Hailu Mergia (ET) Australian Tour

Hailu Mergia is making his long awaited return to Australia this February.
Unbeknown to them, many have shared a cab ride through the streets of Washington D.C. with the undisputed legend, Hailu Mergia. A humble cab driver of over 20 years, Mergia leads another life submerged in rambling bass lines and rippling melodies that speak to memories of his homeland. Since fleeing Ethiopia in 1981 with his band, the Walias Band, famous for their 12-hour shows for club-goers seeking refuge during the 16-year enforce curfews of Ethiopia’s Derg government; the keyboard and accordion luminary has continued to find inspiration in his surrounds, tinkering on his keyboard in the drivers seat between pickups.
A little over 10 years ago, Mergia reemerged on the scene and quickly built a new audience of adoring fans with his bands ability to energetically and playfully unfurl layer after layer of harmonic and rhythmic interest out of a range of Ethiopian sounds. Jazz demands constant reinvention and improvisation, night after night, creating new works out of known modes and classic standards. This band is unstoppable when it comes to turning age-old melodies (like “Tizita” or “Anchihoye Lene”) upside down and inside out until they emerge as molten new works, often spontaneously. Mergia’s original compositions (like “Yegle Nesh”) shine brighter than ever here as well. Moving from keyboard to organ to accordion to melodica, he deftly switches instruments—often during the same song. At 78 this maestro, is a powerhouse. So get ready to swoon over his sweepingly beautiful sound. You’ll be moving and grooving in a set as fun as it is virtuosic.

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Friday 14 February - Eora/Sydney, Manning Bar
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Saturday 15 February - Kaurna Country/Adelaide, Summertown Studio
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Wednesday 19 February - Naarm/Melbourne, The Night Cat
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Saturday 22 February - Naarm/Melbourne, NTS Naarm
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Sunday 23 February - Perth, Perth Festival | Perth Town Hall

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