymane at Electrical Audio
Purchase / Stream 'Afrique Victime'
Stream / Pre-order 'Niger EP Vol. 1'
Stream / Pre-order 'Niger EP Vol. 2'
Earlier this year, Mdou Moctar’s Souleymane Ibrahim and black midi’s Morgan Simpson connected for the first time in Chicago at Electrical Audio on the heels of a recent North American tour. After some set-up and impromptu free-styling, Simpson and Ibrahim drummed to songs together from their respective latest albums: “Sugar/Tzu” from black midi’s Hellfire and “Chismiten” from Mdou Moctar’s Afrique Victime. The drummers found immediate musical affinity spending the afternoon sharing rhythms and playing off one another’s personal cadence and pulse. Today marks the premiere of a mini-documentary showcasing this special drum session on the Rough Trade YouTube Channel.
Mdou Moctar on Tour
Saturday, March 11 Golden Plains, Melbourne AU
March 12-13 Womadelaide, Adelaide AU
March 17-18 Womad Festival, New Plymouth NZ
Mdou Moctar Online
Official site
black midi Online
Website
Mdou Moctar - Niger EP Vol. 2
(photo: Nelson Antonio Espinal)
Stream / Pre-order Niger EP Vol. 1
Stream / Pre-order Niger EP Vol. 2
Mdou Moctar's second installment of the Niger EP series, featuring live and alternate versions of songs spanning the band’s discography, is available on your preferred streaming service today.
Niger EP Vols. 1 & 2 will be available on limited yellow / green vinyl on March 10, 2023, available to pre-order through the link HERE.
Mdou Moctar online
Official site
Mdou Moctar - Niger EP Vol. 1 & 2
(Photo: Atiba Jefferson)
Pre-order Niger EP Vol. 1 & 2
Mdou Moctar has announced details of part two of the Niger EP series – featuring live and alternate versions of songs spanning the band’s discography recorded in their native Niger – which will be released digitally on October 25th. It follows Niger Vol.1 EP which is out now digitally. A physical release date for both EPs on limited vinyl has additionally been announced for March 10.
A preview of Vol. 2 is today available to listen to with a live version of ‘Ibitilan’. First appearing on 2019’s Blue Stage Session, the latest iteration of ‘Ibitlan’ captures the band’s renowned live energy in unmediated form, pushing the faders to their very limits. Listen HERE.
“Ibitilan is a love song,” says producer and bassist Mikey Coltun. “Mdou sings about his love for a woman, comparing her to a beautiful valley with a stream running through it, how her skin is a yellow flower and her smile is like lightning. This particular recording was done in Agadez in 2017 at a wedding. Mdou and I had played three weddings a day for about a month and a half on that trip. It was like bootcamp. I loved it. Ibitlan is one of Mdou's oldest songs and is covered by pretty much every Tuareg guitarist. We've played versions of this song lasting over 20 minutes. It's definitely one of my favorites to play!”
Mdou Moctar online
Official site
Mdou Moctar - KEXP Session
(photo: Jake Hanson)
Purchase / Stream Afrique Victime
Stream Niger EP Vol. 1
Mdou Moctar has premiered a new session for KEXP, recorded during the band's stay at THING Festival in Port Townsend, WA earlier this year. The four-song set features three songs from last year's LP Afrique Victime preceded by the previously unheard "Takoba."
Set list:
Takoba
Ya Habibti
Chismiten
Afrique Victime
Mdou Moctar online
Official site
Mdou Moctar - "D'Addario Extended Play (Sessions)"
The following commercial message comes to us courtesy of D'Addario :
We’re proud to share the first installment of D’Addario Extended Play, where legendary guitarists across genres and generations sit in with your favorite artists of today for a once-in-a-lifetime jam session. Our first episode is led by Niger based band Mdou Moctar, who shares the stage with an all-star lineup featuring Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth) Richard Fortus (Guns ’n Roses), Gina Gleason (Baroness), and Marc Ribot. Watch the band play through songs from their 2021 album 'Afrique Victime' with the help of these guitar greats. Full video at ddar.io/mdou and stay tuned for more memorable moments from this performance.
Download / Stream Afrique Refait
Purchase / Stream Afrique Victime
Mdou Moctar online
Official site
Mdou Moctar - 'Niger EP Vol. 1'
“Chismiten (Drum Machine Version)”
photo : WH Moustapha
Download / Stream 'Niger EP Vol. 1 '
After capping off their last UK performance for 2022 at Green Man Festival last weekend, Mdou Moctar has released the 'Niger EP Vol. 1' featuring
recordings captured in Moctar’s native country, including the previously unreleased 13-minute drum machine and electric guitar epic "Imouhar," live versions of songs from across Moctar’s discography, and a rhythm-box-driven take on 'Afrique Victime ' opener "Chismiten."
