WOMAD

Toubab All Stars

From France

Are you ready for the French Specials?
A metaphorical world away from Paris's postcard-friendly tourist traps, Barbes is one of the city's less visited but most fascinating corners, an Arab and African enclave colourfully reshaping the capital's cultural landscape. WOMAD favourites Orchestre National De Barbes hail from these streets, as do the equally wonderful Toubab All Stars. But while ONB looked towards North Africa for their source material, the All Stars reach out to Jamaica and sub-Saharan Africa, brilliantly absorbing ska, dancehall and soukous in a thrilling, impossible-to-resist formula. With a fruity horn section to the fore, several of the songs from their excellent new record, Mekfoul District, suggest an exuberant, French-language version of The Specials - and there can't be too many more appealing recommendations than that. The Toubab All Stars are a band made for festivals. And festivals are made for bands like this.
(Biography written by Nige Tassell 2010)

Toubab All Stars- Ali Bo Maye

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