Malian guitarist Vieux Farka Touré will perform at Sala Mon Live in Madrid on October 29, 2026, with a set that connects desert blues, rock, and West African musical traditions.
The son of legendary guitarist Ali Farka Touré, Vieux has developed a distinct approach to the musical heritage of his native Mali. His work combines desert blues with rock, Latin rhythms, and influences from across Africa. His guitar technique has also earned him the nickname “The Hendrix of the Sahara.”
The Madrid concert will cover material from throughout his career. Among his recent releases is Les Racines (2022), released by World Circuit Records, on which Touré returned to the foundations of desert blues. That same year, he teamed with Khruangbin for Ali, an album that offers contemporary, psychedelic interpretations of eight songs by his father.
Onstage, Touré combines acoustic passages and guitar-driven sections that approach the intensity of rock.
Born in Niafunké, Mali, in 1981, Touré first trained as a percussionist and calabash player at Mali’s Institut National des Arts. In 2001, he began to play guitar in secret because his father initially opposed his decision to pursue the instrument professionally.
However, with support from kora master Toumani Diabaté, Touré eventually received his father’s approval. Ali Farka Touré later joined his son for several songs on Vieux’s self-titled debut album, released in 2007. Those sessions were among Ali’s final recordings.
Since then, Touré has established an international career and expanded desert blues through rock, Latin music, and other African traditions. His collaborators include Dave Matthews, Derek Trucks, John Scofield, Idan Raichel and Khruangbin. In addition, he performed at the 2010 FIFA World Cup kickoff concert in South Africa.
His catalog includes albums such as The Secret, Mon Pays, Les Racines, and Ali. Touré also maintains close ties to Mali through cultural initiatives. He founded Amahrec Sahel and serves as director of The Ali Farka Touré Foundation, an organization focused on preserving his father’s legacy and supporting cultural development in Mali.
Tickets for Vieux Farka Touré’s October 29 concert at Sala Mon Live are now on sale through Fever.
(headline image: Vieux Farka Toure – photo by Kiss-Diouara)
Author: World Music Central News Room
World music news from the editors at World Music Central