The Sahara finds its way back to Sofia. Less than two years after their sold-out debut at NDK Hall 3, Tinariwen return on May 15 – this time carrying Hoggar, their tenth studio album, released in March 2026 on their own label, Wedge.
Few bands carry their homeland in their music the way Tinariwen do. A collective of Tuareg musicians from northern Mali, Grammy winners and pioneers of what the world calls desert blues – a sound they simply call assouf, meaning longing in Tamashek – their songs were born out of exile, rebellion and the vast unforgiving landscapes of the Sahara.
Named after the ancient mountain massif in southern Algeria, deep in the heart of Tuareg territory, Hoggar is a record that goes back to the roots. The band strips away the layers and returns to the raw, communal sound that defined their early years – hypnotic guitar, voices that carry the weight of the desert, and rhythms that feel older than the roads they’ve travelled. Guest appearances from Swedish guitarist José González and Sudanese singer and oud player Sulafa Elyas add new textures without pulling the music away from its home.
The Hoggar Tour brings that sound live to NDK Hall 3 this Friday. If you missed them in 2024, their story is as remarkable as the music itself. From the refugee camps of the Sahara to the world’s greatest stages, it is a journey worth knowing. Discover it in our artist spotlight here.
And if you were already there in 2024, well – some things are simply worth experiencing twice.
Tickets at Ticketstation.bg
