Damon Albarn’s Africa Express tour adds new names

The Libertines’ Carl Barat, Rizzle Kicks and The Temper Trap are among the new additions to the Africa Express train tour this September.

The Africa Express is a collective of African and Western musicians and DJs co-founded by Damon Albarn. As well as gigs in Middlesbrough, Glasgow, Manchester, Cardiff and Bristol, the group will do pop-up performances at railway stations, schools, factories, offices, shopping centres and people’s houses.

The train will then finish up at King’s Cross station in London, for a finale concert at London’s Granary Square.

The new names join Blur and Gorillaz mainman Damon Albarn, Yeah Yeah Yeahs‘ Nick Zinner, Bombay Bicycle Club’s Jack Steadman and Amadou & Mariam in being announced for the tour.

Also newly added are Nicolas Jaar, Krar Collective, Kyla La Grange, Reverend and the Makers’ John McClure, Nneka, Marques Toliver and Rye Rye.

Africa Express began in 2006 with a trip to Mali, when Albarn took Fatboy Slim, Martha Wainwright and Jamie T to work with African artists such as Toumani Diabate, Salif Keita, Amadou & Mariam and Bassekou Kouyate.

The Africa Express tour calls at:

Middlesbrough Town Hall (September 3)

London Granary Square at Kings Cross (8)