Etran de L'Aïr

“The group’s songs… feel buoyed by the ecstasy of celebration, conjuring scenes of late nights dancing beneath the desert stars.” – Aquarium Drunkard

Etran de L’Aïr (or “stars of the Aïr,” the mountainous region of Northern Niger) welcomes you to Agadez, the capital city of Saharan rock and desert blues. Beloved for their dynamic repertoire of hypnotic solos and sun-schlazed melodies, Etran stakes out a place for Agadez guitar music. Whereas other Tuareg guitarists look to Western rock, Etran de L’Aïr play in a pan-African style that is emblematic of their hometown, citing a myriad of cultural influences, from Northern Malian blues and Hausa bar bands, to Congolese Soukous. Etran’s sound reminds us that music can transmit a message while lighting up a celebration. This is music for dancing, after all. Moussa “Abindi” Ibra guitar/vocals, Abdourahamane “Allamine” Ibrahim guitar/vocals, Abdoulaye “Illa” Ibrahim bass, Alghabid Ghabdouan drums