Magic in the air as Damon Albarn's Africa Express rolls into town, with some of the biggest names in world music

Mar 7 2008 by Vicky Anderson, Liverpool Daily Post

THE unusual sight of two double decker buses filled with some of the biggest names in world music could be seen winding through the city last night.

Africa Express, a unique concert that is the brainchild of former Blur frontman Damon Albarn, rolled into the city for a one-off event at the Liverpool Olympia.

British bands including Franz Ferdinand, Hard-Fi, the Magic Numbers and locals Shack were joined by the cream of African talent such as Baaba Maal, Bassekou Kouyate and Souad Massi.

The 119 musicians travelled from London to the venue by Arriva bus.

Africa Express, which was first performed as one of the highlights of last year’s Glastonbury festival, was put together by Albarn as a response to the lack of African acts invited to take part in Live 8.

The show, which went on into the small hours of this morning, was an all-night jam of unexpected collabo-rations and one-off experiments.

Ahead of the event, Sam Duckworth, who performs under the name Get Cape Wear Cape Fly, said: “It’s going to be the best improvised party you’ve ever been to, it’s going to be insane. You can tell – there’s such a magic in the air, and I think it is going to be a special evening.”

He was playing with jazz multi-instrumentalist Nitin Sawnhey.

Franz Ferdinand broke from recording their third album to play.

Lead singer Alex Kapranos said: “We’re doing as few live shows as possible, but this was a pretty special event.

“One of the best things about it is we don’t know exactly what we’re going to be doing. There’s going to be surprises.

“It’s very different and as much as anybody I’m here to learn. All the best music comes from a collab-oration of ideas and I think it’s a great idea to bring musicians from different backgrounds together.”

Organiser Ian Ashbridge, head of Wrasse Records, said getting the musicians to Liverpool had been a “logistical night-mare” but hoped it would be a night to remember.

Before the show he said: “We have had people come from America, Mali, Senegal, France – so it’s very exciting now people are here in Liverpool.”

vickyanderson@dailypost.co.uk