Toubab Krewe Hits the Festival Path

Getting' down with that west African sound...

By Blurt Staff

We previously told you about the mighty western North Carolina-based Afrobeat rockers Toubab Krewe. Now comes word that the band will hit the road this summer for a tour in support of their album, Live at the Orange Peel. The tour kicks-off this week at the Three Rivers Arts Festival in Pittsburgh and includes performances at numerous other festivals including Bonnaroo (June 11-14) and ROTHBURY (July 2-5). 

This year will mark Toubab Krewe's third performance at Bonnaroo, their first since 2006 (Video of that performance is online at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Htd73_04JU). Video of this year's performance will be streamed at www.music.att.net (June 12; 12:30-1:30 P.M. EST).

Toubab Krewe will also headline two nights at the Festivus for the Restivus (July 17-19), an annual festival thrown by Toubab Krewe bassist Dave Pransky on his family's farm in Cabot, VT. Other performers at Festivus include Malian superstar Oumou Sangare, Midnite, Barrington Levy and Black Sheep. 

Joining Toubab Krewe at Festivus and at select summer tour dates will be legendary Jamaican guitarist Earl "China" Smith. Perhaps the most sought after lead guitarist in reggae, Smith has performed and recorded with everyone from Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff, Peter Tosh and Burning Spear to more recent pop icons like Lauren Hill, Erykah Badu and Joss Stone. Toubab Krewe recently joined Smith at his home studio in Kingston, where they collaborated on several as-yet unreleased recordings. On his first tour of the U.S. with Toubab Krewe, Smith will join the band on-stage for what are sure to be special collaborations, infusing his diverse talents and influences into Toubab Krewe's already unique blend of styles. 

Tour dates:

June 10 | Pittsburgh, PA | Three Rivers Arts Festival

June 11-14 | Manchester, TN | Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival

w/ special guest Rayna Gellert on fiddle

June 18 | Knoxville, TN | Sundown in the City

June 18 | Knoxville, TN | Square Room (Sundown in the City After Party)

June 19 | Greenville, SC | Gott Rocks

June 20 | Raleigh, NC | North Carolina Museum of Art

June 26 | Richmond, VA | Brown's Island (Friday Cheers Series)

July 2-5  | Rothbury, MI | ROTHBURY Festival

July 15  | New York, NY | Rocks OFF! Concert Cruise

w/ special guest Earl "Chinna" Smith

July 17-18 | Cabot, VT | Festivus for the Restivus (The Manifestivus)

w/ special guest Earl "Chinna" Smith

July 24-25  | Floyd, VA | Floyd Festival

w/ special guest Earl "Chinna" Smith

July 31-Aug. 1 | Atlanta, GA | Smith's Olde Bar

w/ special guest Earl "Chinna" Smith

August 7 | Bozeman, MT| Sweet Pea Festival

August 13  | Gore, VA | Camp Barefoot

August 14 | Greensburg, PA | Summer Sounds Concerts in the Park

August 21-22 | Greensboro, NC | Blind Tiger

[Photo: Daniel Barojas]