Thursday Night Live: Khaira Arby and her band

Tickets: $10

Khaira Arby comes from the desert village of Abaradjou, near Timbuktu, Mali. In the spirit of desert blues artists like fellow Malian Ali "Farka" Touré, Khaira’s music infuses the rhythms of camels walking in the Sahara with lyrics in the languages of northern Mali: Sonhrai, Tamashek, and Arabic. Her band creates a mesmerizing mix of nomadic and urban music with electric guitars, bass, and drums alongside traditional West African instruments.

Click here to visit Khaira and her band on MySpace.

Photo by Wakane.