| Biography | Simo Lagnawi is the U.K's leading Guembri player and Gnawa Master.
In the last year Simo was nominated for 2 SONGLINES awards for 2014 BEST NEWCOMER, and BEST ARTIST.
His Solo Debut Album 'Gnawa London' released on Waulk records was featured in Songlines magazine as one of their 'Top of the World Albums' last September.
He was a winner of one of the World Music network battle of the bands competition. Last Summer Simo performed on the BBC3 Late Junction Stage at Latitude Festival with his band Electric Jalaba. They also performed at Rhythm Tree Festival, 'Re Re Riga' festival Latvia, Bestival, and the Smugglers Festival in Kent.
Simo is becoming recognised as the outstanding musician that he is. His fan base is expanding steadily as he endeavors to spread understanding of the sacred Gnawa tradition, and to introduce his own movements of Gnawa fusion to wider audiences.
Since his arrival in the U.K in 2008 he has performed at Glastonbury Festival, V&A, BBC 6Music (Cerys Matthews Show), BBC World Service, British Museum, Leighton House, Larmer tree, Secret garden party, Roundhouse, Ritzy, Rich Mix, Hootananny, Hackney Attik, Passing Clouds, Cecil Sharp House, Shambala, Komedia, Wilderness festival, Boom Town Festival, The Third line Dubai, 5.0 Refuse Kuwait, Film Middle East Now Italy, Tabernacle, Troxy, Momo London and Dubai among many others. Playing traditional Gnawa (sacred trance music from Morocco) and Gnawa Fusion with, Electric Jalaba, Gnawa Griot, and Gnawa Blues Allstars. He performs for 'Live Music Now' a Charity which bring exceptional music into the lives of under-priviledged people with 'Gnawa Yinga'. Simo continuously pushes new boundaries fusing Gnawa with music from countries such as Gambia, Burkina faso, Senegal, Guinea, Mali, India, Japan, Venezuela, and the Caribbean. He collaborates with the visual artist Hassan Hajjaj who took the photo on this page, and who has designed his first album cover and photographed him for the new album. (October 2014) |