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Simo Lagnawi: The UK's leading exponent of Moroccan Gnawa music
"Gnawa London reveals Simo Lagnawi to be an artist to watch closely," Tim Woodall, Songlines Magazine
Simo Lagnawi, a Maâlem (Gnawa master musician) from Morocco, is considered to be the leading exponent of Gnawa music in the UK today. His third album 'The Gnawa Caravan: Salt' was released by Waulk Records on 11th December 2015. An innovative performer, he has collaborated in a range of musical genres as well as composing new works in traditional Gnawa style. His performances include acrobatic dance as well as vocal chants, guembri, and krakeb playing. Simo makes regular appearances on the London scene with residencies at Momo Arabic restaurant, the V&A, and Passing Clouds, as well as performing at festivals both in the UK and overseas. His debut album 'Gnawa London' was released in April 2013. Produced by Griselda Sanderson and released on the Waulk Records label, it demonstrates his deep immersion in the Gnawa tradition as well as bringing his own interpretation to the music with his original compositions. Simo is a winner of World Music Network's 'Battle of The Bands' competition, and his track 'Tourklila' from the album 'Gnawa London' features on the covermount CD of Songlines Magazine issue no. 94 in their 'Top of the World' selection. His second album 'The Gnawa Berber' (2014) was released on the Riverboat label.
Simo also collaborates with a number of other musicians from The Gambia & Burkina Faso to Japan and also plays with fusion bands Electric Jalaba and Kamba Band, with Griselda Sanderson & Amadou Diagne.
Recent performances:
Southbank Centre, London, UK
Festival Mawazine (Morocco)
Shambala Festival, UK
Smugglers Festival, UK
Glastonbury Festival, UK
V&A Museum, London
BBC 6Music (session on Cerys Matthews’ Show)
BBC World Service (live session)
The British Museum
Leighton House
Larmer Tree Festival
The Roundhouse, London
The Ritzy, Brixton, London
Rich Mix, London
Hootananny, London
Hackney Attic
Passing Clouds, Dalston, London
The Third Line, Dubai
5.0 Refuse, Kuwait
Film Middle East Now, Italy
The Tabernacle, Notting Hill
The Troxy, Stepney
The Canteen, Bristol
Secret Garden Party
"Gnawa London reveals Simo Lagnawi to be an artist to watch closely," Tim Woodall, Songlines Magazine
Simo Lagnawi, a Maâlem (Gnawa master musician) from Morocco, is considered to be the leading exponent of Gnawa music in the UK today. His third album 'The Gnawa Caravan: Salt' was released by Waulk Records on 11th December 2015. An innovative performer, he has collaborated in a range of musical genres as well as composing new works in traditional Gnawa style. His performances include acrobatic dance as well as vocal chants, guembri, and krakeb playing. Simo makes regular appearances on the London scene with residencies at Momo Arabic restaurant, the V&A, and Passing Clouds, as well as performing at festivals both in the UK and overseas. His debut album 'Gnawa London' was released in April 2013. Produced by Griselda Sanderson and released on the Waulk Records label, it demonstrates his deep immersion in the Gnawa tradition as well as bringing his own interpretation to the music with his original compositions. Simo is a winner of World Music Network's 'Battle of The Bands' competition, and his track 'Tourklila' from the album 'Gnawa London' features on the covermount CD of Songlines Magazine issue no. 94 in their 'Top of the World' selection. His second album 'The Gnawa Berber' (2014) was released on the Riverboat label.
Simo also collaborates with a number of other musicians from The Gambia & Burkina Faso to Japan and also plays with fusion bands Electric Jalaba and Kamba Band, with Griselda Sanderson & Amadou Diagne.
Recent performances:
Southbank Centre, London, UK
Festival Mawazine (Morocco)
Shambala Festival, UK
Smugglers Festival, UK
Glastonbury Festival, UK
V&A Museum, London
BBC 6Music (session on Cerys Matthews’ Show)
BBC World Service (live session)
The British Museum
Leighton House
Larmer Tree Festival
The Roundhouse, London
The Ritzy, Brixton, London
Rich Mix, London
Hootananny, London
Hackney Attic
Passing Clouds, Dalston, London
The Third Line, Dubai
5.0 Refuse, Kuwait
Film Middle East Now, Italy
The Tabernacle, Notting Hill
The Troxy, Stepney
The Canteen, Bristol
Secret Garden Party
