One of Africa’s hottest bands tells us their story: from escaping civil war and a ban on music in their home country to touring the world. They’ve worked with the likes of Damon Albarn’s Africa Express, Iggy Pop and may soon collaborate with guitar hero Nile Rodgers. We discuss how they see themselves as more like a western band, their new music and the misconceptions of Timbuktu. And we talk football: from the crisis in Malian domestic football to African players getting ripped off hunting their dream of playing in Europe.

Mali: Songhoy Blues on performing in exile and footballers trying to get to Europe

Na ngeen def! (That's how are you? in Wolof). We travelled 5,730km to the city of Dakar, Senegal to bring you a very special episode, jam-packed with West African musical and football-based treats. We visit Mbalax star Thione Seck’s studio and chat with Oumar Sow who played in Youssou NDour's Les Étoile de Dakar. We also discuss the impact of Orchestra Baobab, Baaba Maal and Ismaël Lô and also witness Cheikh Lô live. That's on top of James reporting from the labarythine like streets of Ngor village, where the mourides singers croon late into the night and finding out what it's like to be a Senegalese footballer who’s played across African with Babacar Mbengue. Do not miss.

Senegal: The music and football of Dakar

It’s time to take a trip to the Land of Opportunity. Yes folks, the United States of America is a country blessed with incredible music, partly thanks to its stew of cultures. For the podcast, we're covering the avalanche of incredible Eighties underground punk and rock bands which would later influence Nirvana. We’ll take an in-depth look at Black Flag, Minor Threat, Sonic Youth, Fugazi and the Butthole Surfers analysing the (on-stage) sex, (plentiful) drugs and shock’n’roll. James sits down with Brendan Morgan of Oxford punk rock band Grub to discuss the scene.
And we look at politics in US football (ok, soccer). Specifically we talk to Stephan Lewis of the Timbers Army, a raucous fan group who follow the Portland Timbers. He is leading a campaign to make the club radically inclusive, but has had to battle with the club of the use of the repurposed anti-facist Iron Front logo. Hear the full story of this fascinating stand-off on the pod.

America: Eighties hardcore punk and the anti-facist battle at Portland Timbers

The podcast sees two worldly-wise football and music nuts – James Labous and Alex Lawson – bring together their loves to tell the tales of a different nation’s sporting and musical stars each episode.

Rabonas & Rhythms

Popular tracks