Algerian Tuareg desert blues band Imarham to play at The Apex

Algerian Tuareg desert blues band Imarham (pictured above) are set to play at The Apex, in Bury St Edmunds, later this month.

In his Rough Guide to Desert Blues on WPGM, Sam Kemp explained the genre saying: “It is the music of rebellion, revolution and exile. That is what makes it so beautiful… The music Of Ali Farka Toure, Tinariwen and Imarhan is the Blues condensed to its raw essence, the Blues returned to its homeland.”

Imarhan started out around 2008, as a group of friends from Tamanrasset, in Southern Algeria, an important centre for the Tuareg community.

Adding their own spin to the psychedelic guitars of desert blues pioneers Tinariwen, Imarhan’s music reflects their generational background.

Drawing on traditional Tuareg music, with dry guitar riffs, pan-African rhythms and African ballads, they add modern pop, funk and rock sounds that the band heard while growing up.

In a Quietus interview, frontman Sadam explained: “Compared to other bands, as the new generation, we have been adding more modern elements that could come from rock or funk or any other kind of influences that will transcend the Tuareg music.

“We make music for the younger generation. And you can see that in our clothes. We don’t wear traditional clothes. We wear the clothes we wear in Tamanrasset every day. So the music and the style represent our generation.”

A mainland European tour in late 2025, included a stop at Africa Express, the travelling music factory of Damon Albarn, while in 2026, the band are celebrating their 20th anniversary by returning with a fourth album and a world tour with a few select UK dates.

Songs from the new album “Essam” have been heard recently on BBC 6 Music.

Recorded at Aboogi Studio in southern Algeria, the themes of the new album include the upheaval of the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as the political instability along the Algerian-Malian border.

Imarhan are at The Apex on Tuesday, March 24, at 7.30pm.

See www.theapex.co.uk or ring 01284 758000 for more details and to book tickets.