Khaira Arby and her band and Delicate Steve

It’s a rare artist who can take the U.S. music media and SXSW by storm while garnering profound respect as a cultural leader in her homeland. And it’s even rarer when that artist can keep true to her deep desert roots while standing out in front of a contemporary rock quartet. Malian singer Khaira Arby has met the multiple challenges without missing a beat or seemingly even breaking a sweat. Now, she is justly recognized as "the best Malian musical artist of the past 50 years" (Mali's Tamani d'Or award citation, April 2011) and as “one of Africa’s greatest singers" (New York Times, Mar 2011).

Arby’s voice and sound evoke the rich complexity of Mali itself: its diverse languages, and cultures. Her creativity flows from multicultural Timbuktu in Mali’s Saharan north and embraces Malians and the world. She sings of legendary Saharan nomad warriors and the struggles of women in the world. She turns traditional praise singing into a call for justice. She weaves her powerful, sailing voice organically into hard-hitting electric guitars and drums. While influenced by the desert blues of Tinariwen, Arby adds an intensity and vocal flexibility that can soothe and rouse, move and motivate. The message is central to Arby, but so is the funk: The acoustic buzz of Timbuktu meets blazing guitar licks and sizzling bass.

Starting the evening tonight will be Luaka Bop act Delicate Steve, making a return visit to The Cedar after an utterly mindblowing performance ahead of Akron/Family last February.

The Cedar is now fully air-conditioned for your year-round comfort!

Ticket options and info

• On sale date: now
• Phone: 612-338-2674 ext 2 ($1 fee per ticket)
• In person: From a Cedar volunteer in the front lobby before and after shows (no fee), Depth of Field (no fee), or Electric Fetus (small fee)
• Online: Ticketweb (fees apply) (click on red Buy Tickets button at top of this page)
• All Cedar shows are all ages.
• Students with ID may gain discounted admission for tickets at the door.

Khaira Arby

For women, singing can be the road to personal power. When their voice is as strong as Malian vocalist Khaira Arby’s, that power can move mountains, change minds, and win battles.Arby’s rich, potent sound aims to do just that on Timbuktu Traab (Clermont Music...

Delicate Steve

In just over a year's time, the five-piece wordless band fronted by guitarist Steve Marion has become one of the most  talked about bands in NYC. Last seen joined onstage by Sonic Youth's Lee Ranaldo, Delicate Steve's hyperactive live shows have been...