Vieux Farka Touré's latest album was recorded as an homage to his homeland. Being that his native Mali has been splintered by territorial fighting between Tuareg and Islamic rebels since January 2012, his new album, Mon Pays (My Country), is devoted to reminding the world about the beauty and culture of his homeland. The album is out on May 28, 2013 on Six Degrees Records with an extensive North American tour starting in June.‘For me it is a statement for the world that this land is for the sons and daughters of Mali, not for Al Qaeda or any militants. This land is for peace and beauty, rich culture and tolerance.This is our heritage, what we must always fight to protect in any way that we can. For me, that means making music that reminds the world of who we are.’Translating as ‘My Nation,’ this predominantly acoustic undertaking had been planned before the invasions began. Inspired by his work with Israeli pianist and vocalist Idan Raichel, Touré initially went into a Bamako studio to honor the acoustic blues tradition of Northern and Southern Mali. Since that time, Mon Pays transformed into an artifact of cultural preservation.Two songs on the project -Future’ and ‘Peace’ feature Sidiki Diabate’s kora leading an emotional charge complemented by Touré’s spectacular guitar work. Both tracks represent an important generational "passing of the torch" as Sidiki’s father, Toumani is considered one of the greatest living kora masters and was a close friend of Vieux’s father Ali. Their two records together, In the Heart of the Moon and Ali and Toumani, were awarded Grammies. At the 2011 ceremonies, Vieux accepted the prestigious award for his father, who had recently passed from bone cancer.Mon Pays is the most mature and lovely record yet from one of this generation's most exciting artists to come out of Mali and one of world music's true rising stars.Tour Dates:06/15/13 @ Takin’ It to the Streets (Marquette Park), Chicago, IL06/16/13 @ Clearwater’s Great Hudson River Revival, Croton-on-Hudson, NY06/19/13 @ The Dirty Bourbon, Albuquerque, NM06/20/13 @ Arroyo Seco Live, Arroyo Seco, NM06/21/13 @ eTown Hall, Boulder, CO06/23/13 @ Performance Works, Vancouver, BC, Canada06/24/13 @ Sugar Nightclub, Victoria, BC, Canada06/25/13 @ Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle, WA06/26/13 @ Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle, WA06/27/13 @ The Wild Buffalo, Bellingham, WA06/28/13 @ Mississippi Studios, Portland, OR06/30/13 @ Harbourfront Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada07/01/13 @ Zaphod Beeblebrox, Ottawa, ON, Canada07/03/13 @ Club Soda, Montreal, QC, Canada07/05/13 @ Iron Horse, Northampton, MA07/06/13 @ Higher Ground, South Burlington, VT07/09/13 @ Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis, MN07/10/13 @ Vaudeville Mews, Des Moines, IA07/11/13 @ La Fete de Marquette, Madison, WI 07/13/13 @ Yoshis, San Francisco, CA07/14/13 @ California WorldFest, Grass Valley, CA08/02/13 @ Pickathon, Happy Valley, OR08/03/13 @ Pickathon, Happy Valley, OR08/04/13 @ Crestone Music Festival, Crestone, CO08/06/13 @ Walnut Room, Denver, CO08/07/13 @ JAS Cafe Downstairs At The Nell, Aspen, CO
