World Music to Shake the Santa Monica Pier Thursday Night

By Lookout Staff

August 16, 2012 -- The Santa Monica Pier will come to life Thursday night with music from as far away as Mali and as nearby as Portland, Oregon during the weekly free Twilight Dance Series concert.

Headlining Thursday’s performance will be the husband-and-wife duo Amadou & Miriam, who are bringing a unique form of rock from their native home of Mali.

The duo has toured with Coldplay and U2 and has “jammed with musical heroes David Gilmour and Johnny Marr,” according to concert organizers

Amadou & Mariam performed at the Nobel Peace Prize concert in honor of President Barack Obama and have played at the opening ceremonies of the FIFA World Cup.

"Amadou has often said that the invitation to share songs and ideas with other musicians and find new ways of expression is the most exciting adventure any musician can undertake," concert organizers said.

The duo’s new album "Folila" -- which means ‘music’ in Bambara -- exemplifies that sense of shared openness and collaboration, organizers said.
 
“The original idea was to make two albums: a crossover record in New York City, where Amadou and Mariam have many musical friends and relationships and the other a more rootsy album recorded in Bamako with mostly African guests and African percussion instead of a drum kit,” said Marc-Antoine Moreau, the duo’s long-time manager and producer.

Opening the show will be Luz Elena Mendoza, aka Y La Bamba, who defines herself as a Pisces goddess… (who) graces the west coast with her haunting, angelic voice."

"Her dark, minimalistic Mexican-inspired experimental folk songs engage the listener in a realm of the dreamy solitude of a very old soul," according to her biography.

Y La Bamba's latest album, “Lupon”, was released in in September 2010 on Portland label Tender Loving Empire.

The Thursday night concerts are emceed by DJs from 89.9 FM KCRW, the media partner for the Twilight Concert Series.

Concertgoers are encouraged to take the Big Blue Bus. Parking will be available in the lot north of the pier at 1550 Pacific Coast Highway, however parking on the Santa Monica Pier deck will be closed.

The City of Santa Monica will provide a free bike valet, stationed on the beach next to the bicycle path on the south side of the pier.

More information about the Twilight Concert Series can be found at twilightseries.org.