THEY’RE A REVOLUTIONARY MUSIC COLLABORATION PROJECT FEATURING THE FINEST MUSICIANS FROM AFRICA AND THE WEST – THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO SEE AFROTRONICA, A CROSS-CULTURAL EXPLOSION OF GENRES ON ONE STAGE
AESS or Africa Express Sound System, bring together the best musicians from across Africa and the West to collaborate in highly acclaimed one-off shows. Each show is different, with new artists coming together to explore new frontiers in front of your very ears, and now The Great Escape Festival is giving you the chance to catch the collective yourself, on 12th May at the Dome.
According to Jesse Hackett we can expect deep African electronic exploration, featuring master Cuban and Gambian percussionists, Senegalese kora player, vocalists from Ghana, Zanzibar and Soweto, the finest producers / DJS and a whole host of amazing UK singers and surprise artists . All round it’s going to be a joyous, spontaneous, heavy and mind-altering journey into the unknown.
Mensa said “I can’t wait to see what we cook up this time! Free spirited super-talented artists all in one magical cooking pot! I’m always as pleasantly surprised as the audience themselves!”
The Great Escape is back in Brighton from 10th-12th May 2012, with over 300 across 30 different venues, festival-goers can also get involved in the Great Escape convention programme, which hosts a variety of insightful industry talks, panel debates, targeted networking sessions and key note interviews for industry professionals and music business fans.
For more information see africaexpress.co.uk
To guarantee your access at the Africa Express Soundsystem show, top up your festival wristband for (£7 per show) or buy a separate gig ticket at www.escapegreat.com
At the Great Escape you Africa Express Soundsystem show you can catch this lot and more:
Diabel Cissoko – one of the most intriguing figures on the Senegalese music scene for a long time, combining diverse influences with traditional instruments and heritage.
Jesse Hackett (Elmore Judd / Gorillaz / Owiny Sigoma ) – acting musical director of AESS (when not providing keyboards for Gorillaz!)
Spoek Mathambo MOBO-nominated DJ and producer, making huge waves globally for both his tunes and his amazing videos.
John McClure (Reverend and the Makers) fast-talking frontman of British indie sensations Reverend & the Makers, about to release their third album.
M3NSA Ghanaian hip hop pioneer, dividing his time between producing and rapping. Can be heard on the new Rocketjuice and the Moon album.
Shingai Shoniwa (Noisettes) Charismatic front woman of the Noisettes – one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary British indie.
Mim Suleiman from Zanzibar, she defies categorisation but has been described as ‘Miriam Makeba meets Aretha Franklin’.
Thristian ‘bpm’ (Boiler Room) DJ and Producer with world-leading underground music show The Boiler Room.
Terri Walker Legendary British singer/songwriter and a cornerstone of the UK soul scene.
*Artist line up subject to change without notice
