Rokia Traoré's latest Nonesuch release, Tchamantché, was released in early 2009 and made a lasting impression, finding its way to year-end best-of lists, including that of the New York Times's Jon Pareles. He placed it at No. 7 on his best-of list, remarking on Traoré's "preternatural grace" on an album in which "every nuance becomes luminous." Traoré prepares to take that music on the road, as she announces a spring tour of the United States and the United Kingdom.
Beginning April 10 at the Stewart Theatre in Raleigh, North Carolina, Troaré will spend a week playing up and down the East Coast of the US, making stops in Washington, DC; Amherst, MA; Hanover, NH; Somerville, MA; New York, NY; and Burlington, VT. Later in the month, she begins the UK leg of the tour, starting at Koko in London on April 27 before heading to Liverpool, Bristol, Gateshead, Edinburgh, Manchester, and Brighton, ending at Coventry's Warwick Arts Centre on May 7.
For all eight UK dates, Traoré will be joined by Sweet Billy Pilgrim, the Mercury Prize-nominated British trio likened to Radiohead and Talk Talk. It promises to be an intriguing night of adventurous music-makers, a pairing Traoré devised after her support act opened for her at an acclaimed one-off date at the Barbican in London last year.
Below are the scheduled spring tour dates. For more information and venue links, visit nonesuch.com/on-tour.
ROKIA TRAORÉ'S SPRING 2010 TOUR
Apr 10 |
Stewart Theatre, NC State Univ. |
Raleigh, NC |
Apr 11 |
Lisner Auditorium, GW Univ. |
Washington, DC |
Apr 14 |
Fine Arts Center, Univ. of Mass. |
Amherst, MA |
Apr 15 |
Spaulding Auditorium, Dartmouth College |
Hanover, NH |
Apr 16 |
Somerville Theatre |
Somerville, MA |
Apr 17 |
Highline Ballroom |
New York, NY |
Apr 18 |
Flynn Center |
Burlington, VT |
Apr 27 |
Koko* |
London, ENGLAND |
Apr 28 |
Philharmonic Hall* |
Liverpool, ENGLAND |
Apr 30 |
Colston Hall* |
Bristol, ENGLAND |
May 2 |
The Sage Gateshead* |
Gateshead, ENGLAND |
May 4 |
Usher Hall* |
Edinburgh, SCOTLAND |
May 5 |
Bridgewater Hall* |
Manchester, ENGLAND |
May 6 |
Brighton Dome* |
Brighton, ENGLAND |
May 7 |
Warwick Arts Centre* |
Coventry, ENGLAND |
* w/ Sweet Billy Pilgrim