ALL ABOARD THE AFRICA EXPRESS

Africa Express – the collective of African and Western musicians – will fill a train with dozens of guest artists and traverse the UK playing shows in Middlesbrough, Glasgow, Cardiff, Bristol and London.

Hailed as the most revolutionary force in popular music, Africa Express brings together African and Western musicians to inspire each other and explore musical frontiers. Founded six years ago, there have since been a series of legendary shows including Glastonbury Festival, Place de l’Hotel de Ville in Paris, a Spanish beach and a nightclub in Lagos, Nigeria. Often up to seven hours long, each event has been filled with one-off spontaneous moments such as Amadou and Mariam playing with Johnny Marr, Rokia Traoré with Damon Albarn, Flea with Femi Kuti, Franz Ferdinand with Bassekou Kouyate and Vieux Farka Touré, and many more.

Now as part of London 2012, Damon Albarn is taking The Africa Express on a tour of the UK. As part of this unique musical journey, a train filled with dozens of emerging and world-famous artists will travel England, Scotland and Wales, playing unexpected gigs in unexpected places. New music will be created along the way – each day, each town, each show seeing something different and new. After visiting homes, schools, factories, shopping centres and stations, the adventure will culminate in a finale concert in London’s Granary Square – a collaborative epic that defies musical and geographical boundaries.

For more details please see: http://festival.london2012.com/events/9000961388