Producer and bass player Mikey Coltun says: “In 2021, we started the Mdou Moctar mixtape series. These releases compiled field recordings, cell phone voice memos, interview clips, conversations captured in the tour van, and blown-out board recordings from shows all over the world. As a continuation of those mixtapes, we present the Niger EP's, which examine the roots of the Mdou Moctar band. Early Mdou recordings were contained on cassettes, though the humble tape was soon replaced by the quick
and easy facility of cell phone technology. Long bus rides are common in West Africa. On one of these rides, you might be seated next to a stranger and ask "what are you listening to?", then a song exchange would begin over Bluetooth. This is a very real way artists found their music distributed far from home. In that vein, the Niger EP series features solely recordings taped in Mdou Moctar's home country of Niger. Volume 1 begin the series with a mix of recordings from 2017-2020, documenting the band at weddings, picnics, rehearsals, and even impromptu house concerts. A must have for any Mdou Moctar fan!”
Download / Stream Afrique Refait
Purchase / Stream Afrique Victime
Tracklist
- Imouhar (Drum Machine Version)
- Chismiten (Drum Machine Version)
- Sibidoul (Live)
- Afelan (Live)
- Layla (Live)
- Afrique Victime (Live)
Mdou Moctar On Tour :
(tickets)
Wednesday, August 24 Revolution Hall, Portland OR
Thursday, August 25 Rickshaw Theater, Vancouver BC
Friday, August 26 THING Festival, Port Townsend WA
Saturday, August 27 The Fillmore, San Francisco CA
Sunday, August 28 This Ain’t No Picnic, Pasadena CA
Wednesday, August 31 Pappy & Harriet’s, Pioneertown CA
Thursday, September 1 Hoco Festival, Tucson AZ
Saturday, September 3 Nelsonville Music Festival, Nelsonville OH
Tuesday, September 6 Thalia Hall, Chicago IL
Mdou Moctar online
Official site
Out Today: Mdou Moctar - "Afrique Refait"
After premiering a new take on "Taliat" by Rey Sapienz feat. MC Dougis last week, Mdou Moctar has released the full remix album Afrique Refait today. The 13 tracks re-imagined by artists across the African continent build upon all 9 songs from Moctar's 2021 album Afrique Victime. Full tracklist, upcoming Mdou Moctar tour dates, and information on each artist provided by producer/bassist Mikey Coltun is below.
Download / Stream Afrique Refait
Purchase / Stream Afrique Victime
Afrique Refait tracklist:
- Chismiten (Jay Mitta Remix) – Tanzania
- Taliat (Rey Sapienz Remix) ft MC Dougis – Congo
- Ya Habibti (Tommy T Remix) – Ethiopia
- Tala Tannam (Debmaster Remix) ft MC Yallah – Kenya/Uganda
- Untitled (Duma Remix) – Kenya
- Asdikte Akal (Yugen Blakrok Remix) ft Kanif The Jhatmaster – South Africa
- Layla (Aya Metwalli Remix) – Egypt
- Afrique Victime (Kabeaushé Remix) – Kenya
- Bismilahi Atagah (Chrisman Remix) – Congo
- Chismiten (DJ Diaki Rhythm Remix) – Mali
- Chismiten (DJ Diaki Bass Remix) – Mali
- Chismiten (DJ Diaki Guitar Remix) – Mali
- Chismiten (DJ Diaki Vocal Remix) – Mali
(Mdou Moctar, photo credit: Jamie Kelter Davis)
Jay Mitta (above) who remixed ‘Chismiten’ is one of the pioneers of the Singeli scene in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Like most of the artists picked for these remixes, he is pushing the boundaries of folk music beyond what it started as to something new and untried while remaining true to his roots. When the Nyege Nyege Tapes mixtape came out it was powerful and we got in touch with the label and asked about Jay doing a remix.
Tommy T who remixed ‘Ya Habibti’ is a producer from Ethiopia who lives in DC and I knew from growing up in the DC music scene. We thought he’d do something different from the other remixers and he took a more traditional approach.
MC Yallah is one of my favourite MC/rappers right now. Here she is paired with producer Debmaster to create a powerful in your face remix of the love ballad ‘Tala Tannam.'
Duma is the duo of Lord Spike Heart and Sam Karugu from the grindcore scene in Kenya. It’s some of the most interesting and sonically innovative music coming out of Africa: noise and grindcore with a mix of Kenyan roots and Ugandan music. Their video for (2020 single) ‘Lions Blood’ was super powerful and in your face, and we wanted to work with them.
