A change of climate
Winter warmth at the Kola Note from Nuits d'Afrique
Many, maybe most, Montrealers love to rhapsodize about our beautiful white winters here, but I am not one of them - that's why I love the people at Productions Nuits d'Afrique. They have been putting on some choice shows at the Kola Note club throughout the winter, bringing in acts from Africa, South America, the Caribbean - all places far warmer and more inviting than sub-zero Montreal - and giving the Grinches of our city (you know who you are...) a brief respite from clown toques and snow shovels.
Following the success of last year's International Nuits d'Afrique Festival, with Myriam Makeba as event "Godmother", spokeswoman, and performer, organizers have been spinning off several mini-festivals, including Noche Flamenca back in October, the wonderful Voix du Mali concert of Oumou Sangaré et Habib Koité, and last week's explosion of Cuban Son music with Jesus Bello and company.
The acts are sprinting through town without a lot of fanfare. They're publicized all right, but nowhere on the scale of the summer festivals or, for that matter, whatever pop group may be playing at Molson Centre at the moment. Nuits d'Afrique promoters have hit the right combination of artist, venue, and good ticket prices for the series. Kola Note is a virtually unchanged old Club Soda - still a great place to see a show (especially if you get there early for an edge of the dance floor table).
The winter series continues with five shows over two nights at Le Festival de Musique du Maghreb. Maghreb: literally "the West" in Arabic - but meaning the western edge of the Arab-speaking world - here represented by Hassan El Hadi, Taïbi et la caravane du désert, Salaam, and Cheb Faycal among others. Algerian Rai, Gnaoua music from Morocco, and the sounds of Andalusia will be drifting from Kola Note February 16 and 17. Sounds good to me.
Le Festival de Musique du Maghreb
February 16 and 17 at Kola Note
5240 av. du Parc
Tickets: $15 per evening
Box Office: (514) 274-9339 Admission: (514) 790-1245
Photos (top to bottom): La compagnie Noce Flamenca, Oumou Sangare, Jesus Bello
(photos courtesy Les Productions Nuits d'Afrique)
Sweatin' to the Oldies
Fly Me To The Moon...
Le grand spectacle
Show the world
Jazz me, baby