Tinariwen, a band of Tuareg musicians originating from Sahara Desert region of Northern Mali. Formed in the 1980s the band started gaining an international following in the early 2000s. The music is primarily guitar-driven in the style known as assouf among the Tuareg people. Others describe it as blues/rock influenced with traditional North Africa instruments.
They recently released a new album called Emmaar (Review in the New Yorker)
Office Video: Toumast Tincha
They will be playing a concert at 6th & I on March 22.
We played some Tinariwen while driving along a desert highway in Jordan. Mind blowing.