photos by Kyle Dean Reinford

Konono No. 1 headlined the free annual Celebrate Brooklyn African Festival in Prospect Park on Saturday, July 17th. Other free music in Brooklyn that day included Siren Fest and Jelly's party at the Rock Yard.

"Despite the other big names on the bill, it seemed the crowd in Prospect Park was waiting all day to see Kinshasa group Konono No. 1, since a swell of people appeared close to the stage around the time the sun started to go down over the Bandshell and the group appeared on stage. Despite Konono being over thirty years old, they had all the buzz and jittery eagerness surrounding them on Saturday that a crowd usually reserves for new, up and coming groups of 20-somethings. That's because this music--distinct for its three electric likembé, or thumb pianos--is appealing on so many levels. Their rough, DIY aesthetic is arguably the dominant mode du jour in independent music (just take a gander at a recent Pitchfork review of a Wavves or Ariel Pink album). Also, they are just damn cool with their cowboy hats, stone-faced execution of ten-minute songs, and giant horn-shaped amplifier made of car parts. Finally, this music has been out of reach for far too long and has only reached a large number of American ears in the last few years, so it has the unique combination of sounding brand new and comfortably worn in. And it's about time this music has made it to our shores, because it's exotic and entrancing in a way that exemplifies the best of African culture." [The Afropop Blog]

Konono No. 1 played the next night at (Le) Poisson Rouge as well.

More pictures from the day, which also featured sets from Omar Pene & Super Diamono, Chiwoniso, Meta & the Cornerstones, Garikayi Tirikoti and Djarara, are below...

Continue reading "the 2010 Celebrate Brooklyn African Festival in pics (Konono No 1, Omar Pene & Super Diamono, more) "

"Our annual celebration of African music, food and culture builds to an ecstatic crescendo with the distortion-fueled trance music of Congolese thumb-piano wizards Konono No. 1. Dakar heavyweights Omar Pene & Super Diamono, seminal figures in the birth of the modern Senegalese sound, add a jolt of energy to the proceedings, while the distinctive voice of Zimbabwean Afro-soul diva Chiwoniso, the pan-African reggae of Meta & The Cornerstones, and the festival horns and drums from Haiti's Djarara bring other unique flavors to the day."

Konono No 1
Omar Pene
Chiwoniso
Meta & The Cornerstones
Djarara

As previously mentioned, the great Konono No 1 will headlines the annual free Celebrate Brooklyn African Festival in Prospect this Saturday (July 17, 2010 2 - 9 p.m. Gates open at 1 p.m. @ the bandshell). If you miss it, possibly because you're at the Siren Festival, there's also Le Poisson Rouge on Sunday. That indoor Manhattan show is being opened by Javelin and tickets are still on sale.

Konono are currently touring in support of a new album. They also recently contributed the track "Nsimba & Nzuzi" to a charity compilation called "Raise Hope For Congo". Click the link to check it out. The full tracklist, along with updated tour dates, below...

Continue reading "Konono No 1 on tour (African Fest Saturday, a show w/ Javelin Sunday) , on the 'Raise Hope For Congo' comp"

"Summer On the Hudson", which takes place in Riverside Park South (W 59th St to W 72nd St at the Hudson River), is in its 10th year. Their events include Acoustic Sundays on Sunday nights (July 11-August 15) and Movies Under the Stars (July 7-August 11). Bands include the indie-pop Xylos, reggae-funk Meta and The Cornerstones and Slavic Soul Party. Put em on your almost-full-and-still-growing calendar of free NYC summer shows.

More details and the schedule below...

Continue reading "Summer on the Hudson - free music & movies in NYC"

Toumani Diabaté & Vieux Farka Touré @ Bonnaroo 2009...

Vieux Farka Touré's show at The Haunt April 11 [in Ithaca] turned Sunday into anything but lazy. The Malian guitarist and singer -- son of famed guitarist Ali Farka Touré -- and his excellent outfit charmed the crowd last Sunday with his unique melodies and unbounded enthusiasm. Hippies swayed, hipsters nodded and ultimately the music proved irresistible too for the audience to refrain from frenetic dancing that broke out towards the end of the set. Touré and his band were even gracious enough to share the stage with a particularly ... enthusiastic member of the crowd.

Cornell Daily Sun: Your music clearly has many influences, how would you describe your musical style?

Vieux Farka Touré: My mentor and godfather Toumani Diabate baptized my music "koroboro rock" -- "koroboro" means "black African" in our main dialect. I guess that kind of sums it up -- my music is basically African but I mix it up with a little reggae, some salsa, some rock, some m'balax, some blues -- all the music I listen to, like people my age everywhere in the world -- and it comes out my own cocktail. I'd like to think that everyone who listens to my music finds something that pleases them.

Malian guitarist Vieux Farka Touré's latest US tour is underway - he continues with an April 15th show in Chicago, and finishes in NYC with a show at (Le) Poisson Rouge on April 27th. Soul reggae band Meta & the Cornerstones open, and tickets are on sale.

Videos and all tour dates are below...

Continue reading "Vieux Farka Touré on tour - 2010 dates & some videos "

words & photos & by Jacob Blickenstaff

New Africa Live presented a concert at Le Poisson Rouge in NYC on Saturday (4/11). The show featured a short film by Nikyatu Jusu, a solo acoustic set from Meta Dia and a full set from Thrill Jockey artists Extra Golden (who are on tour).

Unfortunately I missed the film, but the opening set from Senegal to Brooklyn transplant Meta provided a warm introduction to the evening. Normally seen with his full band, the Cornerstones, Meta played solo accompanying himself on a slightly mistuned guitar. He operated in a stripped down musical space easily comparable to Marley's "Redemption Song" : roots reggae delivered with a rich and engaging voice.

Headliners Extra Golden took the stage quickly afterwards, ripping straight in to their highly charged Kenyan/Afrobeat/sometimes rock creations. To break down the sound: 2 guitars (Ian Eagleson house left) in an interweaving dual lead with Alex Minoff who occasionally employed slide, bassist (not listed on the album) clawing bubbly arpeggiate figures, drummer Onyango Wuod Omari attacking the toms and hi-hat with octopus-like dexterity (sometimes taking lead vocal from the drummers chair) and Onyango Jogwari, vocalist, as the energy center of the proceedings.

Speaking of energy, there was initially some disconnect between the band and audience - LPR was set up in goth-cabaret mode with tables, chairs and food runners a-running. Extra Golden was rocking off-the hook and Onyago Jagwari, with a longing to connect, encouraged a mini seating rebellion several times which was finally successful for the last 2 songs.

More pictures below...

Continue reading "Extra Golden & Meta @ Le Poisson Rouge, NYC - pics"