Yugen Blakrok (photo credit: David Hasse) was recommended to me through a friend I met in Mali years back from South Africa. I was told ‘Yugen is an MC, but she works with great producers and would be amazing!’ This is one of my favorites in the series!
Aya Metwalli who remixed ‘Layla’ is originally from Egypt and is now part of the Lebanese noise scene that should definitely be checked out by more people. There’s an amazing experimental and noise scene in Egypt, Lebanon, Tunisia, Palestine. I got to know Aya Metwalli through people in the Beirut noise community where they’re a small but tight-knit and collaborative scene. We knew she would kill it on this remix.”
DJ Diaki (photo credit: Sophie Garcia) is one of the pioneers of Balani music scene in Mali. Balani is a house party that started in the capital Bamako and moved to the outskirts. They bring a soundsystem and blast music loud and people dance, going back to traditional Malian folk parties. I attended one of these parties in Mali in 2012 and was sent some Balani music on my cellphone. There’s a great shop in Bamako called Mali Retro that originally sold cassettes. Nowadays you tell them what you want and they throw it on a flash disc. In 2016 I was given a combination of traditional Balani phone music and newer electronic stuff. The four remixes of ‘Afrique Victime’ focus on different elements of the song separately: bass, guitar, guitar II and vocals.
(Rey Sapienz, photo credit: Sophie Garcia)
(Chrisman, photo credit: Marvin Twesigye)
(Kebeaushé, photo credit: Mo Kanchu)
Rey Sapienz, MC Dougis, Kabeaushe and Chrisman are all artists I was previously unaware of before working on this project. These artists were presented by the amazing Nyege Nyege Tapes label and were all essential in completing the Afrique Victime Remix project. While a lot of the artists previously chosen came from either East, West or North Africa, Rey Sapienz, MC Dougis and Chrisman showcase all the cool shit coming out of Central Africa – The Congo.
Mdou Moctar on Tour
Thursday, April 14th EartH Theatre, London [UK] (SOLD OUT)
Friday, April 15th : La cave aux Poètes, Roubaix/Lille [FR]
Saturday, April 16th Le Hasard Ludique, Paris [FR] (SOLD OUT)
Sunday, April 17th Doornroosje, Nijmegen [NL] (SOLD OUT)
Monday, April 18th Molotow – Hamburg [DE]
Tuesday, April 19th Alice, Copenhagen [DK] (SOLD OUT)
Wednesday, April 20th Nefertiti, Gothenburg [SE] (SOLD OUT)
Thursday, April 21st Blaa, Oslo [NO]
Friday, April 22nd, Fasching, Stockholm [SE] (SOLD OUT)
Saturday, April 23rd Plan B, Malmö [SE]
Sunday, April 24th Frannz Club, Berlin [DE]
Monday, April 25th UT Connewitz, Leipzig [DE]
Tuesday, April 26th Meetfactory, Prague [CZ]
Wednesday, April 27th Kapu, Linz [AU]
Thursday, April 28th Rote Fabrik, Zurich [CH]
Sunday, May 1st De Post, Oostende [BE]
Thursday, July 14 Pori Jazz Festival, Pori FI
Saturday, July 16 Bankito Festival, Bank HU
Friday, July 22 Latitude Festival, Southwold UK
Saturday, August 6 Off Festival, Myslowice PL
Wednesday, August 10 Øyafestivalen, Oslo NO
Saturday, August 13 SonicBlast Festival, Ancora PT
Friday, August 19 Green Man Festival, Powys UK
Saturday, August 20 Pukkelpop, Hasselt BE
Friday, August 26 Thing Festival, Port Townsend WA
August 28 – 29, This Ain’t No Picnic, Pasadena CA
Mdou Moctar online
Official site
Jay Mitta Online
Tommy T Online
Rey Sapienz Online
MC Yallah Online
Duma Online
Bandcamp
Yugen Blakrok Online
Bandcamp
Aya Metwalli Online
Bandcamp
Kabeaushé Online
Chrisman Online
DJ Diaki Online
Bandcamp
Mdou Moctar - "Afrique Refait" + "Taliat" (Rey Sapienz Remix ft. MC Dougis)
(Mdou Moctar, photograph by Jamie Kelter Davis)
(Rey Sapienz, photograph by Sophie Garcia)
Stream "Taliat (Rey Sapienz Remix ft. DJ Dougis)"
Pre-save Afrique Refait
Purchase / Stream Afrique Victime
Mdou Moctar’s ‘Afrique Victime’ was one of 2021’s most lauded releases: an innovative alchemy of Tuareg folk, blues and rock, electric guitar pyrotechnics, field recordings and electronics with poetic call-to-arms lyrics about the plight of his homeland of Niger.
