Formed in 2004, Etran Finatawa, meaning the stars of tradition, are the only group in the world to combine the cultures of the Wodaabe (distinctive for their striking face paints) and Tuareg (renowned around the world as desert nomads) people from Niger.
The Wodaabe culture adds an incredible vibrancy to the music, with distinctive polyphonic singing and mesmerizing percussion adding another layer to the Tuareg traditions. Together, they draw on their shared experience as nomads of the Sahelian savannah to produce an explosion of desert blues, full of acoustic percussion and haunting melodies.
Their most recent album, Tarkat Tajje/Let’s Go was released on Riverboat Records in March 2010.
Etran Finatawa will perform across Canada and the United States over July and early August 2011.
Tour dates:
7th July : London, ON – Sunfest
8th July: London, ON – Sunfest
9th July : London, ON – Sunfest
10th July : London, ON – Sunfest
11th July : Hot Springs, BC – Harrison Folk Festival
12th July : Hot Springs, BC – Harrison Folk Festival
13th July : Hot Springs, BC – Harrison Folk Festival
14th July : Hot Springs, BC – Harrison Folk Festival
16th July : Dawson City – Dawson City Music Festival
17th July : Dawson City – Dawson City Music Festival
19th July : Montreal
20th July :Quebec City
21st July :Chicago – Millenium Stage
22nd July :Guelph, ON – Hillside Festival
23rd July : Guelph, ON – Hillside Festival
24th July : Guelph, ON – Hillside Festival
30th July :Canmore, BC – Canmore Folk Festival
31st July : Canmore, BC – Canmore Folk Festival
2nd August :Vancouver, BC – Whidby Island
4th August :Seattle
5th August : Edmonton – EMFM
6th August : Edmonton – EMFM
7th August : Regina – Regina Folk Festival
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
