Suns of Arqa

  • Friday | 18.01.13
  • 8.00pm
  • Band on the Wall, Manchester
  • £10 advance...

The legendary Suns of Arqa bring their mystical and utterly compelling mix cosmic dub, spiritual raga and transcendental global beats to Band on the Wall for a night of mind-blowing music. 

Since the first Suns of Arqa release many turns of the sun ago, British music has been richly embellished by such acts as Transglobal Underground; Jah Wobble’s Invaders of the Heart; The Orb; Loop Guru and the Afro-Celt Sound System, each with their own ways of exploring the same cultural commotions that have so gloriously distinguished Wadada’s work. All these groups owe a debt to the pioneering Suns of Arqa.

Suns of Arqa creator and mentor Michael Wadada began his collaborative recordings with Revenge of the Mozabites in 1979 with Adrian Sherwood, and was subsequently invited by Peter Gabriel to perform at the very first WOMAD Festival. Over the years, Suns of Arqa have included musicians from around the globe, interpreting the various indigenous, tribal and classical folk traditions. 

Some of the world’s most renowned talents have contributed to this collective including 808 State’s Graham Massey (single Govinda’s Dream), Finlay Quaye/Sounds From the Ground/Kopeikin/Youth/MuslimGauze (Remixes Vol. 2 & 3), John Cooper Clarke/Professor Stanley Unwin (album Suns of Arqa Meet The Gayan Uttejak Orchestra), Eric Random (album Land of a Thousand Churches) and Astralasia (album Total Eclipse of the Suns). 

Prince Far-I can be also be heard on A Brief History of Suns Of Arqa, and Suns of Arqa Live with Prince Far-I before his murder in 1982. In the early days Suns of Arqa appeared on the turntables of The Orb’s Alex Patterson, and Wadada later toured with The Orb, playing sitar on their October 1998 tour. Releasing a rare style of “cerebral-illusive cosmological vibrations of raga” since 1979, Cosmic Jugalbandi, the 14th full length release, marks the 20th Anniversary Edition of Arka Sound and is yet another uplifting collectors gem already available in Europe.

Returning back to their hometown for this very special performance, expect a night in the presence of one of Manchester’s most original, pioneering and hugely influential bands.

FREE CDS FOR FIRST 50 TO BUY TICKETS

We are spreading the Wadada magic and giving away Sund of Arqa CDs to the first 50 people to buy tickets. We’ll contact you by email if you are one of them in January and you can pick up on the night. Be quick – going to be a massive night!

This event will begin at 8.30pm but our Picturehouse Cafe Bar is open from 5.30pm for good times.

TICKETS NOW ONLY AVAILABLE IN PERSON FROM THE BAND ON THE WALL BOX OFFICE. BOX OFFICE OPEN FROM 5PM

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