THURSDAY 8 NOVEMBER AMMAR 808 Together with three powerful Maghreb voices, the ultra-low TR-808 bass and potent beats, Tunisian producer Sofyann Ben Youssef (a.k.a AMMAR 808) takes you into the dark realms of North African futurism. With a propelling blend between Tunisian “Targ” music and tense electronic beats, AMMAR 808 reinvents this homegrown style. This is music that criticizes borders and separatism set by colonial forces, while simultaneously making the audience move to a futuristic, forceful sound.
Art Ensemble of Chicago Curated by Moor Mother In the mid-1960s, Art Ensemble of Chicago sprung from the Association for the Advan cement of Creative Musicians (AACM). Ever since, they have been celebrated as one of the most remarkable free jazz movements to arise from Chicago’s already rich jazz heritage. Moving far beyond jazz, avant-garde and performance art, the ensemble has created a realm that is entirely original. On the eve of the Art Ensemble’s 50th Anniversary, we celebrate their legacy and welcome them back in style, after a 25-year absence in The Netherlands.
BCUC
Art Ensemble of Chicago
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Photo: Enid Farber
Curated by Shabaka Hutchings The sensational Afro-psychedelic collective BCUC (Bantu Continua Uhuru Conscious ness) started out as a social gathering in their native township of Soweto, South Africa. BCUC is an alliance of guitarists, djembe players, flute artists, and spoken word assassins, all geared towards “solution-driven” politics and fervent appetite for collaboration. Led by soul preacher Jovi’s intense swagger, BCUC are proof that activism and fun aren’t mutually exclusive. In their own words: “for the people, by the people, and with the people.”