desert blues – Page 2 – World Music Central

The album cover for Héritage by Songhoy Blues features a central figure with dark, glossy skin wears a traditional African mask adorned with beads. The body is partially covered in cowrie shells and golden-hued organic patterns. The background blends weathered textures with a symmetrical, mirrored design. The album title and band name appear in bold, yellow and white text within a black circle in the upper right corner.

Charts

Songhoy Blues #1 on NACC Charts for February 25

Héritage (Transgressive/PIAS, 2025), the fourth recording by Songhoy Blues, is the most popular world music album at North American College, Community & Non-Comm (NACC) radio.…

Songhoy Blues., Oumar Touré, Aliou Touré and Garba Touré - Photo by Kiss Diouara

Artist Profiles

Songhoy Blues: A Career of Innovation and Advocacy

Angel Romero March 1, 2025 No Comments Aliou Touré desert blues Garba Touré Malian music Oumar Touré Songhoy Blues world music

(headline image: Songhoy Blues, Oumar Touré, Aliou Touré and Garba Touré – Photo by Kiss Diouara) Songhoy Blues emerged in 2013 with a distinctive sound…

Vieux Farka Touré - photo by Kiss Diouara . Vieux playing guitar.

Events

Desert Blues, Electric Grooves: Vieux Farka Touré Returns to Brooklyn

World Music Central News Room February 24, 2025 No Comments desert blues Malian music Vieux Farka Touré world fusion world music

On Friday, April 25, 2025, renowned Malian guitar virtuoso and vocalist Vieux Farka Touré is set to bring his signature mix of desert blues and…

Etran de L’Aïr band photo playing instruments.

Events

Experience Etran de L’Aïr at Brooklyn Bowl

World Music Central News Room August 25, 2024 No Comments desert blues Etran de L’Aïr world music

Etran de L’Aïr is set to perform at the Brooklyn Bowl on Thursday, September 19, 2024. The band Etran de L’Aïr (“stars of the air”)…

Tarwa N-Tiniri - Akal cover artwork. Shos a man on top of a desert dune and a finger ring near the bottom left, on top of the sand.

Album reviews

Tarwa N-Tiniri Celebrate Amazigh Music and Desert Culture

Angel Romero July 22, 2024 No Comments desert blues Moroccan music Tarwa N-Tiniri world music

Tarwa N-Tiniri – Akal (Tarwa N-Tiniri, 2024) Tarwa N-Tiniri’s Akal is the second album by the Amazigh band, meaning “Land” in the Tamazight language. The…

Abdallah Oumbadougou - Amghar cover artwork

Album reviews

Amghar Unveils the enduring influence of Tuareg Icon Abdallah Oumbadougou

Douglas Sanders February 16, 2024 No Comments Abdallah Oumbadougou desert blues Tuareg music world fusion world music

Abdallah Oumbadougou – Amghar: The Godfather of Tuareg Music – Vol. 1 (Petaluma Records, 2024) The album Amghar: The Godfather of Tuareg Music – Vol.…

Music videos

“Iwouksane” by Tuareg Desert Blues Pioneer Abdallah Oumbadougou

World Music Central News Room January 28, 2024 No Comments Abdallah Oumbadougou desert blues Tuareg music world music

Petaluma Records has released Abdallah Oumbadougou’s “Iwouksane,” the second song extracted from Amghar: The Godfather of Tuareg Music – VOL. 1. Amghar is a compilation…

Album reviews

Ali Farka Touré’s Unreleased Gems Shine in ‘Voyageur’

Ian Bevington September 5, 2023 No Comments Ali Farka Touré desert blues Malian music world music

Ali Farka Toure – Voyageur (World Circuit 2023) The album Voyageur is a remarkable collection of recordings previously unreleased by the legendary musician from Mali,…