Seun Kuti frames his "rebel" tattoo.Photo by David Corio.
Seun Kuti and his Egypt 80 band have announced that Lenny Kravitz will executive produce their upcoming new album, working alongside producer and engineer Sodi Marciszewer, who worked on Fela Kuti's last six albums and has also worked with Femi Kuti.
According to a press release, Seun "expresses deep gratitude towards Lenny Kravitz for his unwavering support and guidance throughout the project, describing Kravitz's involvement as a demonstration of brotherly love and respect." Kuti recently posted some footage of both of them in the studio together which you can check out below.
The new Seun Kuti and Egypt 80 album is due to be released on October 4 via the independent Milan label Record Kicks and will be distributed by Secretly.
Lenny Kravitz and Seun Kuti in the studio.Photo: Raphaël Frydman.
North American Tour
Seun Kuti and Egypt 80 have also announced dates for their 2024 tour. With 18 dates across North America, it’s a big return to the stage for the iconic Afrobeat artist and ensemble, as they haven’t toured since 2022.
The forthcoming tour is presented by Django Music and will see Kuti and his band thrill with their fiery sound on prestigious stages such as the Portland House of Music and Levitt Pavilion, among others.
The tour begins on June 8 at the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival and comes to an end on July 28, at the Nelsonville Music Festival. On the June 14 and June 16 dates, in San Diego and Los Angeles respectively, Seun Kuti will join the iconic Soul Rebels as a guest. Kuti and the band will also make special appearances as opening acts for the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, on July 17 in Toronto and July 22 in Cuyahoga Falls.
Watching the band play live is partaking in a sonic relationship that’s been fostered since Kuti took over the Egypt 80 band after the passing of Fela Kuti in 1997. To date, about three quarters of the current band are original members who played music with Fela, while Seun has managed to fuse his father’s passionate political messages with sonic influences from wider Africa.
The band’s last album came with 2018’s Black Times, it also released an EP titled African Dreams in 2022 with the legendary rapper and The Roots frontman Black Thought, which they toured in support.
The 2024 North American tour gives Seun Kuti and Egypt 80 the chance to showcase the music they have mastered and have been sharing around the world.
Burlington, VT — Burlington Discover Jazz Festival — June 8 Portland, ME — Portland House of Music — June 9 Pembroke, MA — Soundcheck Studios — June 11 Bridgeport, CT — Park City Music Hall — June 12 San Diego, CA — Music Box* — June 14 Los Angeles, CA — Hollywood Bowl Jazz Festival* — June 16 North Adams, MA — Mass Moca — July 12 Brooklyn, NY — Bric Celebrate Brooklyn — July 13 (FREE show) Chicago, IL — Millennium Park Summer Music Series — July 15 (FREE show) Toronto, ON — Budweiser Stage+ — July 17 San Francisco, CA — SFJAZZ Center Miner Auditorium — July 18 San Francisco, CA — SFJAZZ Center Miner Auditorium — July 19 Denver, CO — Levitt Pavillion — July 20 Cuyahoga Falls, OH — Blossom Music Center +— July 22 Detroit, MI — The Shelter — July 23 Kalamazoo, MI — Bell’s Eccentric Cafe — July 24 Minneapolis, MN — Fine Line-July 26 Nelsonville, OH — Nelsonville Music Festival — July 28
