Krar Collective

The mighty Krar Collective serve up a mind-blowing feast of exuberant Ethiopian songs and dance tunes. Led by Temesgen Zeleke, student of jazz legend Mulatu Astatke, the band perform a contemporary take on roots music reflecting the diversity of cultures within Africa’s second most populous country. In the virtuoso hands of Zeleke, the ancient krar lyre becomes a gritty rock guitar, weaving around the stunning vocals of Genet Assefa and the driving rhythms of Amare Mulugeta on traditional kebero drums. The line-up has recently expanded to include virtuoso Baby Masinko on the extraordinary one-stringed Ethiopian masinko fiddle and Dawit Seyoum on bass krar for added funkiness. "one of the most rousing, reliable new African bands of the year” The Guardian "They may use ancient instruments, but there’s nothing arcane about the way that they play them. This is hot ‘n’ hypnotic dance music...KrarCollective rock!” fRoots Magazine “Krar Collective played one of the best support slots at the Barbican I can remember seeing with just a funked up harp (krar) an electric drum set and a singer whose vibrato was so extreme as to become ululation. Spine tingling stuff.” Fly Global Music “Using effects pedals, Temesgen Zeleke makes the krar sound like a 12-string guitar one minute, and the chunkiest, funkiest electric guitar the next…they completely won over an initially reserved crowd, getting them to dance the night away… they are certainly unique” The Arts Desk