London Shows For Amadou & Mariam

• 1st Oct 2008

African superstars Amadou & Mariam have confirmed an appearance with Africa Express at Koko on Wednesday 22nd October as part of the BBC Electric Proms festival.

The line-up for London will not be announced in advance, but earlier events have featured Franz Ferdinand, Baaba Maal, Reverend & The Makers, Damon Albarn, Hard-Fi and Tony Allen. For more information and to get tickets follow this BBC link: link

Following the show at Koko Amadou & Mariam will perform as part of the ‘Africa Now' event at London’s Barbican Centre on Thursday 23rd October. The event will also feature appearances from Baaba Maal, Souad Massi, Oumou Sangare and Rachid Taha. Tickets are available from the Barbican Box Office: 0845 120 7550 or via the Barbican website: link

Amadou & Mariam release their new album, ‘Welcome to Mali’ through Because Music on 17th November. The new album features Damon Albarn as guest producer on the opening track, plus special guest appearances by Keziah Jones, ‘M’, Tiken Jah Fakoli, Toumani Diabate and Juan Rozoff. ‘Welcome to Mali’ expands their horizons and yet keeps the spotlight firmly on their unique mix of sweet melodies and funky rhythms, driven by Amadou's bluesy guitar and the duo's compelling voices. But the album's opening track, and first single, ‘Sabali’, which will be released digitally on the 27th October, is the couple as you've never heard them before, an extraordinary mix of Albarn's ethereal keyboards, Mariam's haunting voice and a timeless Africa-goes-global vibe.

For more information, the most uplifting music and all the bits and bobs visit the official website: link and their Myspace page: link