Reached the official New Zealand Top 40 Albums chart last month with Ali (Dead Oceans), his new collaborative album with KhruangbinMalian singer/guitarist superstar Old Farka Toure ventures to Aotearoa for two must-see Hollywood dates Avondale by Tāmaki Makaurau and San Fran by Pōneke. Son of blues guitar legend Ali Farka Touré (who Ali is recorded as a tribute to), Vieux Farka Touré’s illustrious career so far includes a dozen full-length musicians under his own name and with The Touré-Raichel Collective, including the artist’s second album of 2022 Roots (translating as “the roots”) – representing “a deep reconnection with the traditional Songhai music of northern Mali”. Performing here for the very first time with his live band, don’t miss Vieux Farka Touré in February 2023…
“I’ve wanted to make a more traditional album for a very long time. It is important for me and for the people of Mali that we stay connected to our roots and our history. —Old Farka Toure
Old Farka Toure
Tuesday 21 February – Hollywood Avondale, Auckland
Wednesday February 22 – San Fran, Wellington
Banished Music presale starts at 9:00 a.m., Wednesday, November 23
General tickets on sale at 9 a.m., Friday, November 25
Sign up for the Banished presale HERE
Watch Vieux Farka Touré’s ‘Gabou Ni Tie’ music video from his new album Roots…
Discover the video of Vieux Farka Touré and ‘Diarabi’ by Khruangbin…
Press release:
Fresh off the release of his critically acclaimed collaboration album with instrumental superstars Khruangbin, Mali’s favorite son, Vieux Farka Touré, will be touring with his live band in Aotearoa for the first time in February 2023.
One of the world’s most respected guitarists and musicians, Vieux Farka Touré will perform in Auckland on February 21 and in Wellington on February 22, performing songs from his extraordinary catalogue. Including snippets from this year’s release The Roots (crowned as one of the best albums of 2022), as well as Ali, the 5-star rated album alongside Khruangbin as a tribute to Vieux’s father, the legendary Ali Farka Toure.
Les Racines, translating to “the roots”, represents a profound reconnection with the traditional Songhai music of northern Mali. It is one of the musical traditions of northern West Africa known in the West by the catch-all term “Desert Blues”. And Vieux’s roots run much deeper than most. His father, the late Ali Farka Touré, was acclaimed as one of the finest guitarists Africa has ever produced and was a pioneer in introducing the style to audiences around the world.
Vieux spent two years making Les Racines, but the album was still in the making in his head. “I’ve wanted to make a more traditional album for a very long time. It is important for me and for the people of Mali that we stay connected to our roots and our history,” explains Vieux.
Never one to stick to a single creative path, Old’s other 2022 release, Ali, seamlessly fuses his masterful guitar work and soulful vocals with Khruangbin’s dubby psychedelia. New Zealand audiences can look forward to a truly riveting performance in February 2023.