Current Events

Boubacar Samake, son of the late Malian music legend Sibiri Samake, carries forward the deep spiritual tradition of Mali’s donso (hunter) music — a lineage of ritual melodies and rhythms played for courage, healing, and connection to the natural world.

A virtuoso of the ngoni, the plucked lute at the heart of donso music, Boubacar is also one half of electro-afro innovators Siraba. He performs in this new line-up with Louis Campbell (electric guitar, from alt-folk duo Spafford Campbell), Ben Nicholls (bass) and master percussionist Seydou Kienou from Burkina Faso, whose djembe, calabash and karagnan bring a visceral, ancient pulse. Together they reframe this ancestral sound in a hypnotic, blues-tinged dialogue that bridges West African tradition and modern experimentation.

Aloka is a young singer-songwriter from London but now living in Bristol. Growing up surrounded by music, Aloka has been inspired from a young age to take up singing. She has carved out a unique sound, drawing inspiration from neo-soul, dub, hip-hop and jazz. Her soaring vocals and heartfelt lyrics resonate with audiences and capture the hearts of listeners.