Dagskrá listahátíðar 2009
Amadou and Mariam, “the blind couple from Mali”, have become the world music act today since the release of their Manu Chao-produced album in 2006, 'Dimanche à Bamako',.
Amadou & Mariam, along with their faboulus band will open the festival on May 12 with their riveting and uplifting live show described by a BBC music critic as “musically marvellous” and “rhythmically irresistible”. The band recently played for Barack Obama, at his Nobel price ceremony in Oslo, and has worked with artists such as Coldplay, Damon Albarn, Scissor Sisters and David Gilmour. Their career spans over three decades and although Manu's presence undoubtedly helped to raise the duo's profile, it was Amadou & Mariam's own unique artistry that made ‘Dimanche à Bamako' one of the best-selling albums ever to come out of Africa and one of the 100 best pop albums of the past decade according to The Times. Their lates studio album 'Welcome to Mali', released in 2008, includes the hit singles 'Masiteladi' and 'Sabali', the latter being voted one of best songs of the decade by Pitchfork Media. Amadou & Mariam's performance at the Reykjavík Arts Festival marks the end of their European tour, but later this year they have been chosen by Matt Groening to perform at one of the world's most respected music festival, All Tomorrow's Parties.