Today, in line with their activity supporting and bringing attention to African artists, Moctar Moctar announce ‘Afrique Refait’, a remix collection of songs from ‘Afrique Victime’, released April 19th on Matador. The tracklist features sound-makers at the vanguard of electronic music in Africa, with a view of highlighting different scenes across the continent. Many of the artists are associated with pioneering Ugandan label Nyege Nyege Tapes who were vital to the making of the project.
Moctar’s UK tour culminates tonight with a sold-out show at EartH. Before proceeding to further European and festival dates throughout spring and summer.
Afrique Refait tracklist:
- Chismiten (Jay Mitta Remix) – Tanzania
- Taliat (Rey Sapienz Remix) ft MC Dougis – Congo
- Ya Habibti (Tommy T Remix) – Ethiopia
- Tala Tannam (Debmaster Remix) ft MC Yallah – Kenya/Uganda
- Untitled (Duma Remix) – Kenya
- Asdikte Akal (Yugen Blakrok Remix) ft Kanif The Jhatmaster – South Africa
- Layla (Aya Metwalli Remix) – Egypt
- Afrique Victime (Kabeaushé Remix) – Kenya
- Bismilahi Atagah (Chrisman Remix) – Congo
- Chismiten (DJ Diaki Rhythm Remix) – Mali
- Chismiten (DJ Diaki Bass Remix) – Mali
- Chismiten (DJ Diaki Guitar Remix) – Mali
- Chismiten (DJ Diaki Vocal Remix) – Mali
Mdou Moctar on Tour
Thursday, April 14th EartH Theatre, London [UK] (SOLD OUT)
Friday, April 15th : La cave aux Poètes, Roubaix/Lille [FR]
Saturday, April 16th Le Hasard Ludique, Paris [FR] (SOLD OUT)
Sunday, April 17th Doornroosje, Nijmegen [NL] (SOLD OUT)
Monday, April 18th Molotow – Hamburg [DE]
Tuesday, April 19th Alice, Copenhagen [DK] (SOLD OUT)
Wednesday, April 20th Nefertiti, Gothenburg [SE] (SOLD OUT)
Thursday, April 21st Blaa, Oslo [NO]
Friday, April 22nd, Fasching, Stockholm [SE] (SOLD OUT)
Saturday, April 23rd Plan B, Malmö [SE]
Sunday, April 24th Frannz Club, Berlin [DE]
Monday, April 25th UT Connewitz, Leipzig [DE]
Tuesday, April 26th Meetfactory, Prague [CZ]
Wednesday, April 27th Kapu, Linz [AU]
Thursday, April 28th Rote Fabrik, Zurich [CH]
Sunday, May 1st De Post, Oostende [BE]
Thursday, July 14 Pori Jazz Festival, Pori FI
Saturday, July 16 Bankito Festival, Bank HU
Friday, July 22 Latitude Festival, Southwold UK
Saturday, August 6 Off Festival, Myslowice PL
Wednesday, August 10 Øyafestivalen, Oslo NO
Saturday, August 13 SonicBlast Festival, Ancora PT
Friday, August 19 Green Man Festival, Powys UK
Saturday, August 20 Pukkelpop, Hasselt BE
Friday, August 26 Thing Festival, Port Townsend WA
August 28 – 29, This Ain’t No Picnic, Pasadena CA
Mdou Moctar online
Official site
Rey Sapienz Online
Coming Thursday : Mdou Moctar - 'Afrique Victime (Digital Deluxe)'
(Photo : Jamie Kelter Davis)
stream/download "Nakanegh Dich"
presave / download 'Afrique Victime' Digital Deluxe Edition
On February 24th, Matador will release a deluxe digital edition of Mdou Moctar’s 'Afrique Victime', which expands the album with nine previously unreleased songs, including the studio outtake, “Nakanegh Dich.” “These are a mix of demos from Niger and some live tracks from touring around the world, when we were still working out the songs together as a band,” says bassist and producer Mikey Coltun. “These are fun and different early versions of the songs.”
Today, you can listen to “Nakanegh Dich,” recorded in Los Angeles with Rob Schnapf during sessions for the album. “This is Mdou's very first time using a wah pedal,” explains bassist and producer, Mikey Coltun. “At some point, Mdou called Rob into the studio and asked him to control the wah with his foot while Mdou shredded a solo.”
