A self-titled “celebration of sound”, Le Guess Who? is hailed as one of the most forward-thinking festivals around, promoting artists and sounds that are often overlooked but offer fresh perspectives on what is possible in music.
Now, the festival celebrates an impressive milestone with the publication of its 100th festival recording: dub-reggae ensemble African Head Charge live at Le Guess Who? 2023. Over the years, the festival has continuously expanded its online recording archive via www.leguesswho.com/recordings. The archive reflects the eclectic nature of Le Guess Who?, capturing many special musical moments that have unfolded over the years.
Included in the online archive are recordings of special collaborations and one-time performances such as Saul Williams & King Britt present Unanimous Goldmine; Ryley Walker & Kikagaku Moyo’s Deep Fried Grandeur; AEAEA, the live premiere of a collaboration between Nicolas Jaar and Patrick Higgins; renowned sitar player Anoushka Shankar together with Austrian percussionist Manu Delago and 27-member string section of the Metropole Orkest; an exclusive and improvised collaboration between Nicole Mitchell & Moor Mother; and Indian ensemble the Rajasthan Express together with musician, poet, and singer Shye Ben Tzur and Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood.
Among the many other treats are recordings of legendary Turkish singer and political activist Selda Bağcan; West Coast hip-hop trio clipping.; Art Ensemble of Chicago performing on the eve of their 50th Anniversary; Mount Eerie’s emotional performance at Le Guess Who? 2017, which was released as the live album (after); a rare performance by Canadian singer-songwriter Mary Margaret O’Hara, curated by Perfume Genius for the festival; The Sai Anantam Ashram Singers perform The Ecstatic Music of Alice Coltrane, featuring a special guest appearance by saxophonist Shabaka Hutchings; a powerful spoken word performance by reggae poet, political orator and author/journalist Linton Kwesi Johnson; powerhouse duo Lightning Bolt marking the 25th Anniversary of the band; and new age & folk jazz pioneer Beverly Glenn-Copeland who returned to the stage after a twenty-year absence, curated by both Devendra Banhart and Moor Mother.
Dive in now via www.leguesswho.com/recordings. More recordings from Le Guess Who? 2023 will be added in the upcoming months.
Le Guess Who? 2024 takes place 7-10 November. More information can be found at leguesswho.com.
