7:00 $35
9:00 $25
American Bluesman meets Malian Guitar Great
Few African artists have received the sales and media exposure of Habib Koité. Called “Mali’s biggest pop star” by Rolling Stone (in an infamous article in which Bonnie Raitt compared Habib to Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan), Habib has also received raves from widely-read publications such as People, Entertainment Weekly and the New York Times. Habib graced a 2-page photo spread in the pages of Vanity Fair magazine. While sales of African music CDs generally struggle to break the 10,000-unit mark, Habib has defied expectations by selling more than 100,000 copies of his last two studio albums, putting him in the upper echelons of world music artist sales.
“the gentle giant of Malian music… a slice of heaven” -Songlines
As with many craftsmen, Habib is a perfectionist, and spends a great deal of time composing and arranging his material. Habib draws on styles from the different regions of Mali, rather than solely on the music of his particular area as most Malian musicians do. Habib has gained a strong fan base by integrating the rock and folk sounds of the Western world, without watering down his cherished Malian roots.
“Koité’s rich, honeyed vocals and detailed guitar figures always lie at the heart of each song” -BBC
A performance by Eric Bibb is an enriching experience-both musically and spiritually. His music, like his personality, is intimate, assured and passionate.
“spiritually charged, soul-stirring performances… a masterful storyteller, world class singer, and electrifying acoustic guitarist” -Blues Revue
Metronome Magazine may have gotten it best: “Blues troubadour Eric Bibb may be one of the finest acoustic bluesmen you’ve never heard of.” This New York-born guitarist/singer is intent on changing that, with a relentless touring schedule and accolades coming in from all directions. He has received a Grammy nomination and five Blues Music Award nominations for his recordings, and made believers out of people like Taj Mahal and Bonnie Raitt. His finger picking acoustic guitar playing and smooth, gentle and yet powerful voice simply drip with gospel and folk influences, yet he remains a bluesman through and through.
“one of the classic storytellers of our time… both intimate and powerful” -Nashville Blues Society
keep up with Eric at ericbibb.com
“…blindingly beautiful… One of the greatest ‘new’ talents to arise in blues music over the last couple of years.” – Venue Magazine