Treat yo’self early in 2018 to some legit good world music (no longer merely a sonic staple of older folks these days), for acclaimed Saharan blues outfit Tinariwen will be returning to play at The Esplanade in March — 13 years since they graced WOMAD Singapore in 2005.
Don’t let their traditional garb fool you (and why should it?), because the Grammy Award-winning sensations from Mali are pretty well respected in the modern contemporary music scene. Their hypnotic fusion of traditional Tuareg music with the blues rhythms of Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix has fans ranging from Radiohead’s Thom Yorke to Coldplay’s Chris Martin. Music-wise, Tinariwen has collaborated with the likes of alternative music icons including Wilco, TV on the Radio, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, and more.
With the Tuareg people being nomadic, so is Tinariwen’s pattern of touring. Internationally, their music has seen them roaming as far as appearances at Coachella, Glastonbury, Clockenflap, and even on The Colbert Report in 2011. Now armed with another Grammy-nominated record Elwan in the bag, they’re set to bring the tribal dance party to the Esplanade Concert Hall on Mar 24. Tickets are on sale now from $48 to $88 online; more details on the Figure8 Agency website.
