Ethos Public Relations Manchester

The sounds of Africa at Band on The Wall

by Ethos public relations

Soukous legend Kanda Bongo Man, award winning Bassekou Kouyate and Africa's finest jazz orchestra the African Jazz Allstars are to appear at Manchester's iconic music venue Band on the Wall.

The venue, which closed four years ago for major renovation, has a reputation for showcasing an array of accomplished artists and musical genres from around the world, and has seen the likes of Zimbabwean superstar Thomas Mpfumo play there in the past.

The first season at Band on the Wall will see Soukous music star, and inventor of the Kwassa Kwassa dance move, Kanda Bongo Man return to the venue on 2 October. He last performed there a decade ago and he also played at the first ever WOMAD festival in the UK in 1982.

African Jazz Allstars, with celebrated guitarist Lucky Ranku at the helm, will appear at Band on the Wall on 15 October. The 12-piece orchestra includes musicians from Tanzania, Nigeria, Uganda, Congo, Ghana, Cameroon and South Africa.

Bassekou Kouyate completes the African theme playing at Band on the Wall on 22 October. His album 'Segu Blue' was one of the most celebrated African releases of 2007 and it won album of the year at the BBC World Music Awards last year. His band Ngoni Ba has become one of Mali's most influential bands of the 21st Century.

Mike Chadwick, music programmer at Band on the Wall said: "We have a policy here of bringing the world's best music to perform at the venue and so we're thrilled to have these legends on centre-stage in the UK."

To receive advance event notification of gigs at the venue and obtain discounts, sign up to the mailing list at www.bandonthewall.org, or call 0845 2 500 500 to buy tickets.

Kanda Bongo Man, 2 October £14.50
African Jazz Allstars, 15 October £14.50
Bassekou Kouyate, 22 October £14.50

Posted at 10^th September 2009