Afrique Victime Digital Deluxe Tracklist
- Chismiten
- Taliat
- Ya Habibti
- Tala Tannam
- Untitled
- Asdikte Akal
- Layla
- Afrique Victime
- Bismilahi Atagah
- Chismiten (Demo)
- Taliat (Live)
- Ya Habibti (Demo)
- Tala Tannam (Demo)
- Asdikte Akal (Live)
- Layla (Live)
- Afrique Victime (Live)
- Bismilahi Atagah (Demo)
- Nakanegh Dich (Demo)
This month, Mdou and band will embark on a North American tour including headline shows (with Philadelphia's Emily Robb as support), dates preceding Parquet Courts, and an appearance at Knoxville's Big Ears Festival. In April, the group will travel across the Atlantic for an extensive UK/EU tour. A full list of upcoming shows can be found below.
Mdou Moctar on Tour
Thursday, February 24 Columbus Theatre, Providence RI ^
Friday, February 25 BAM Opera House, Brooklyn NY *
Saturday, February 26 Jefferson Theatre, Charlottesville VA ^
Sunday, February 27 The Orange Peel, Asheville NC %
Monday, February 28 Georgia Theatre, Atlanta GA %
Wednesday, March 2 Variety Playhouse, Atlanta GA %
Thursday, March 3 Saturn, Birmingham AL %
Friday, March 4 Cannery Ballroom, Nashville TN %
Saturday, March 5 The Pageant, St. Louis MO %
Monday, March 7 Liberty Hall, Lawrence KS %
Tuesday, March 8 The Waiting Room, Omaha NE %
Thursday, March 10 First Avenue, Minneapolis MN %
Friday, March 11 Turner Hall Ballroom, Milwaukee WI %
Saturday, March 12 The Riviera Theatre, Chicago IL %
Sunday, March 13 MOCAD, Detroit MI %
Tuesday, March 15 Mr. Smalls Theatre, Millvale PA %
Wednesday, March 16 Agora Theatre, Cleveland OH %
Thursday, March 17 Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Toronto ON %
Friday, March 18 Corona Theatre, Montreal QC %
Saturday, March 19 Northern VT State, Lyndon VT
Sunday, March 20 Higher Ground, Burlington VT ^
Monday, March 21 Colony, Woodstock NY ^
Tuesday, March 22 9:30 Club, Washington DC ^
Thursday, March 24 The Ramkat, Winston Salem NC ^
Friday, March 25 Big Ears Festival, Knoxville TN
Friday, April 1st Het Bos, Antwerpen [BE]
Saturday, April 2nd AB-club, Brussels [BE]
Sunday, April 3rd Bumann, Köln [DE]
Monday, April 4th Paradiso, Amsterdam [NL]
Tuesday, April 5th Effenaar, Eindhoven [NL]
Wednesday, April 6th, Komedia, Brighton [UK]
Thursday, April 7th Hare & Hounds, Birmingham [UK]
Friday, April 8th The Sugar Club, Dublin [IE]
Saturday, April 9th Ulster Sports Club, Belfast [UK]
Sunday, April 10th Drygate, Glasgow [UK]
Monday, April 11th The Brudenell Social Club, Leeds [UK]
Tuesday, April 12th YES, Manchester [UK]
Thursday, April 14th EartH Theatre, London [UK] (venue change)
Friday, April 15th : La cave aux Poètes, Roubaix/Lille [FR]
Saturday, April 16th Le Hasard Ludique, Paris [FR]
Sunday, April 17th Doornroosje, Nijmegen [NL]
Monday, April 18th Molotow – Hamburg [DE]
Tuesday, April 19th Alice, Copenhagen [DK]
Wednesday, April 20th Nefertiti, Gothenburg [SE]
Thursday, April 21st Blaa, Oslo [NO]
Friday, April 22nd, Fasching, Stockholm [SE]
Saturday, April 23rd Plan B, Malmö [SE]
Sunday, April 24th Frannz Club, Berlin [DE]
Monday, April 25th UT Connewitz, Leipzig [DE]
Tuesday, April 26th Meetfactory, Prague [CZ]
Wednesday, April 27th Kapu, Linz [AU]
Thursday, April 28th Rote Fabrik, Zurich [CH]
Sunday, May 1st De Post, Oostende [BE]
Thursday, July 14 Pori Jazz Festival, Pori FI
Saturday, August 6 Off Festival, Myslowice PL
Wednesday, August 10 Øyafestivalen, Oslo NO
Friday, August 19 Green Man Festival, Powys UK
August 28 – 29, This Ain’t No Picnic, Pasadena CA
% w/ Parquet Courts
^ w/ Emily Robb
* w/ Bartees Strange
Mdou Moctar online
Official site
Mdou Moctar - Fender Session
Fender has shared a new performance and interview with Mdou Moctar, including performances of "Afrique Victime," “Ya Habibti,” and “Chismiten."
