VIEUX FARKA TOURE - NEW ALBUM 'MON PAYS' AND TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED

Vieux Farka Touré's beautiful latest album was recorded as an homage to his homeland. Being that his native Mali has been splintered by territorial fighting between Tuareg and Islamic rebels since January 2012, his new album, Mon Pays, is devoted to reminding the world about the beauty and culture of his homeland.

‘For me it is a statement for the world that this land is for the sons and daughters of Mali, not for Al Qaeda or any militants. This land is for peace and beauty, rich culture and tolerance.This is our heritage, what we must always fight to protect in any way that we can. For me, that means making music that reminds the world of who we are.’

Translating as ‘My Nation,’ this predominantly acoustic undertaking had been planned before the invasions began. Inspired by his work with Israeli pianist and vocalist Idan Raichel, Touré initially went into a Bamako studio to honor the acoustic blues tradition of Northern and Southern Mali. Since that time, Mon Pays transformed into an artifact of cultural preservation.

Two songs on the project -Future’ and ‘Peace’ feature Sidiki Diabate’s kora leading an emotional charge complemented by Touré’s spectacular guitar work. Both tracks represent an important generational "passing of the torch" as Sidiki’s father, Toumani is considered one of the greatest living kora masters and was a close friend of Vieux’s father Ali. Their two records together, In the Heart of the Moon and Ali and Toumani, were awarded Grammies. At the 2011 ceremonies, Vieux accepted the prestigious award for his father, who had recently passed from bone cancer.

Mon Pays is the most mature and lovely record yet from one of this generation's most exciting artists to come out of Mali and one of world music's true rising stars.

UPCOMING VIEUX FARKA TOURÉ DATES
June 15, 2013 / Takin’ It to the Streets (Marquette Park) Chicago, IL 
June 16, 2013 / Clearwater’s Great Hudson River Revival Croton-on-Hudson, NY 
June 19, 2013 / The Dirty Bourbon Albuquerque, NM 
June 20, 2013 / Arroyo Seco Live Arroyo Seco, NM 
June 21, 2013 / eTown Hall Boulder, CO 
June 23, 2013 / Performance Works Vancouver, BC, Canada 
June 24, 2013 / Sugar Nightclub Victoria, BC, Canada
June 25, 2013 / Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley Seattle, WA 
June 26, 2013 / Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley Seattle, WA 
June 27, 2013 / The Wild Buffalo Bellingham, WA 
June 28, 2013 / Mississippi Studios Portland, OR
June 30, 2013 / Harbourfront Centre Toronto, ON, Canada 
Jul 1, 2013 / Zaphod Beeblebrox Ottawa, ON, Canada 
Jul 3, 2013 / Club Soda Montreal, QC, Canada 
Jul 5, 2013 / Iron Horse Northampton, MA 
Jul 6, 2013 / Higher Ground South Burlington, VT 
Jul 9, 2013 / Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN 
Jul 10, 2013 / Vaudeville Mews Des Moines, IA 
Jul 11, 2013 ' La Fete de Marquette Madison, WI
Jul 13, 2013 / Yoshis San Francisco, CA 
Jul 14, 2013 / California WorldFest Grass Valley, CA 
Aug 2, 2013 / Pickathon Happy Valley, OR 
Aug 3, 2013 / Pickathon Happy Valley, OR 
Aug 4, 2013 / Crestone Music Festival Crestone, CO 
Aug 6, 2013 / Walnut Room Denver, CO 
Aug 7, 2013 / JAS Cafe Downstairs At The Nell Aspen, CO

~ Six Degrees Records