WEST AFRICA MEETS WALES IN N’FAMADY’S MUSIC

NEWLY ANNOUNCED BALAFÔ DOUMA UK TOUR IN FALL 2022

 

Six Shooter Inc. (management company) welcomes N’famady Kouyaté to the artist roster, managed by Chris Wynters. Originally from Guinea, now based in Wales, N’famady’s dazzling balafon playing is the foundation of his exuberant and skilful mix of West African Mandingue with jazz, pop and beyond.  

N’famady recently announced a substantial UK headline tour in Oct-Nov 2022, which adds to a busy spring and summer festival season. The past year, N’famady has been on a whirlwind breakout trajectory, with buzz, opportunity and excitement for the future. 

“I first saw N’famady perform in an online showcase put on by some friends of mine at Focus Wales, a Covid era discovery,” says Wynters. “I was instantly blown away by his skill as a player and his charm as a performer. We met first over Zoom and have now met in person. It was wonderful to finally see him perform live in Glasgow last month, in front of a sold-out crowd at Theatre Royal, part of the excellent programming at Celtic Connections.”

N’famady released his debut EP, Aros I Fi Yna, in June 2021. Recorded in legendary Rockfield Studios, with guest appearances from Gruff Rhys (Super Furry Animals), Lisa Jên Brown (9Bach), and Kliph Scurlock (The Flaming Lips), the debut EP features Kouyaté’s compelling and original mix of traditional Guinean songs with new Welsh lyrics.

N’famady has a new album currently in production, being recorded in Wales and Guinea. Look for N’famady to make his North American debut in 2022.

 

UPCOMING TOUR DATES

LONDON, UK: Rich Mix, Mar 26

WESTON-SUPER-MARE, UK: Love’s Cafe, Apr 22

SWANSEA, UK: Ty Tawe, May 6

GWYNEDD, UK: Eisteddfod yr Urdd, June 4

PENARTH, UK: St. Augustine’s Parish Hall, June 17

GWYNEDD, UK: Royal Ship Hotel, July 16

GWEHELOG, UK: Big Love Festival, July 17

BARNSLEY, UK: Underneath the Stars, July 29

HOLT, UK: Holt Festival, July 30

CAMBRIDGE, UK: Cambridge Folk Festival, July 31

SIDMOUTH, UK: Sidmouth Folk Festival, Aug 3

DORSET, UK: Purbeck Valley Folk Festival, Aug 19

FAVERSHAM, UK: A New Day Festival, Aug 21

BELFAST, UK: Belfast Mela, Aug 28

 

BALAFÔ DOUMA TOUR (NEW DATES)

WREXHAM, UK: Ty Pawb, Oct 29

GLASGOW, UK: Hug & Pint, Nov 1

NEWCASTLE, UK: The Cluny, Nov 5

SHIPLEY, UK: The Live Room, Nov 6

LONDON, UK: Paper Dress Vintage, Nov 8

GUILDFORD, UK: The Star Inn, Nov 11

BRIGHTON, UK: The Rose Hill, Nov 12

LIVERPOOL, UK: Liverpool Philharmonic, Nov 15

BURY, UK: Bury Met, Nov 16

BRISTOL, UK: The Jam Jar, Nov 17

BRADFORD ON AVON, UK: Wiltshire Music Centre, Nov 18

CARDIFF, UK: Acapela Studio, Nov 20

BANGOR, UK: Pontio, Nov 25

 

ABOUT N’FAMADY KOUYATÉ

N’famady Kouyaté is an energetic young master musician from Conakry, Guinea, who relocated to Cardiff, Wales in 2019. A talented multi-instrumentalist, Kouyaté wowed audiences across the UK and Ireland during autumn/winter 2019/20 with his modern interpretations of traditional West African Mandingue songs and rhythms supporting Gruff Rhys on the Pang! album tour. N’famady’s primary instrument is the balafon, the traditional wooden xylophone, sacred to West African culture and his family heritage of the griot/djeli. In Guinea he founded ‘Les Héritiers du Mandingue’ a tradi-modern group that toured extensively in West Africa.

In the UK, N’famady has played both as a solo artist and with a full band line up, where his arrangements are a fusion of Mandingue African with jazz, pop, indie, and funk influences provided by an ever-evolving collective of musicians. Instrumentation includes balafon, keyboards, drumkit, djembe, guitar, bass, kora, doundoun, congas, saxophone, trumpet, & callabash. N’famady’s performances create amazing atmospheres and vibrations wherever he goes, and audiences are charmed by his infectious enthusiasm and joy.

 

Check out their newly added Canadian dates to see if their ‘Out and About’ Tour is coming to a city near you!

