Bombino

Bombino returns to Grounds with a brand new album on the horizon. As a pioneer of the new generation of Tuareg musicians and voice of the Sahel and Sahara, he blends traditional Berber rhythms and rock 'n' roll into a distinctive sound - songs about peace and hope, rooted in the cultural heritage of his people.

His background is remarkably diverse: actor, goatherd, politician and private guide for Angelina Jolie during her visit to the Niger desert. Musician is on his CV too, and no small part of it. As a child he borrowed a guitar from family members and taught himself to play on Ishumar songs and videos by Jimi Hendrix, Mark Knopfler and Jimmy Page. The young bambino's talent was quickly noticed, and he was asked to join his first band - and so Bombino was born.

His guitar riffs draw comparisons to Tinariwen and Ali Farka Touré. That was already evident on Sahel (2023), his most personal and politically charged album to date, where the sound diversity reflects the versatility of the Sahel region itself. The new album is still to come, but promises to be tighter and more energetic than ever.

Tickets: early bird € 20, regular € 22.50, at the door € 25.