Les Boukakes

Image by flykr via Flickr

Les Boukakes stand for music created in exile – for the perfect symbiosis of orient and occident. “Rock ‘n’ raï”, that’s how the six musicians from Algeria, Tunisia and France call their music style, a speedy mix of rock, raï, gnawa and châabi, which they catapulted within a few years from the streets and clubs of Montpellier onto the big festival stages and into the French radio charts.The success story of Les Boukakes starts in 2004 when they participated in the well known music competiton Printemps de Bourges. Celebrated as the new discovery of the festival, the European TV channel ARTE produces a documentary on the band touring throughout Europe and sharing the stages with famous musicians such as Manu Chao, Natacha Atlas, Rachid Taha or Femi Kuti.The exciting year 2005 was rounded up by the release of their second album Bledi which promptly resulted in an invitation to the biggest international World Music fair Womex in Newcastle, UK. With their fantastic concert – which the British magazine fRoots called the “Womex Hit” – Les Boukakes did not only convince numerous festival organisers but also made the rock legend Robert Plant dance and headbang to their music. A USA tour and many concerts at the biggest European World Music festivals followed. Finally the year 2006 culminated in a nomination for the BBC World Music Award 2007. After two successful years of touring Les Boukakes went back to the studio to work on their new album. On August 15th 2008 their third album "Marra" was released.Sourse http://www.atlasmusicpro.com