Africa Express gets new recruits

In September a train called The Africa Express will take a collective of African and Western musicians across mainland Britain - and today the first wave of artists to appear on the tour were announced.

Produced in association with the Barbican as part of London 2012 Festival, following acclaimed outings in the UK, France, Spain and Nigeria, Africa Express will become The Africa Express, departing from London on September 2 for a unique artistic journey through England, Scotland and Wales.

As well as scheduled concerts in Middlesbrough, Glasgow, Manchester, Cardiff and Bristol, there will be pop-up performances at railway stations, schools, factories, offices, shopping centres and homes. The train itself will include a customized music carriage, with artists creating new material along the route, culminating in the train’s arrival back into King's Cross ahead of a finale concert in brand new outdoor London venue Granary Square on September 8th.

Some of the artists setting out on tour are: Amadou & Mariam, Damon Albarn, Rokia Traoré, Kano, Charli XCX, Jupiter & Okwess International and Jack Steadman (of Bombay Bicycle Club).

You can catch the Express at the following dates:
SEPTEMBER
3 - Town Hall - Middlesbrough
4 - The Arches - Glasgow
5 - The Ritz - Manchester
6 - Solus (Cardiff University) - Cardiff
7 - The Big Top @ Creative Common - Bristol
8 - Granary Square at King's Cross