London, England – Rachid Taha has joined forces with Brian Eno and special guests Nitin Sawhney and Imogen Heap to present a special fund raising concert in support of the Stop The War Coalition. Rachid and Brian have already played together this year, in Paris, Moscow and St Petersburg and this will be Brian’s first stage appearance in Britain since 1979.
The event will be held Sunday, November 27th, at the Astoria, Charing Cross Road. Doors open: 7 PM. Tickets: £20, from See Tickets: 0870 0603 777.
Rachid Taha is a new phenomenon in Arabic music. With his band, he brilliantly marries the driving rhythms and elaborate melodies of contemporary Arabic popular music with the forceful sound of post-punk guitar rock, creating what The Times described as ‘a dirty, raucous, greasy rock n’ roll’. The raw sweat of his music and a well-known stance against racism and hypocrisy have earned him a high standing throughout Europe and the Middle East.
Brian Eno opponent of the invasion of Iraq and long-time supporter of Stop the War Coalition, is making a guest appearance with Rachid Taha. He worked with Rachid on his album Tekitoi and has performed with him in Paris, St Petersburg and Moscow. In an interview for the South Bank show, he said: “Rachid’s music is intrinsically political and topical, and very much the music of the Arab Street. I think he himself is a person who feels his role is to make both a cultural and political statement: he doesn’t separate the two things.”
Nitin Sawhney is a world-class producer, songwriter, DJ, multi-instrumentalist, composer and cultural pioneer. Creatively active in the worlds of music, dance, theatre and film. Nitin has scored over 25 films and Clubland saw his return in 2004 with the release of All Mixed Up and Fabric Live . He has sold out the Royal Festival Hall, the Royal Albert Hall, and with a major DJ performance, the Lincoln Center in New York.
Imogen Heap has been growing on the radar of indie, rock, pop and electronica fans alike. It may have something to do with her immaculate production, but it most likely rests in the pale, haunting pallor of her voice. The 2005 release of
Speak for Yourself, sees Heap burgeoning with flavor and inspiration. What brings Imogen Heap her well-deserved acclaim is an uncompromising style and a unique understanding of sound.
Stop the War Coalition is the main organized opposition to the British Government’s war policies; capable of putting hundreds of thousands of people into the streets and represented in most cities and towns across the country. At a time when opposition to the war is stronger than ever and when, according to a Ministry of Defense inspired poll, more than 80% of Iraqis have been reported as opposed to the presence of ‘Coalition’ troops there is a greater need than ever for the anti-war movement and its work.
Author: World Music Central News Room
World music news from the editors at World Music Central