Mdou Moctar kicks off a month long North American tour at the end of February, including a newly announced performance at Brooklyn's BAM Opera House performing Afrique Victime in full. Full itinerary and ticket links below.
Mdou Moctar on Tour
Thursday, February 24 Columbus Theatre, Providence RI
Friday, February 25 BAM Opera House, Brooklyn NY
Saturday, February 26 Jefferson Theatre, Charlottesville VA
Sunday, February 27 The Orange Peel, Asheville NC %
Monday, February 28 Georgia Theatre, Atlanta GA %
Wednesday, March 2 Variety Playhouse, Atlanta GA %
Thursday, March 3 Saturn, Birmingham AL %
Friday, March 4 Cannery Ballroom, Nashville TN %
Saturday, March 5 The Pageant, St. Louis MO %
Monday, March 7 Liberty Hall, Lawrence KS %
Tuesday, March 8 The Waiting Room, Omaha NE %
Thursday, March 10 First Avenue, Minneapolis MN %
Friday, March 11 Turner Hall Ballroom, Milwaukee WI %
Saturday, March 12 The Riviera Theatre, Chicago IL %
Sunday, March 13 MOCAD, Detroit MI %
Tuesday, March 15 Mr. Smalls Theatre, Millvale PA %
Wednesday, March 16 Agora Theatre, Cleveland OH %
Thursday, March 17 Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Toronto ON %
Friday, March 18 Corona Theatre, Montreal QC %
Saturday, March 19 Northern VT State, Lyndon VT
Sunday, March 20 Higher Ground, Burlington VT
Monday, March 21 Colony, Woodstock NY
Tuesday, March 22 9:30 Club, Washington DC
Thursday, March 24 The Ramkat, Winston Salem NC
Friday, March 25 Big Ears Festival, Knoxville TN
Friday, April 1st Het Bos, Antwerpen [BE]
Saturday, April 2nd AB-club, Brussels [BE]
Sunday, April 3rd Bumann, Köln [DE]
Monday, April 4th Paradiso, Amsterdam [NL]
Tuesday, April 5th Effenaar, Eindhoven [NL]
Wednesday, April 6th, Komedia, Brighton [UK]
Thursday, April 7th Hare & Hounds, Birmingham [UK]
Friday, April 8th The Sugar Club, Dublin [IE]
Saturday, April 9th Ulster Sports Club, Belfast [UK]
Sunday, April 10th Drygate, Glasgow [UK]
Monday, April 11th The Brudenell Social Club, Leeds [UK]
Tuesday, April 12th YES, Manchester [UK]
Thursday, April 14th EartH Theatre, London [UK] (venue change)
Friday, April 15th : La cave aux Poètes, Roubaix/Lille [FR]
Saturday, April 16th Le Hasard Ludique, Paris [FR]
Sunday, April 17th Doornroosje, Nijmegen [NL]
Monday, April 18th Molotow – Hamburg [DE]
Tuesday, April 19th Alice, Copenhagen [DK]
Wednesday, April 20th Nefertiti, Gothenburg [SE]
Thursday, April 21st Blaa, Oslo [NO]
Friday, April 22nd, Fasching, Stockholm [SE]
Saturday, April 23rd Plan B, Malmö [SE]
Sunday, April 24th Frannz Club, Berlin [DE]
Monday, April 25th UT Connewitz, Leipzig [DE]
Tuesday, April 26th Meetfactory, Prague [CZ]
Wednesday, April 27th Kapu, Linz [AU]
Thursday, April 28th Rote Fabrik, Zurich [CH]
Sunday, May 1st De Post, Oostende [BE]
% w/ Parquet Courts
Mdou Moctar online
Official site
Bandcamp Friday : Snail Mail - 'Valentine' ,14% Off, Plus A Plethora Of Matador Catalog Titles Available On BC For The First TIme
Bandcamp are waiving their revenue share today (Friday, February 4) and with the unselfishness being contagious, we’re putting Snail Mail’s ‘Valentine’ on sale for 14% off today only
https://matadorrecords.bandcamp.com/music
New to Bandcamp this week:
Pavement – Slanted & Enchanted: Luxe & Reduxe (digital only)
Pavement – Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain: LA’s Desert Origins (digital only)
Lucy Dacus – “Kissing Lessons” download / 7” pre-order (Out June 3)
Circuit des Yeux – “The Manatee” (digital only)
And there's new-to-Bandcamp catalog titles from Bailter Space, Body/Head, CEREMONY, Chavez, Kurt Vile, Lucy Dacus, Mary Timony, MUZZ, Perfume Genius, Snail Mail, Spoon, Stephen Malkmus, Steve Gunn, and The New Pornographers.
