15è Festival de Músiques del Món

With the focus squarely on African music, L’Auditori hosts a series of international acts for their 15th World Music Festival. First up on October 1st is Burkina Faso’s soulful crooner and our top tip, Victor Démé (pictured). Victor didn’t make his professional debut until the age of 46 but he was worth the wait. Imagine a West African version of Buena Vista Social Club and you’re about there.

Next up it’s the turn of Guinea Bissau’s Nino Galissa (Oct 8th). If you had to Wikipedia Guinea Bissau, don’t be embarrassed; a few ballads from this soulful lute-player and you’ll soon be planning that African trip. Bino Barros visits from Cape Verde on the 9th, bringing along his perfect smile and musically mature band who blend traditional folk with Brazilian, Caribbean, Portuguese and African influences.

From the Congo, Lokua Kanza (Oct 14th) promotes his new folk-inspired album Nkolo while last, and quite possibly least, is Don Bigg on October 16th. The apparent hip hop prince of Morocco, Mr Big raps about the corruption, unemployment and teenage angst in his country. Like Moroccan pickled lemons, it’s not everyone’s thing.