Photo Blog: Toubab Krewe at the Blind Pig in Ann Arbor

(Photos by Erin Slayter, Text by Benjamin Slayter) E and I caught up with Toubab Krewe on a cold, dark night in Ann Arbor where we arrived early enough to snag a stage-side seat in the classic Michigan bar venue. TK’s setup looked cramped on the small stage. If you’ve never been exposed to TK before, they are as diverse a group as you could imagine.  Justin Perkins was about ten feet from me across a bar rail, his Kamelngoni (think african banjo – it’s thought to have been the ancestor of the american banjo) and Kora (think blues guitar made with a huge gourd cut in half, covered in cow skin) next to a…

Toubab Krewe and Zongo Junction | NYC | 10.15.11

On a last minute photo call this Wednesday 10/5, I went down to (le) Poisson Rouge on Bleeker Street and here is a sample of what went down! There were more musicians, and even more instruments than i could keep track of, as you can see in the photos below. “Worldly” is certainly an understatement in my opinion, categorization cannot be applied. when both bands took stage together for nearly an hour, it was band meets orchestra, pedal to the metal.

New Video from Toubab Krewe – Cluck Old Hen

New Studio Album from Toubab Krewe “TK2″

Listen to “Holy Grail” off the new album while you read: TBKTrack by Shore Fire One of our favorite bands Toubab Krewe, the rock quintet from Asheville, NC with a West African musical education, will be releasing their latest studio album ‘TK2,’on September 7th on National Geo Music. A favorite at festivals worldwide from Tennessee’s Bonnaroo to Africa’s Festival au Desert and at packed shows around the U.S., the longtime friends formed the band in 2005 and traveled to Mali, Guinea, and Ivory Coast to study and perform. The band’s name, like their music, is a fusion of cultures: “Toubab” means “foreigner” in Mali’s Bambara language and “Krewe” is a salute to New Orleans. Toubab…

Toubab Krewe & John Brown’s Body Announce National Tour

Two of the best bands in country are teaming up for 13 dates for  one of the most anticipated co-headling tours of 2010. The tour starts with 2 upstate NY shows before heading out west to Chicago. The two bands will continue out west and close out the tour at the Belly Up Tavern in California. We’re planning on getting down to Ithaca for what is sure to be one of the best shows of this tour. Check out our related articles at the bottom of this page for some sites and sounds of past coverage of these two great bands. John Brown’s Body & Toubab Krewe Co-Headlining U.S. Tour Dates: March 11 Brooklyn, NY Music Hall of Williamsburg March 12…

Festivus For The Restivus: July 17-19 | Toubab Krewe, Midnite

After seeing Toubab Krewe play at Rothbury Festival last weekend we wish we could make the trip up to their next festival in the northeast. The band is currently on route to Vermont to play at bass players David Pransky’s family farm. This amazing locations is  six hours north of New York City and three hours from Boston or Montreal. The Festivus, dubbed “The Manifestivus” this year to honor its larger scale, will prove to be an unforgettable weekend of dancing, hiking and swimming for festivalgoers. The Manifestivus will feature performances by legendary world touring acts Toubab Krewe, Oumou Sangaré, Barrington Levy, Midnite, Black Sheep and Earle “Chinna” Smith and some of New England’s best…

Toubab Krewe Live at Jammin’ Java on 01.20.09 | MP3

Big ups to “su6oxone” and Toubab Krewe for one of the best sounding audience recordings we’ve heard on The Archive. Toubab Krewe blends American Rock with West African music for one of the most unique sounds we’ve heard. The childhood friends from Asheville, NC have developed their sound in travels to Mali, Guinea, and Ivory Coast, where the immersed themselves in the local cultures and played with local musicians. Area Code [Audio clip: view full post to listen] Lamine’s Tune [Audio clip: view full post to listen] Buncombe To Badal [Audio clip: view full post to listen] Check out what the NY Times had to say on the band… “Asheville, N.C., may not seem like…

Toubab Krewe | MP3′s SBD Summer Camp 05.26.07

Here’s an excellent soundboard of Toubab Krewe’s set at Summer Camp this past summer. Click play buttons below to hear how this band jams. [Audio clip: view full post to listen] ____ [Audio clip: view full post to listen] To grab this set now in MP3 format click here. Full set list and lossless files click here. “Blending Malian, American, and “Dirty South” influences into a genre all its own, Toubab Krewe “has set a new standard for fusions of rock ‘n’ roll and West African music,” says Banning Eyre at Afropop Worldwide. Members of the group developed their unique sound over the course of numerous extended trips to West Africa, where they immersed themselves…