Acclaimed North African Tuareg band Etran de L’Aïr (or ‘stars of the Aïr region’) will make their Sydney Opera House debut in March 2025. Hailing from Agadez, Niger, the band will bring their exhilarating pan-African mix of hypnotic melodies and sun-drenched desert rhythms to the Utzon Room for one night only.
Founded in 1995, the rollicking family band is composed of brothers and cousins Moussa, Abdoulaye, Abdourahamane and close friend Alghabid. Performing their celebrated 2024 album, 100% Sahara Guitar, the group will showcase their vibrant sound, rooted in the joyous exuberance of a traditional Agadez wedding party. With blistering, multi-layered guitar solos and intricate, tangy harmonies, Etran de L’Aïr draws inspiration from Northern Malian blues, Hausa music and Congolese Soukous, reflecting the myriad of cultures and traditions found in North Africa.
This is party music, honed by two and a half decades of playing local weddings and other celebrations.” – 4ZZZ
“Coming from Agadez, Niger, work has always come before everything, but we’ve always hoped that one day we would perform in an extraordinary place like the Sydney Opera House. Today, after many years of playing together as a family, bringing the sound of the desert to the world, we are deeply honoured to share our music in such a legendary venue. We invite you to experience the joy, energy and sound of our home. Come discover the stars of the Aïr and the guitars of the desert.” – Etran de L’Aïir
After almost thirty years of music making, three albums and hot off an electrifying North American tour, the Opera House sails are set to thrum with the heartbeat of the Sahara.
Sydney Opera House Head of Contemporary Music, Ben Marshall, says: “It’s an absolute thrill to finally bring Etran de L’Aïr to the Opera House. This incredible band, hailing from the heart of Agadez, are renowned for their powerful Tuareg sound, pulling influences from across Africa and beyond, all wrapped in the warm, celebratory energy of their proud traditions. After almost three decades of making music that resonates with pure joy and passion, Etran de L’Aïr are ready to bring their unmissable live experience to Sydney. Get ready for a night that will transport you straight to the Sahara — this is one performance you won’t want to miss.”
They build energetic, intensely physical music out of trebly guitar lines that can spiral, sprawl, and interlock, weaving intricate patterns and then breaking them down, like a desert wind briefly kicking up sand into an array of dizzying shapes before moving on.” – Spin.com
“The effortless way the guitar snakes around unfettered by rigid beat structure is phenomenal.” – Higher Plains Music
EVENT DETAILS
WHO: Etran de L’Aïr
WHEN: Thursday 6 March 2025, 9pm
WHERE: Utzon Room, Sydney Opera House
TICKETS: $69 + booking fee // sydneyoperahouse.com // +61 2 9250 7777
