Labess

Founded in Montreal in 2004 around Algerian singer‑songwriter and guitarist Nedjim Bouizzoul, Labess develops a repertoire situated between Algerian chaâbi, gypsy rumba, flamenco and North African music, with touches of gnawa and songwriting open to Mediterranean and Latin American exchanges. Labess grew out of an Algerian–Québécois context that shapes both the group's sound and its lyrics, sung in Algerian Arabic, French and Spanish. Carried by a collective lineup of several musicians, Labess favors acoustic arrangements and a stage energy nourished by a mix of popular traditions, danceable rhythms and direct vocal phrasing. After an initial period in Montreal, the project moved onto the world‑music stages and festivals of Europe, North Africa and Canada, with appearances at Glastonbury, the Fête de l'Humanité, the Fiesta des Suds, Visa For Music and Festival Timitar. Labess’s discography includes Tout va bien (2007), Identité (2012) and La route (2016).