Babel Med World Music Concerts 21 to 23 March

Babel Med brings together music professionals, performers and the general public over three days and three nights at the Dock des Suds.  There will be four stages, 36 concerts and 190 artists from around the world.

Among the 11 performances on Thursday you can see the Tajik-Israeli Alaev Family, Spanish percussion orchestra Coetus, and Du Bartas with their traditional music from the Languedoc.

On Friday there are 13 acts including Afro-European Jazz from Ablaye Cissoko and Volker Goetze, Congolese Rumba with Black Bazar and a "brilliant musical stroll along the shores of the Bosphorus" with the Turkish Taksim Trio. 

On Saturday, 12 acts including Hoba Hoba Spirit "Moroccan Rage, rock from Casa", Rosapaeda from Southern Italy and Tiloun from La Réunion.

Tickets cost 15€ per night or you can get a 3 night pass (exclusively from FNAC) for 35€, which we think is a bargain price for so much quality and variety. For practical information in English about tickets and how to get there visit the Dock des Suds website.

A Weekend of music with Malik Ziad 18 - 20 January

La Meson has given carte blanche to Malik Ziad this weekend. He will perform Friday, Saturday and Sunday with different groups of musicians and different instruments. Malik Ziad was born in Algeria and likes to share his passion for traditional music using traditional instruments. He manages to mix music from North Africa, Brittany and Provence to produce his own particular style.

To get you moving, the first part of each evening is hosted by Big Buddha, a fine artist/DJ with an ear for creating great music mixes.

For a weekend of world music, this is the place to be. Each concert starts at 8pm and costs 10€

Concert of Egyptian Music 26 October

The Archives and Library Gaston Defferre (18-20 rue Mirès) has exhibitions and events all about Egypt running from October to December. On 26 October there is a concert of classical and improvised Egyptian music, described as deep and meditative, with Oud and Flute. The perfomance is by Hazem Shaheen (Oud) and Naïssam Jalal (Flute).

It starts at 7pm and entry is free. If you miss it, the exhibition of photographs: Egypt, clear and obscure, continues until 22 December.

Photo from www.rencontresaverroes.net

Barrio Chino at the Dock des Suds 21 September

For 20 years Barrio Chino have been creating their version of world music, mixing Catalonian Rumba with Cuban, Algerian, European and American styles. To celebrate their 20th year they are touring France and the world, starting at the Dock des Suds in Marseille. Catch them while you can, it may be some time before they're here again.

It starts at 7:30pm and it costs 11€.

Yusa and Lizzy Parks perform by the sea 14 August

The open air amphitheatre by the sea, Théâtre Silvain (Bus 83 to Fausse Monnaie), finishes its summer season on 14 August with a concert by Yusa and Lizzy Parks. Yusa is a Cuban singer/song writer, often compared to Tracy Chapman for her style of bitter sweet compositions. She won the BBC World Music awards for best newcomer and best Latin American performer. She plays guitar, keyboard and percussion mastering funk, rap, jazz and soul styles.

Lizzy Parks is the new discovery of the British label Tru Thoughts. She has a voice that will "transport you to unexplored places".

Yusa

The venue is open 6pm to 11pm. Tickets cost 10€ (free for under 18s) and you can buy them in advance from digitick. You can take a picnic and/or try the tapas and cocktails that are on offer.