And Juldeh Camara Trio.

It’s often said that every Touareg in the southern Sahara is a member of Tinariwen, such is the reach and importance of the band in their home territory. The Tinariwen story is already well marinated in startling myths; fierce nomadic desert tribesmen toting guns and guitars, Gadaffi’s poet-soldiers spreading their gospel of freedom throughout the world, turbaned rock ’n’ roll troubadours, Stratocaster on one shoulder, Kalashnikov on the other.

The humanity, the wonder and the epic sweep of the real Tinariwen story doesn’t need any romantic embellishments. It is the raw tale of an everyman who was cut off from history and embraced the modern world, who lost his home and found solace in the guitar, who through pain and exile invented a new style of music that could express who he is and where he’s going.

Tinariwen currently have nine active members, headed by Ibrahim Ag Alhabib aka ‘Abaraybone’ on lead vocals and guitar. Singing mostly in the French and Tamashek languages and playing in the Tishoumaren (music of the unemployed) style, their songs mostly cover the subject of independence for their people from the government of Mali and combine an enthralling mix of sounds that are both exotic and familiar.

A lot has happened since Tinariwen played their first ever UK concert at WOMAD in the summer of 2001, but the soul of the music, which was forged during those long harsh years of exile in Libya and Algeria remains the same. Embarking on a massive summer odyssey around Europe starting in May 2008, this will be their first show in Wales.