Africa Express: Albarn's odyssey from Mali to Syria via Glastonbury

Damon Albarn and ensemble The Orchestra of Syrian Musicians opened Glastonbury 2016 on Friday 24 June.

Also called The Syrian National Orchestra for Arabic Music, these musicians, led by principal conductor Issam Rafea, first played with Damon Albarn at the Damascus Opera House in 2008. Albarn worked with them on track White Flag from Gorillaz' Plastic Beach album, and they toured together in 2010, with shows taking place in Lebanon, Syria and across Europe and North America.

The Southbank Centre show on 25 June at the Royal Festival Hall, presented by Africa Express and featuring other guest performers, was the Orchestra's first concert since Syria descended into war. As a result of the current on-going conflict, many Syrian musicians – including Rafea and other members of the Orchestra – have been forced to leave their country. The concert was designed as a celebration of the music and culture of Syria.

The London performance was part of 14-18 NOW, the UK's arts programme marking the centenary of World War One.

London's Tate Modern celebrated the 50th anniversary of Terry Riley's classic minimalist composition In C with an interactive concert film produced in collaboration with music collective Africa Express and The Space.

A new version of In C was recorded by Damon Albarn and his Africa Express project in Mali in 2013, led by classical conductor André de Ridder with input from Brian Eno and Nick Zinner of Yeah Yeah Yeahs. The Guardian called it 'the funkiest In C ever'.

On 2 November 2014, Africa Express presented the first performance of In C Mali on the Bridge of the Turbine Hall at Tate Modern.

Viewers can create their own journey through the concert film: watch the performance; follow different instruments such as balokas and koras; sit with the musicians or float above the concert; explore art in the Tate's galleries; and go on the road to Bamako, Mali, with Africa Express.

This anniversary performance features Malian musicians Aly Keita and Mosi Conde, Mouse on Mars' Andi Thoma who co-produced the album recording, and Africa Express regulars Damon Albarn and Nick Zinner.

In two rare shows, Africa Express perform Terry Riley’s In C Mali - at the Holland Festival Proms in Amsterdam (25 June) and at Les Nuits de Fourvière in Lyon, 28 June.

Damon Albarn – Melodica, Vocals / Diabel Cissokho – Kora / Mosi Conde – Balafon / André de Ridder – Violin, Kalimbas / Baba Galle – Peul Flute / Aly Keita – Balafon / Mamani Keita – Vocals / Lansiné Kouyaté - Balafon / Musa Mboob – Percussion / Malick Pathé Sow - Ngoni / Djelifily Sako - Kora / Mamadou Sarr – Percussion / Kaw Secka - Talking Drum / Bao Sissoko – Kora / Andi Toma (Mouse on Mars) – Electronics, Bass Kalimba / Marlies van Gangelen - Delta Harp, Kalimba / Jeff Wootton – Bass / Nick Zinner – Guitar