Music Beyond Mainstream presents
African Soul Rebels featuring Les Amazones d’Afrique, Gasper Nali + support
Danceable. Celebratory. African creativity, resistance and innovation.
African Soul Rebels, Music Beyond Mainstream’s trailblazing live series, is reborn for a new era — celebrating fearless artists who reshape tradition, challenge borders, and put rhythm at the centre of resistance and joy.
Leading the charge are the electrifying L’Amazones d’Afrique — the powerhouse collective of West African artists whose music fuses ancient roots with urgent, future-facing sounds and a message of strength, unity and change.
Joining them is the phenomenal Gasper Nali, a not-so-traditional babatoni player from the shores of Lake Malawi. With his 3-metre-long, one-stringed homemade bass guitar, a stick and an empty beer bottle, plus a cow-skin kick drum and collaborators on percussion and guitar, he creates impossibly danceable Afro beats with playful, joyful hooks.
Opening the night: a handpicked rising artist curated by BBC Introducing, spotlighting the next voice pushing boundaries and connecting cultures.
This isn’t just a gig.
It’s a revival of a movement.
A celebration of African creativity, resistance and innovation — past, present and future.
Need to know
Venue: Sage One (standing pit)
Price: £34.10
Stage Times: Announced nearer showtime.
Age: Under 14s must be accompanied by an adult.
Read our policy on bringing bags to the venue.
This event is part of Music Beyond Mainstream (MBM), a network of large scale UK venues collaborating to present exceptional diverse artists and distinctive musical voices beyond the mainstream touring circuit.
Gasper Nali
Gasper Nali’s unique style of Kwela music, has received an extraordinary amount of online attention. He’s featured by CNN and in the documentary ‘Deep Roots Malawi’, jammed with Joss Stone and appeared on Wired for Sound – Malawi. He’s even been played by Iggy Pop on BBC 6. Gasper’s songs, all sung in the Malawi national language of Chichewa, talk about life and strife in the country, often including social issues.
He’s played arts centres and festivals on multiple UK and European tours. In 2025, Gasper transformed his customary one-man-band show into a 3-piece band for the very first time in the UK. Luhangah on provides additional vocals and percussion and Gasper’s long-time producer and collaborator Mattias Stålnacke on guitars.
