Tuareg to Tuva

Music is more global than ever, and continuously changing. New technologies, new ideas, and new migrations are continuous catalysts, and collider!FEST has its finger on the pulse of what’s next. The programming celebrates global music culture’s rising stars and offers a space for curious and adventurous listeners (and dancers) to discover new rhythms and sounds.

For its first full-building BOMBYX takeover this April, the event will include an international roster of groundbreaking artists as well as DJ afterparties, workshops, a food pop-up by acclaimed Oaxacan chef Neftalí Durán, local beer & cider by BLDG8 and Artifact Cider Project, and a Saturday afternoon record fair.

The first night of collider!FEST features:

Les Filles de Illighadad — the first generation of female-fronted Tuareg rockers; nomads from the African Sahel that have broken from tradition to play the tende form with electric guitars. This is “desert blues”, but drawn from a part of the village where only women’s voices are heard. Their songs speak of the village, of love, of praise for ancestors. (9PM)

(“Heavy, meditative and tender” -New Yorker)

Alash Ensemble — Alash is a trio of master throat singers from Tuva, a tiny republic in the heart of Central Asia. Grounded in tradition while expanding its musical vocabulary with new ideas from the West, the ensemble and its individual members have consistently won top honors on the world’s highest stages. (7:45PM)

(“Music that feels as if it traveled miles and ages to pulverize your heart.” -Washington Post)

Garth Stevenson — Canadian/US-based double bassist and minimalist composer based in Western Mass. Garth is also a friend and frequent collaborator with Alash, so don’t be surprised if they share the stage together at Bombyx. (7PM)

Friday night features an extended after-party in the Parrish Hall with DJ Shirine Saad from Providence. The Beirut-born multimedia storyteller, professor and DJ focuses on culture, social change, and of course, global dance music. (10:30PM)

Cook, advocate, educator and organizer Neftalí Durán will be in residence both days of the festival with a Oaxacan food pop-up inspired by his indigenous roots and his country’s diverse cuisine.

Hyperlocal Florence brewers Jake Mazar of Artifact Cider Project and O’Brian Tomalin of BLDG8 Beer will be serving on both nights of the festival.

Collider!FEST is co-presented with our friends at Earthdance. We are grateful for our sponsors: Davis Financial, Ruthie Oland Real Estate, Spin That! Records, Paradigm Drums and New England Public Media.