Preview: Congotronics Vs. Rockers @ Barbican Centre 12 July 2011
By: Stan Morgan
Congotronics (the collective name for the work of Congolese bands Konono No. 1 and Kasai Allstars) has been one of the biggest success stories for African music in the Western world. Artists and critics love it so much that in 2010 it spawned the double-album Tradi-Mods Vs. Rockers: Alternative Takes on Congotronics, featuring bands like Animal Collective, Micachu & The Shapes and Deerhoof proving their own takes on Congotronics tracks.
The collaboration has taken the next logical step, with the announcement of ‘Congotronics Vs. Rockers’, a tour taking in some of Europe and Japan’s biggest cities and festivals. Proceedings are kicked off in Brussels on 26thof June, before finishing in Tokyo on the 1st August. The UK leg of the tour takes place on the 12thJuly at London’s Barbican Centre.
The tour features a lineup of 20 musicians, representing the two sides to this trans-continental collaboration. From the Congotronics side there is Konono No. 1, Kasai Allstars and Congotronics producer Vincent Kenis, while the ‘rockers’ side features members of Deerhoof, Wildbirds & Peacedrums, Skeletons and Argentinian artist Juana Molina.
The tour promises to be very special indeed, with organisers describing it as “Congolese and indie rock musicians getting together to create a common, entirely fresh repertoire, building bridges between their respective worlds, for what promises to be one of the most spectacular musical events of 2011.”
Full listings for the whole tour are below, but to get your juices flowing in anticipation here’s a video to give you some sort of idea what to expect:
26/06/2011 - Brussels, Couleur Cafe
30/06/2011 - Utrecht, Le Guess Who
02/07/2011 - Roskilde, Roskilde Festival
03/07/2011 - Berlin, HKW (Haus der Kulturen der Welt)
06/07/2011 - Metz, Place de la Republique
09/07/2011 - Paris, Cafe de la Danse
12/07/2011 - London, The Barbican
14/07/2011 - Benicassim, Fib
17/07/2011 - Carhaix, Festival Les Vieilles Charrues
21/07/2011 - Nyon, Paleo Festival
23/07/2011 - Sines, Festival Musicas do Mundo
30/07/2011 - Yuzawa-machi, Fuji Rock Festival
01/08/2011 - Tokyo, Club Quattro
Tickets and more details on the London Barbican show can be found here.
Artists in this article: Deerhoof, Wildbirds & Peacedrums, Konono No. 1