CLANDESTINO FESTIVAL

Doueh Group is fronted by enigmatic guitar hero Bamaar Salmou aka Doueh. The band is from the town of Dakhla in Western Sahara (which is occupied by Morocco since the former colonial power Spain pulled back from the area in 1975). Their sound truly resembles nothing else. It has its roots in traditional Sahrawi / Hassania music, but it does not stop there. In fact, Group Doueh succeeds in transgressing the traditional borders with an independent and progressive mix involving clear pop and rock elements that are otherwise rare in the region. It  is music inspired by the landscape of the Sahara Desert. It is an obdurate, meditative and hypnotic sand storm of clusters of notes that have a documented cathartic effect on the listener. Group Doueh have played together for more than twenty years. The band consists of its leader, Doueh, on guitar and tinidit (a traditional string instrument from Mauritania), his wife Halim on vocals and tbal (North African membranofon, a large drum with ancient lineage), their son Jamal on organ, and childhood friend Bashiri on vocals. The ground of Röda Sten may or may take on the character of Sahara desert dunes. The music sounds as magical regardless.