Musician, director, poet and artist Baloji comes to Manchester this May, playing just one of a few UK dates scheduled in on his current European tour. He visits Band On The Wall supporting the upcoming release of new album Kaniama: The Yellow Version, a quick follow-up to 2018’s 137 Avenue Kaniama. The new album serves as a new, remixed one-track mixtape of his previous effort, now released as he originally intended it, and his first release on Bella Union. Born in the Congolese city of Lubumbashi, Baloji grew up in Belgium, discovering hip hop as a teenager, soon finding himself in hip-hop group Starflam. His first solo effort came in 2008, in the shape of ‘Hotel Impala’. Conceived as a reply to a letter he received from his mother after a 25-year absence, the album was soon certified gold, and thrust him onto the international scene.

Wed 29 May, Band On The Wall, 25 Swan Street, Manchester, M4 5JZ, Tel: 0161 834 1786, 7:30pm, £15, www.bandonthewall.org

Wed 29 May
Words:
Rich Holmes
Published on:
Sun 19 May 2019