aaamusic | On 01, Dec 2010

New king of Afrobeat celebrates 20 years of performing with first full UK tour

An African Soul Rebels Special

Seun Kuti & Egypt 80

and

Donso

On tour across the UK

13th – 21^st April 2011

“…you get the feeling there’s not a force in the world that can hold this band back.” Independent

Much has been written about Nigeria’s wildly inventive musical visionary and of the music he created in the 1960’s:  Afrobeat.   Pioneer of a sound that that fuses traditional African rhythms with the big horn sounds of funk and jazz, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti was arguably the most influential African musician of our time. His life and music has been celebrated in concerts, books and box sets, while artists such as Paul McCartney, James Brown have nodded to his greatness.  And now, as the Broadway smash hit Fela! reaches London promising similar  success, and a biopic of the afrobeat maverick planned for next year, there is no doubt that Fela Kuti has become a true global icon, and afrobeat more fashionable than ever.

Seun Kuti is Fela’s youngest son and an unstoppable force in Nigerian music.  For many who have charted the Kuti family over past years, it is Seun that is now the crowned king of Afrobeat.  “The word from Lagos” reports the Observer, is that “Seun is the real deal, and recent live shows confirmed he’s a natural, with all the sexy charisma you might have hoped for”.  Singer, saxophonist and electrifying performer, Seun Kuti is an embodiment of his fathers defiant spirit; his charisma,  magnetic onstage presence, dance, music, voice, politics and funky Yoruba afrobeat, updates his fathers style, yet never lets tradition down.

2011 marks Seun Kuti’s twenty year anniversary of performing with his father’s legendary band, Egypt 80, with whom he has played since he was eight.  And to celebrate, he returns for an African Soul Rebels Special to perform his first ever tour of the UK.   Fronting his band of afrobeat veterans, Egypt 80, Seun will present new music from his forthcoming album, recorded in Brazil, mixed in London, and scheduled for release in spring 2011.

Donso

Representing a traditional yet contemporary sound, Donso, meaning ‘hunter’ in the Malian Barbara language, are four brilliant musicians who have skilfully brought together a Franco/Malian fusion of traditional Malian music and electronica.   Their modern spin on the music comes from incorporating traditional Malian rhythms, deep ambient textures, with a sensitive nod to electro.  With Pierre-Antoine Grison, aka KrazyBaldhead (producer for the influential dance music label Ed Banger) on Keyboards & programming, Guimba Kouyate on guitar and Djele N’Goni, Thomas Guillaume on percussion & Donso N’Goni and vocalist Gedeon Papa Diarra.

This year, the highly successful African Soul Rebels tour breaks with tradition to present a special full length afrobeat show that allows the complete majesty of the afrobeat sound and experience to be fully appreciated.  Featuring a dazzling and monumental onstage cast of musicians and dancers, this will be one of the greatest afrobeat performances on planet Earth.

Concert producers Music Beyond Mainstream is funded by Arts Council England and managed by a group of leading UK arts centres and concert halls.  It cooperatively brings new work and great tours to new audiences.  Now in its 7^th year, MBM’s African Soul Rebels tours have produced 6 years of diverse African line ups and 18 bands including Amadou and Mariam, Salif Keita, Tony Allen, Daara J, Oumou Sangare and Tinariwen to name just a few.

Africa Soul Rebels Special – Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 and Donso

TOUR DATES  APRIL 2011

Weds 13^th LONDON                          Royal Festival Hall

Fri 15^th NORTHAMPTON              Royal & Derngate

Sat 16^th EDINBURGH                       Usher Hall

Mon 18^th MANCHESTER                 The Ritz

Tues 19^th BRISTOL                             Colston Hall

Weds 20^th BASINGSTOKE             The Anvil

Thurs 21^st POOLE                                Lighthouse