10 Wanderlust-Inducing Summer Concerts
Lists: Call it world music or global pop or the sound of the world hum. Ben Keene reveals 10 acts on tour that are sure to transport you. Plus videos.
06.16.08 | 2:56 PM ET
Each summer, nearly every band with the buzz, the means and new music to peddle hits the road. This year, many of those bands are playing songs that incorporate African, Asian, Polynesian or Latin rhythms, melodies and instrumentation. Call it world music or global pop, or just call it good stuff. If you’re looking for travel inspiration or want to take a musical journey, consider seeing any one of these artists.
1) Gogol Bordello
The lowdown: Self-described gypsy punks, these Lower East Siders by way of Eastern Europe stir fiddle, guitar, horns and accordion into a potent musical bigos that’s best appreciated live.
Where (website plays music automatically): U.S., Europe, Japan
2) Vampire Weekend
The lowdown: Revisiting territory that another New Yorker ventured into 20 years before, this youthful quartet continues to polish their literate, Afro-influenced set in exuberant shows. Where: U.S., Europe, Japan3) Orchestra Baobab
The lowdown: Just try to sit still when this Afro-Cuban group takes the stage; if the overlapping percussion and skipping bass lines don’t have you swaying in time, the fluid guitar runs will sweep you off your feet. Where (website plays music automatically): U.S., Europe4) Skatalites
The lowdown: The original lineup has thinned over time, but the remaining Skatalites still travel widely, playing the Jamaican styles that they helped create in the early 1960s: ska, rocksteady and reggae. Where: U.S., Europe, Japan5) Extra Golden
The lowdown: What began as an experiment between a couple of Kenyan benga musicians and half an American rock band has led to two albums and a group that offers surprises for adventurous concertgoers. Where: U.S., Europe6) Dengue Fever
The lowdown: Dengue Fever may well be your best (and only) chance to experience a psychedelic Cambodian dance party. Where: U.S., Europe7) The Ruby Suns
The lowdown: The most recent release from this New Zealand-based band creates a sonic collage that recalls a range of places, especially the sun-drenched shores of California and the South Pacific. Where (website plays music automatically): U.S., Europe8) Ozomatli
The lowdown: The inventive output of these Los Angeles legends continues to grow as they fuse hip-hop, salsa, cumbia, dub, rock and more into energetic songs inspired by a commitment to social justice. Where: North America, Europe9) Manu Chao
The lowdown: The very personification of global pop, Manu Chao effortlessly combines multiple languages and musical styles, leading listeners in surprising directions. Where (website plays music automatically): U.S., Europe10) Sigur Rós
The lowdown: For well over a decade, this band has created soundscapes that deftly—and sometimes wordlessly—express the strange, stark beauty of their native Iceland; this summer they perform more anthems born of fire and ice. Where: U.S., Europe