Samba Touré + Support
September 25 @ 19:00 - 22:00
There is spirit and fire in the music of The Zawose Queens. There’s the vibrations of the ancestors, coming through on traditional instruments — soaring chizeze fiddle, buzzing illimba thumb piano, ngoma drums that chatter and thunder — and voices that go deep, high and out there. There’s the connection to nature, to ceremony and ritual, in their dance-inspired fusion, their blend of the organic, harmonic and modern-day electronic. There are lyrics that tell, in their native kigogo, of the passion for music, the wonders of life. Of pride in environment, in tradition. In their East African roots.
Pendo and Leah Zawose showcase the fluid polyrhythms and rapturous polyphonic singing of the Gogo (aka Wagogo) people of the arid, hilly Dodoma region of central Tanzania.
The most famous exponent of this musical tradition is the late, great Dr Hukwe Zawose (Pendo’s father and Leah’s grandfather).
Maisha, the debut album by The Zawose Queens, marks the first time that women from this famous musical family take their place as lead vocalists and performers. Emboldened by workshops in songwriting and music production with visiting UK-based producers Oli Barton-Wood (Jordan Rakei, Obongjayar, Nilufer Yanya) and Tom Excell (Nubiyan Twist, Onipa), The Zawose Queens began writing their first ever songs. The resulting collection of songs range from the stripped back and traditional-sounding to those treated with subtle electronic elements, with beats and drops and found sounds and switch-ups.
Getting Here
On-street parking spaces are available to the front of the building and on surrounding streets, free after 6.30pm on weekdays and all day on weekends.
By public transport:
The nearest Metro station is Manors (Yellow line), around 10 min walk away.
The closest bus stops are:
• Warwick Street-Stadium (services 1, 32, 32A), 4 min walk away
• New Bridge Street-Blackfriars (services 12, 22, 39, 40, 301), 5 min walk away
• New Bridge Street-St Dominics (services 22, 62, 63, 91, 301), 5 min walk away
Where possible we encourage people to walk or cycle to the venue.
Accessibility
We are here to welcome and care for everybody who enters this space.
If there is anything you need, please let us know on arrival.
There is step-free level access from the street and throughout the venue, with exception of three shallow steps up to the stage and steps up to the mezzanine.
Toilet facilities are gender-neutral, three cubicles in one room and two solo cubicles that exit directly into the corridor. There is one accessible toilet available. There is one toilet with changing facilities.
Many events are seated. When the main room is not seated, there is peripheral seating and you may request a chair from any member of staff.
Club nights and some livelier gigs will use sterile, safe, non-toxic, non-irritating water-based haze and we may use intermittent lazers and strobe lighting.
For detailed access information and to request a PA ticket, please see our Accessibility page.
Food
Our neighbours at Ernest Cafe offer you a 10% discount on food with your ticket for this event. (We would recommend booking in advance). Occasionally there is food available on Friday nights once we have fed the artists, feel free to enquire at the bar.
Refunds
Cobalt is a tiny team, due to the administration time required and the fact that we can’t always sell on last minute ticket returns we are unable to offer refunds or transfers unless it is an extreme circumstance.
Timings
Doors open at 7pm, music starts from around 7.30pm, curfew is 10pm.
Age Restrictions
14+ can be admitted with an adult. For quieter gigs sleeping babes in arms are welcome. Any other ages please check with us.
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