PAPATEF

On March 21, 2026, Papatef, also known as Cyril Atef, returns to La Petite Halle de la Villette in Paris. A drummer-percussionist and one-man band, he assembles percussion, drum machines, turntables and a microphone for a set shaped live. Hammered rhythms, electronic loops, DJ gestures and vocal lines interlock; the groove builds layer by layer until the crowd is lifted off their feet.

A collaborator of Vincent Segal within Bumcello, the originator of CongopunQ, and someone who has worked with Matthieu Chedid and Gotan Project, Atef has refined a sound that blends organic material with synthetic pulses. His live set moves between taut beats and supple offbeats, strikes on skins and programmed sequences, with a sense of flow that sustains tension without forcing it. Here is the direct energy of a musician who plays with everything at hand: drum skins, machines, vinyl and voice. A performance conceived for movement, crafted in the moment, where rhythm leads the dance from the first to the last track.