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Songhoy Blues

Name: Songhoy Blues
Start: 2026-10-25T15:30:00+01:00
End: 2026-10-25T23:59:00+01:00
Location: Waisenhausplatz 30, 3011 Bern, Switzerland

Waisenhausplatz 30, 3011 Bern, Switzerland
Bern, Switzerland
Sun, October 25, 2026 (3:30 pm - 11:59 pm)
Sun, October 25, 2026 (8:30 pm - 11:59 pm)

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Description

In short: Songhoy Blues combine Malian heritage traditions with Desert Blues and Rock to create a layered sound that balances intimacy, energy, and lived history. Songhoy Blues are among the most influential voices of the so-called 'Desert Blues' – and with their fourth album Héritage, they open a new chapter. The band from northern Mali, now living in Bamako, is shifting their sound towards a more acoustic, multi-layered reinterpretation of their musical roots.
Rooted in the musical tradition of the Songhoy along the Niger bend, they have always combined West African soundscapes with the energy of Rock. Their style – once described as 'Timbuktu Punk' – thrives on driving rhythms, distinctive guitars, and compelling vocals. On Héritage, this sound becomes more intimate, woven with influences from various Malian musical traditions: Kora, Soku, Kamalengoni, flutes, Balafon sounds, and Calabash percussion blend into a dense, lively sound fabric.
For over a decade, Bamako has been not only a creative center but also a refuge for the band – a return to their homeland in the north has not been possible due to religious violence, which still condemns music as 'haram'. This experience of migration and forced distance also shapes their engagement with the concept of origin and heritage.
Songhoy Blues do not see tradition as something static but as a constantly evolving interplay of influences. Their music is also a commentary: on society, change, and coexistence. Or, as guitarist Garba Touré says: 'We observe, we reflect, we give something back.'
With Héritage, Songhoy Blues have created an album that is both profound and exhilarating – an invitation to be carried between the past and the present, intimacy and energy.

Highlights

Live concert by Songhoy Blues
Presentation of the new album "Héritage"
Fusion of Malian traditions with Desert Blues and Rock

General Information

Songhoy Blues perform at the PROGR - Zentrum für Kulturproduktion in Bern. The band from Mali presents their fourth album "Héritage" and offers a unique mix of West African sounds and rock energy.