Orchestre National de Barbès

Founded in 1995 in the Parisian neighbourhood of Barbès, the Orchestre National de Barbès brings together a collective of musicians from the Maghreb and the French scene around a repertoire where raï, Algerian chaâbi, Gnawa music, reggae, ska and rock intersect. The Orchestre National de Barbès initially developed on stage, in Paris venues and later at festivals, with a large line-up that emphasizes collective playing, brass, percussion and a constant exchange between North African popular traditions and urban forms. A first album, En concert, was released in 1998 and documents this live aspect; Poulina followed in 2002 and Alik in 2008, in a continuity that maintains a direct link to Barbès while broadening the arrangements. Over the years, the Orchestre National de Barbès has held a regular place on French stages devoted to world music and aesthetic crossovers, with a dense sound combining vocals, guitars, a brass section and rhythms drawn from several traditions.