The ‘4000 Year Old Rock Band’ Soho Radio special on the Master Musicians of Joujouka

Master Musicians of Joujouka producer Frank Rynne interviewed for Bureau of Lost Culture broadcast.

The Master Musicians of Joujouka were the subject of a 50-minute special for Soho Radio.

A profile of the group with introduction to their history and music was broadcast for the latest edition of the Bureau of Lost Culture – spotlighting “curious, half-forgotten, half-remembered countercultural stories, oral histories and tales from the underground”.

Host Stephen Coates interviewed Master Musicians of Joujouka producer Frank Rynne for an in-depth exploration of “the story of the Master Musicians of Joujouka, Sufi musicians playing extraordinary trance music in a remote area of Morocco and their interaction with the counterculture, William Burroughs and Brian Jones.”

The show was broadcast on 10th June following the recent Joujouka 23 festival held in the village last week.

Listen back to the show at: https://www.mixcloud.com/sohoradio/bureau-of-lost-culture-10062023/

A statement on the broadcast said: “In a remote village in the Ahl Srif tribal area of Northern Morocco, dwell a collective of Sufi musicians.

“They play a form of trance music which is used for healing. Timothy Leary called them The 4,000-year-old Rock’N’Roll band – hyperbole of course though it is true that the music The Master Musicians of Joujouka play is thousands of years old.

“Ahead of their performances in London (The Forge, 20th and 21st June) and at the Glastonbury Festival. Record producer, film-maker and beat historian Frank Rynne, who co-organises their annual festival, came to the Bureau to tell the strange and wonderful story of Joujouka, their culture and their interaction with the counterculture of the 50s and 60s

“And we hear about Tangier and the life there of Beat artists Brion Gysin and William Burroughs – and of the story of Brian Jones who recorded the Master Musicians shortly before his death.”

Bureau of Lost Culture podcast link

Master Musicians of Joujouka upcoming tour dates:

Tuesday, 20th June – The Forge, London. Tickets here. More information here

Wednesday, 21st June – The Forge, London. Tickets here. More information here

Friday, 23rd June – Pyramid Stage, Glastonbury Festival. More information here

Just announced – Joujouka 24

Master Musicians of Joujouka Festival 7-9 June 2024.

The Master Musicians of Joujouka have announced the dates for the 2024 festival in the village from 7-9 June.

More information here

Tickets limited to just 50 spaces.

*** SOLD OUT *** For more information and to be added to standby list, email joujouka@gmail.com with the heading ‘Joujouka 24′

Joujouka 24 festival dates announced – booking now

Boujeloud – photo by Syd Howells

Master Musicians of Joujouka Festival 7-9 June 2024.

The Master Musicians of Joujouka have announced the dates for the 2024 festival in the village from 7-9 June.

Spaces are limited to 50 for the festival, which begins on Friday, 7th June 2023 with pick up at the nearest city of Ksar El Kebir around noon and by arrangement drop-off on the morning of Monday, 10th June back to the train station at Ksar El Kebir.

Ticket includes pick up at Ksar El Kebir, accommodation, three meals a day and drop-off on 10th June.

Also included is three days and nights of music and a full immersion into the Joujouka experience.

Guests stay with Master Musicians and their families.

Performances are held at the Madrassa of the Master Musicians of Joujouka in their village.

*** SOLD OUT *** For more information and to be added to standby list, email joujouka@gmail.com with the heading ‘Joujouka 24′

Joujouka 23 festival contact information for guests

Joujouka 23 festival 2-4 June

Master Musicians of Joujouka Festival 2-4 June 2023.

The Master Musicians of Joujouka are preparing to welcome guests for this year’s edition of the annual festival in their village.

Joujouka 23 takes place from 2-4 June and guests should by now have informed of their expected arrival time at Ksar El Kebir train station for taxi shuttle to the village on Friday, 2nd June.

Festival organisers can be contacted on +212 6 50 44 86 76 (Moroccan number) and +33 6 67 54 14 83 (for WhatsApp).

The Master Musicians and their families look forward to meeting you for three days and nights of music and a full immersion into the Joujouka experience.

For more info email joujouka@gmail.com

More information about Joujouka 23 here

Just announced – Glastonbury Festival

The Master Musicians of Joujouka have been added to the line-up for this year’s Glastonbury Festival – opening the Pyramid Stage on Friday, 23rd June. More information here

The Master Musicians of Joujouka in London 20th and 21st June at The Forge in Camden

Two night residency in London

The Master Musicians of Joujouka perform two concerts in London at The Forge, Camden on 20th and 21st June. Booking now – tickets available here. For more information visit here

Watch – Joujouka Morocco Sound Trip

The Master Musicians of Joujouka feature in the documentary feature film Joujouka Morocco Sound Trip. An English language edit of the film can be viewed via NHK World-Japan On Demand here

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