24th march 2018
Figure8 Agency, in collaboration with Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, presents the debut performance of Saharan blues band, Tinariwen in Singapore with the support of the Institut Français Singapore.
Performing at the Esplanade Concert Hall for the first time on 24 March 2018, the Grammy Award-winning sensations are the first crop of artists in the world music category, which Figure8 Agency hopes to bring to a Singapore audience.
Hailing from a Tuareg tribe descendant of nomadic people, the iconic band will treat audiences to their mesmerising desert blues grooves and electrifying stage presence, dressed eclectically in traditional robes and Tagelmust turbans. Rooted in traditional Tuareg music but influenced by the likes of Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix and Bob Marley, Tinariwen’s music addresses political awakening, problems of exile, repression, and sovereignty. Their lyrics and melodies heavily reflect the continued political turmoil of their native Northern Mali as the country struggles for independence.
Over the years, Tinariwen amassed a devout following after an arduous journey of having their music bootlegged and traded around the region. Finally in the late 1990s, western musicians discovered Tinariwen and for the first time, their songs left the Sahara and were introduced to the world. Touted as a hypnotic and danceable combination of blues, Tuareg folk and rock, these musical prodigies turn rebel fighters have since worked alongside the likes of Jools Holland, Kanye West, PJ Harvey, Arctic Monkeys and more. Following which in the next decade, the nomads travelled the world, performing at nearly every notable festival and venue around the globe including Glastonbury, Coachella, Primavera Sound, Fuji Rock, and more. They also opened for Rolling Stones in 2007 and Red Hot Chilli Peppers in 2012.
In Singapore, these self-proclaimed military artists will present their back catalogue of music over the years, including their eighth and latest album, Elwan. This record reaffirms the Tuareg institution as one of the most legendary and influential African bands in recent decades. Recipients of a Grammy for Best World Music Album in 2012, Tinariwen have been nominated again for the same award for their latest album “Elwan” (2018).
WEB :
Web site of the band : http://tinariwen.com/
Web site of Esplanade : https://www.esplanade.com/events/2018/tinariwen
Web site of Figure 8: https://www.figure8-agency.com/live/tinariwen-live-in-singapore/
To buy tickets : https://www.sistic.com.sg/events/ctina0318
