The Guardian’s main section featured an interesting round-up of the Glastonbury festival forays of yet another Damon Albarn-affiliated project, Africa Express. The concept is a marriage of quality African musicians of various genres and willing western artists (with a seeming emphasis on the former), brilliantly brought into life on one of Glasto’s more intimate settings, The Park Stage. Above is a sweet tune from Guinean band Ba Cissoko, featuring rising Somalian/Canadian MC K’Naan. Below you’ll find a decent video of UK grime prodigy Kano (whose myspace features some quality stuff) plus Scratch featuring Albarn himself on keys. Plenty more excellent live vids from the likes of Amadou and Mariam and Gang of Four can be seen here. Ch ch check it.
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005. He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Cara Magazine, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, co-founder of Lumo Club, event curator, Indie Sleaze club promoter, and producer of gigs and monthly listening parties & events in Dublin.
FYI, the videos are from an earlier gig in London at the end of last year (IIRC).
I’ve uploaded a fan cam of some of the Glastonbury set on YouTube, which you can find easily enough if needed.
Oops. My bad. nice one man!
Dude, first off great site….found it recently while avoiding work and this site has now become one of my choice procrastination destinations.
You’ve contributed to a 28% decrease in my productivity……I demand recompense.
Thanks for putting me on to ‘The Cool Kids’ on an earlier post….I am feeling those kids….but not in that way.
Anyhow, spotted a journalistic error; K’naan is actually a Somali/Canadian….