Bombino at Portland Ovations

Traditional North African rhythms meet the searing sounds of rock and roll in Omara “Bombino” Moctar, a young Tuareg guitarist and songwriter whose electrifying jams capture the spirit of Sahara with enduring notes of nostalgia, resilience and peace. Boasting guitar riffs reminiscent of fellow Tuareg musicians Tinariwen and Ali Farka Touré, Bombino’s music also echoes rock and blues icons such as Jimi Hendrix, John Lee Hooker and Jimmy Page. In his Portland Ovations debut, Africa’s newest superstar and his four-piece band bring compelling “desert blues” to the Maine coast.