Alsarah & The Nubatones
East-African retro-pop with oud and bass
Based in New York City, United States
Alsarah sings over pentatonic melodies, hand percussion, oud, and bass lines that keep the band in a steady, buoyant pocket. Their set should sit between rooty retro-pop and a travelogue of migration songs, with the newer material sounding more spacious and road-worn than the older records.
More about Alsarah & The Nubatones
The band grew out of conversations between Alsarah and percussionist Rami El Aasser about Nubian songs of return and contemporary migration. That core expanded with oud player Haig Manoukian and bassist Mawuena Kodjovi, and the project has become a reference point for East-African diaspora pop in the US and Europe.
A story
After their first album, the band toured Australia, played WOMAD, sold out their London debut, and played the Apollo in New York.
Playing
- 2026-11-05 2026-11-05T19:45:00 · Alsarah & The Nubatones · TivoliVredenburg
Start here
- SEASONS OF THE ROAD (2025)
Newest album and key live material - Manara (2016)
Earlier album that defined the group - Silt (2014)
First album and starting point
Worked with
- Rami El Aasser band member
- Haig Manoukian band member
- Mawuena Kodjovi band member
For fans of
Baba Zula, Maalem Mahmoud Guinia, Sahra HalganOfficial links
Le Guess Who?BandcampSpotifyWebsite
Plan Le Guess Who? 2026 with Songpot · Ask about Alsarah & The Nubatones in ChatGPT or Claude