OSHAWA, ON: Biltmore, May 5.
WATERLOO, ON: Maxwell’s, May 6
OTTAWA, ON: Club SAW, May 7
TORONTO, ON: Lee’s Palace, May 12
SARNIA, ON: Paddy Flaherty’s, May 13
PETERBOROUGH, ON: Red Dog, May 14
HAMILTON, ON: Bridgeworks, May 15
WINNIPEG, MB: Times Change(d) High & Lonesome Club, May 26
REGINA, SK: The Exchange, May 27 
SASKATOON, SK: Capitol Club, May 28
CALGARY, AB: Dickens Pub, May 30
RED DEER, AB: Bo’s Bar, May 31
EDMONTON, AB: The Starlite Room, June 1
VANCOUVER, BC: Hollywood Theatre, June 3
VICTORIA, BC: Capital Ballroom, June 4
CREEKSIDE, BC: Creekside Theatre, June 8
OLIVER, BC: Venables Theatre, June 9
NELSON, BC: Spiritbar, June 10
GOLDEN, BC: The Rockwater, June 11
LETHBRIDGE, AB: Owl Acoustic Lounge, June 12
KINGSTON, ON: The Grad Club, June 18
HARROW, ON: Harrow Legion, June 24
HARROW, ON: Harrow Legion, June 25
PAISLEY, ON: FreeWaves Concert Series – Paisley Blues Festival, July 2
KINGSVILLE, ON: The Greenway Jam, Aug 13

For all tour dates and tickets, visit elliottbrood.com

 

 

Founded in 2000, Six Shooter Records is a full-service music universe with label, publishing and management companies built on a mandate of working with artists committed to a lifetime career in music. Our primary goal is artistic excellence. With over 20 years of experience, Six Shooter pushes the boundaries of art and innovation with a critically acclaimed roster that defies classification, a growing team that values integrity, expertise and professional advancement, and a steadfast commitment to artist development and longevity. Six Shooter Records is headquartered in Toronto, read our full land acknowledgement here and our Code of Practise here.

 

Ours is a fast-paced, friendly environment with an enterprising culture. We seek a new member of our artist management team, who will be key in performing day-to-day duties. Responsibilities will be as follows:

 

Coordinate all marketing/advertising materials for Six Shooter managed artists primarily focusing on marketing assets for tours, festivals, and performances.

• Work with managers/promoters/agents on creating marketing materials for shows and tours
• Coordinate/execute tour marketing plans
• Support the Six Shooter Records marketing team on label specific campaigns

Coordinate social media accounts for Six Shooter managed artists.

• Work with managers/artists on planning and executing social media campaigns
• Execute day to day social media accounts
• Work with label marketing on the coordination/integration of label driven social media campaigns on artist social media platforms
• Responsible for keeping track of and executing show announcements through artist platforms

Coordinate merchandise design, manufacturing and online/offstage sales.

• Work with managers/artists on creating exciting merchandise items
• Liaise with managers and artists’ live merch sales teams on successful strategies for live merch sales
• Coordinate online sales systems
• Manage merchandise supplies for online and live sales

Other duties, as assigned.

 

Requirements:

• Experience in the Canadian music industry for 2+ years
• Experience in live music and touring
• Proficiency with top social media platforms
• Exceptional attention to detail, solid time management skills and the ability to multi-task and prioritize, while staying ahead of deadlines in a fast-moving environment
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment, a self-starter
• Excellent interpersonal and verbal communication skills
• Proficiency in MS Office, Google Suite, Dropbox, Slack

 

Nice to Haves & Attributes:

• Education related to the music business and/or artist management
• Optimistic with positive energy and outlook
• Passionate about music and advocating for artists
• Thrive in a fast-paced and dynamic environment; a team player, willing to pitch in whenever needed

 

Job Specs:

 

Position: Tour Marketing and Merch Manager (Full-Time)

Reporting to: President, Six Shooter Inc.

Start Date: As Soon As Possible

Hours: Monday-Friday 10:00AM – 6:00PM (EST)

Location: Toronto, ON

Compensation: Salary range from 45K-55K to be determined commensurate with experience, and health benefits.

Application Deadline: April 1, 2022

 

Please Apply Here and attach any documents in PDF format within the application.

 

No phone calls please.

 

We invite applications from all qualified candidates, especially from people who identify as racialized, Indigenous, differently abled, and persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity. Upon request, suitable accommodations are available under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act for applicants invited to an interview.

 

The Deep Dark Woods’ Ryan Boldt pays tribute to a songwriting hero in his take on Tucker Zimmerman’s “Hangin’ Loose.” Updated with psychedelic keys and Boldt’s wavering vocals, this new version casts a contemporary yet somber light on the traditional original, creating an eerie sense of solitude in true Deep Dark Woods fashion.

 

The Dead South have released Easy Listening for Jerks, Parts 1 & 2. While these two collections of songs come from vastly different genres, they’re united both in their themes of struggle and adversity, and by the band’s telltale bluegrass blueprint. 

To further satisfy your senses, the band has released a new video for “Chop Suey.” Check out the video below to watch their take on the jittery System of a Down original.

 

 

Donate to the Indian Residential School Survivors Society HERE

“Tagaq boldly uses her place in the country’s cultural firmament to challenge its very foundation.” – Pitchfork 

Listen to Tagaq’s full interview on NPR’s Morning Edition here

“Everyone is responsible for the system that is in place right now; those who benefit from the genocide of Indigenous people are still guilty.” – as told to Line of Best Fit

 

Tanya Tagaq, whose new album Tongues arrived last week, delivers a new video for “Colonizer,” which witnesses the destruction of symbols and perpetrators of the residential school system. Unrelenting and direct, “Colonizer” is a song that distills 500 years of settler, church and government wrongdoing into 4 words: Oh. You’re. Guilty. Colonizer.