It’s a long way from West Africa, but Malian musician Vieux Farka Touré is no stranger to Asheville. In 2008 he teamed up with clawhammer banjo player Bob Carlin in a special performance sponsored by Asheville Area Arts Council and LEAF in Schools and Streets. In 2007 he performed at the One World InnerNational Music Festival at Deerfields. (Read an interview with Touré here.)
Touré performs in the tradition of his late father, Ali Farka Touré, a Malian singer and guitarist credited with linking traditional Malian music to American blues. Surprisingly, Ali did not encourage Vieux to study music, and when Vieux decided, in 2005, to make his debut album, he had to secure the permission of not just his father, but community elders as well.
Vieux’s discography includes his 2007 self-titled debut (which includes contributions from his father, who died the previous year), Fondo in 2009, LIVE in 2010 and, just released this past May, The Secret. That most recent effort was produced by guitarist Eric Krasno of Soulive and features Dave Matthews, Derek Trucks and John Scofield.
Vieux Farka Touré performs at The Orange Peel tonight at 9 p.m. Sri Lankan-American musician Bhi Bhima opens for a night of truly moving world music. $12 advance/$15 doors.
And it gets better: The Orange Peel just announced via Twitter, “Vieux Farka Touré ~ BOGO TICKET DEAL! Get your tickets ONLINE and enter the password: “WORLD” (in all CAPS)!” Go here to purchase tickets.
Watch Vieux Farka Touré‘s “All the Same” featuring Dave Matthews, here:
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