It has just been announced that Konono N°1 will be performing at the Cabaret Sauvage in Paris on July 15,  alongside their Crammed / Congotronics stablemates Staff Benda Bilili and Kasai Allstars!

This promises to be quite an evening,  don't miss this unique opportunity to see these three sensational bands.

13 June 09:  Goterborg, Sweden -  Clandestino Fest.
14 June:  Malmö, Sweden - Sommarscen Malmö
19 June:  Barcelona,  Spain  - Sonar
20 June:  Vigo, Spain  -  Festival Sin Sal
21 June:  Tilburg, The Netherlands -  Festival Mundial
3 July:  Oporto, Portugal   -  Casa de la Musica
4 July:  Torres Novas, Portugal  -   Fiesta de Torres Novas
5 July:  Montefalcone, Italy     
10 July:  Sant'Arcangelo, Italy     
11 July:  Roma, Italy
    
17 July to 26 July : Spain tour, including:
22 July:  Madrid, Spain  -  Veranos de la villa
23 July:  San Sebastian, Spain  -   Jazz Festival
24 July:  Cartagena, Spain   -  La Mar de Musicas

27 July:  Uzes, France   -  Festival Autres rivages
28 July:  Grenoble, France  -   Cabaret Frappé
31 July: Lisboa, Portugal    
31 July:  Payzac, France   -  Festival La Pleine lune
1 Aug:  Lisboa, Portugal    
2 Aug:  Lisboa, Portugal    
7 Aug:  Dranouter, Belgium  -  Dranouter Festival
8 Aug:  Saint-Nazaire, France  -  Les Escales
 

Konono N°1 are releasing a live mini-album containing 8 tracks and totalling over 56 minutes of music.

Aside from steaming versions of Kule Kule and Mama Liza (which were featured on the band's acclaimed Congotronics debut album) and Nsimba & Nzuzi (another version of which was released digitally), these pieces have never been released before. They were recorded at Brussels' popular Couleur Café festival by Crammed house produced Vincent Kenis, who rediscovered the band a few years ago and produced the Congotronics album.

The "Live At Couleur Café" CD is due for release on August 27.

More info here

As previously mentioned, Konono N°1 has opened for Björk on her New York dates. Konono first played a set, and then came back onstage to perform "Earth Intruders" with Björk

The United Palace concert was webcast by NPR (National Public Radio), and can be accessed online: just click here

KONONO N°1 will be supporting Bjork on 2 New York Dates in early May:

May 2 Radio City Music Hall
May 5 United Palace

Konono will be playing a set, and it's easy enough to imagine them coming back onstage to perform "Earth Intruders" with Björk…

"Live in Tokyo EP", the new, digital-only Konono N°1 release, is now available in Europe (through iTunes and most of the other digital download stores) and in the US exclusively through eMusic.

Recorded during the band's Japanese tour last summer, it contains 3 tracks: "Kule Kule", "Nsimba & Nsuzi" and Landu Mambu" (the last two had never been recorded before) and totals close to 35 minutes.

After the unfortunate cancellation of the first leg of the European tour (the band were denied an entry visa... a problem which has plagued many AFrican bands lately), Konono N°1 will be starting their US tour in April 24.

Bjork has invited the band to appear with her on selected dates. Nothing is as yet certain, but their respective managements are trying to coordinate their schedules to make this happen.

Entitled "Earth Intruders", the first single off Björk's new album features some of Konono's characteristic thumb-piano lines, as well as rhythm programming by Timbaland.

To coincide with their US tour (see dates in the live section of this page), Konono N°1 will be releasing a 3-track EP totalling close to 35 minutes recorded live in Tokyo. The EP will only be available digitally, from all major download platforms. Konono N°1 appear alongside Timbaland and Antony (& the Johnsons) in Bjork's new album, due for release in May

Get fresh news on Konono No1 and other Crammed artists by subscribing to the label's mini-blog here

Konono No1 shared the bill with Coldcut, Kronos Quartet, DJ Spooky and Steve Reich & Musicians at the tribute evening which took place at London's Barbican last Saturday (oct 7). According to reliable sources, the mighty Ks managed to get the so-far-calm-and-collected audience to leave their seats and jump in the aisles...