Ethiopian supergroup QWANQWA return to North America this spring, with the much-anticipated follow-up to their marathon, three month debut tour in 2022. This year's tour is equally ambitions; spanning nine weeks in March through May, 39 cities, both coasts, and everything in between -- with more dates TBA (see full tour lineup below).
QWANQWA is a five-piece improvisatory ensemble based in Addis Ababa, dedicated to furthering Ethiopia’s unique string traditions. The group brings together some of the most accomplished musicians in the country; creating a space to explore new sounds and break the rules in an otherwise conservative musical culture. QWANQWA plays an array of Ethiopian traditional instruments, and consists of Endris Hassen on mesenko (one string fiddle), Bubu Teklemariam on bass krar (Ethiopian lyre), Selamnesh Zemene on vocals, Misale Legesse on kebero (goat skin drum), and Kaethe Hostetter on 5 string electric violin. Together they’ve forged a new sound rooted in centuries-old traditions — yet exploratory, open, and future-facing.
QWANQWA has released three critically-acclaimed albums -- Volume One (2014) and Volume Two (2015); and Volume Three (2020) -- and rocked audiences on two major European tours with knockout shows at the Roskilde and WOMEX festivals in 2016 and 2017. Members of QWANQWA have performed with some of the biggest names in Ethiopian music and beyond: Getachew Mekuria, Mahmoud Ahmed, Mulatu Astatke, The EX, Thurston Moore, Fred Frith, Butch Morris, Tomeika Reid, and more.