Steve Gunn - 'Nakama'
(photo : Duane Michals)
stream / download 'Nakama'
stream / purchase 'Other You'
Available today digitally, Steve Gunn’s 'Nakama' EP features reinterpretations of five songs from the guitarist’s recent full-length, 'Other You', created with close friends. This includes new studio recordings made alongside Mikey Coltun and Ahmoudou Madassane of Mdou Moctar, and Natural Information Society, as well as remixes by Circuit des Yeux and Bing & Ruth. The artwork was shot and sequenced by photographer Duane Michals.
These are not covers, exactly. Nor are they full-blown from-the-ground-up collaborations. It’s a third path – using Gunn’s song structures as a point of departure, seeking a new route through familiar ground. They expand on and illuminate the experimental impulses and meditative moods that guided 'Other You'.
“It touches on a lot of music that I love, but that I might not necessarily translate with the proper album”, says Gunn. “To give these songs to people that I admire and to see how they would return, knowing that their music is an inspiration to me, was really a cool opportunity. Joshua Abrams' bass playing, his group Natural Information Society, and his film soundtrack work have been an inspiration to me for some time now. I am grateful that I was able to travel to Chicago and work closely with Josh in his studio on ‘Good Wind’ and ‘On the Way’. Reimagining these songs with Josh, along with Lisa Alvarado's accompaniment, was a total joy. I arrived with the intention of keeping these songs open in seeing where they would go in working with Josh, and am very happy with the results.”
Mikey Coltun of Mdou Moctar said of the collaboration, “Ahmoudou and I wanted to give ‘Protection' a Tuareg feel. We knew we wanted to use field recordings from Niger and specifically Tende music, which is the drums and chanting you hear. We used drum machines which is an homage to Abdallah Oumbadougou, the first Niger Tuareg artist to do that in the ’90s.”
Circuit des Yeux’s Haley Fohr sought to dial back the arrangement on ‘Ever Feel That Way’, foregrounding Gunn’s vocal. “By stripping back his guitar and adding some horns and effects, I worked to bolster his narration atop a pillowy and nocturnal environment,” she explains. “The result is quiet and intimate. It is a serenade for one that lays close to the heart.”
Bing & Ruth’s David Moore said: “It was a joy to get inside of Steve’s music and rearrange the furniture. ‘Reflection’ struck me instantly as a classic song that I wouldn’t want to stray too far from the original, so I added some piano and moved around a lot of the pieces until I found something somewhere between sunshine rock and a psychedelic opium den. Such a pleasure to get this one where it ended up.”
In February, Gunn will perform a three-show residency at Brooklyn’s Union Pool. Each set will be unique format – solo (2/1), Gunn-Truscinski Duo (2/8), and full-band (2/15). Openers include Laura Ortman, Bill Nace, and Bing & Ruth. All shows are free with RSVP.
Nakama Tracklist
- Protection (with Mikey Coltun and Ahmoudou Madassane of Mdou Moctar)
- Good Wind (with Natural Information Society)
- On The Way (with Natural Information Society)
- Ever Feel That Way (with Circuit des Yeux)
- Reflection (with Bing & Ruth)
Steve Gunn on tour :
Tuesday, February 1 Union Pool, Brooklyn NY (w/ Laura Ortman)
Tuesday, February 8 Union Pool, Brooklyn NY (w/ Bill Nace) ^
Tuesday, February 15 Union Pool, Brooklyn NY (w/ Bing & Ruth)
Tuesday, March 29 Pappy and Harriet’s, Pioneertown CA #
Wednesday, March 30 The Casbah, San Diego CA #
Thursday, March 31 Zebulon, Los Angeles CA *
Friday, April 1 Zebulon, Los Angeles CA *
Saturday, April 2 Zebulon, Los Angeles CA *
Monday, April 4 The Guild Theatre, Menlo Park CA #
Tuesday, April 5 The Chapel, San Francisco CA #
Wednesday, April 6 Sebastiani Theatre, Sonoma CA #
Friday, April 8 The Aladdin Theatre, Portland OR #
Saturday, April 9 Fawcett Hall, Tacoma WA #
