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2009 BAM Rhythm & Blues Festival @ MetroTech - lineup includes Rokia Traoré (who played LPR - pics)

photos by Lori Baily

Rokia Traoré

Pitchfork: As the daughter of a diplomat, you must have traveled a lot. How does that experience inform your music?

Rokia Traoré: My father was not able to get all the vinyl he used to listen to with me. He couldn’t travel as he did it because of his profession as a diplomatic career. The fact of playing an instrument and singing… that I can try to make my dream of singing and becoming a professional musician come true is linked probably to the fact that I traveled a lot, which gave me an open mind and an ability to push my limits. Probably, traveling so early changed my personality and gave me this ability today to do the music I do and to think in a certain way that everything can be possible. You just have to try before thinking that you can’t.

Rokia Traoré last visited NYC in February. She played Le Poisson Rouge, and we have some pictures from that show in this post.

Rokia will next be here in August. On August 7th she plays the Damrosch Park Bandshell as part of the Lincoln Center Out Of Doors festival, and one day earlier she’ll play a free lunch-time show at Metrotech in Brooklyn. The 2009 “BAM Rhythm & Blues Festival” lineup also includes Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and “A New Orleans R&B legend, to be announced”. Full Metrotech lineup, and more Rokia tour dates and pictures, below…

Rokia @ LPR…

Rokia Traoré

Rokia Traoré

Rokia Traoré

Rokia Traoré

Rokia Traoré

Rokia Traoré

Rokia Traoré

Rokia Traoré

Rokia Traoré

Rokia Traoré

Rokia Traoré

Rokia Traoré

Rokia Traoré

Rokia Traoré

Rokia Traoré

Rokia Traoré

BAM Rhythm & Blues Festival at MetroTech
Thursdays, June 4-August 6
MetroTech Commons at MetroTech Center
noon-2pm, free

June 4: Lakeside
June 11: A New Orleans R&B legend, to be announced
June 18: Simone
June 25: Spanish Harlem Orchestra
July 2: Toshi Reagon
July 9: Rebirth Brass Band
July 16: Anthony David
July 23: Kindred the Family Soul
July 30: Ladysmith Black Mambazo
August 6: Rokia Traoré

Rokia Traore – other 2009 Tour Dates
16/05 – ROMA | Auditorium Parco Della Musica
19/05 – PARIS | Olympia
22/05 – SEVILLA | Festival Territorios Sevilla
23/05 – RUOMS | Festiv’aluna
27/05 – PORTO | Casa de Musica
28/05 – LISBOA | Lux Fragil
29/05 – LONDRES | Barbican Center
31/05 – MOERS | Moers Festival
01/06 – NIJMEGEN | Music Meeting
20/06 – ROUEN | Les Bakayades
21/06 – TUNIS | Fête de la musique
24/06 – ZAGREB | In Music Festival
27/06 – GLASTONBURY | Glastonbury Festival
01/07 – SAINT ETIENNE | Festival des 7 collines
03/07 – ROSKILDE | Roskilde
07/07 – GIRONA | Festival
08/07 – CARTAGENA | Festival
10/07 – CHATEAU-ARNOUX | Festival de Font Robert
15/07 – CHAMBERY | Les Estivales
17/07 – SIX FOURS | Voix du Gaou