Sunday, April 10 St. James Hall, Vancouver BC #
Monday, April 11 The Crocodile, Seattle WA #
Wednesday, April 13 Fox Theatre, Boulder CO
Thursday, April 14 Globe Hall, Denver CO
Friday, April 15 Three Lobed Festival, Durham NC
Saturday, April 16 Three Lobed Festival, Durham NC ^# w/ Jeff Parker
* "Steve Gunn, Jeff Parker & Friends"
^ Gunn-Truscinkski Duo
Steve Gunn Online
Steve Gunn.com
Mdou Moctar/Mikey Coltun/Ahmoudou Madassane Online
Mdou Moctar.com
Mdou Moctar instagram
Mdou Moctar Facebook
Mdou Moctar Twitter
Mikey Coulton Instagram
Ahmoudou Madassane Instagram
Circuit des Yeux Online
website
Natural Information Society Online
website
Bing & Ruth Online
Website
New Mdou Moctar 2022 Tour Dates
(photo : Sheldon Omar-Abba)
Today, Mdou Moctar announces a run of Winter 2022 headline North American dates that includes an appearance at Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, TN. The band will be touring in support of their universally acclaimed full-length, 'Afrique Victime', that was released this past May on Matador Records. These new East Coast dates will bookend previously announced North American support dates for Parquet Courts in late February and early March. The band will then make their way across the pond to play an extensive UK/EU tour in the Spring. A full list of upcoming shows can be found below
Stream / Purchase Afrique Victime
Mdou Moctar on Tour (new dates in bold, on sale Friday at 10am except for Big Ears Festival)
Thursday, February 24 Columbus Theatre, Providence RI
Saturday, February 26 Jefferson Theatre, Charlottesville VA
Sunday, February 27 The Orange Peel, Asheville NC %
Monday, February 28 Georgia Theatre, Atlanta GA %
Wednesday, March 2 Variety Playhouse, Atlanta GA %
Thursday, March 3 Saturn, Birmingham AL %
Friday, March 4 Cannery Ballroom, Nashville TN %
Saturday, March 5 The Pageant, St. Louis MO %
Monday, March 7 Liberty Hall, Lawrence KS %
Tuesday, March 8 The Waiting Room, Omaha NE %
Thursday, March 10 First Avenue, Minneapolis MN %
Friday, March 11 Turner Hall Ballroom, Milwaukee WI %
Saturday, March 12 The Riviera Theatre, Chicago IL %
Sunday, March 13 MOCAD, Detroit MI %
Tuesday, March 15 Mr. Smalls Theatre, Millvale PA %
Wednesday, March 16 Agora Theatre, Cleveland OH %
Thursday, March 17 Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Toronto ON %
Friday, March 18 Corona Theatre, Montreal QC %
Saturday, March 19 Northern VT State, Lyndon VT
Sunday, March 20 Higher Ground, Burlington VT
Monday, March 21 Colony, Woodstock NY
Tuesday, March 22 9:30 Club, Washington DC
Thursday, March 24 The Ramkat, Winston Salem NC
Friday, March 25 Big Ears Festival, Knoxville TN
Friday, April 1st Het Bos, Antwerpen [BE]
Saturday, April 2nd AB-club, Brussels [BE]
Sunday, April 3rd Bumann, Köln [DE]
Monday, April 4th Paradiso, Amsterdam [NL]
Tuesday, April 5th Effenaar, Eindhoven [NL]
Wednesday, April 6th, Komedia, Brighton [UK]
Thursday, April 7th Hare & Hounds, Birmingham [UK]
Friday, April 8th The Sugar Club, Dublin [IE]
Saturday, April 9th Ulster Sports Club, Belfast [UK]
Sunday, April 10th Drygate, Glasgow [UK]
Monday, April 11th The Brudenell Social Club, Leeds [UK]
Tuesday, April 12th YES, Manchester [UK]
Thursday, April 14th EartH Theatre, London [UK] (venue change)
Friday, April 15th : La cave aux Poètes, Roubaix/Lille [FR]
Saturday, April 16th Le Hasard Ludique, Paris [FR]
Sunday, April 17th Doornroosje, Nijmegen [NL]
Monday, April 18th Molotow – Hamburg [DE]
Tuesday, April 19th Alice, Copenhagen [DK]
Wednesday, April 20th Nefertiti, Gothenburg [SE]
Thursday, April 21st Blaa, Oslo [NO]
Friday, April 22nd, Fasching, Stockholm [SE]
Saturday, April 23rd Plan B, Malmö [SE]
Sunday, April 24th Frannz Club, Berlin [DE]
Monday, April 25th UT Connewitz, Leipzig [DE]
Tuesday, April 26th Meetfactory, Prague [CZ]
Wednesday, April 27th Kapu, Linz [AU]
Thursday, April 28th Rote Fabrik, Zurich [CH]
Sunday, May 1st De Post, Oostende [BE]
% w/ Parquet Courts
Mdou Moctar online
Official site