Using instrumentation that includes a kora (21-string harp-lute), kamelengoni (12-string harp-lute), soku (Malian horsehair fiddle), two electric guitars, electric bass guitar, drums and African percussion, Toubab Krewe blends American and West African influences into a sound all its own. This Asheville, NC-based instrumental powerhouse creates a sonic Pangaea that lustily swirls together rock, African traditions, jam sensibilities, international folk strains and more. The band developed their unique sound over the course of numerous extended trips to Mali, Guinea, and Ivory Coast, where they immersed themselves in the local culture and studied and performed with luminaries. This is a band that actively draws inspiration from whatever source floats into their purview, something they’ve exhibited in their half decade of heavy gigging, including regular appearances at major U.S. festivals like Bonnaroo, High Sierra, Rothbury and Wakarusa, and abroad at such legendary gatherings as Festival In The Desert in Mali. Their globe-hopping propensity has made them an emerging headliner at their hometown’s famous Orange Peel and a familiar face as similar venues throughout the country. Toubab Krewe’s latest album, “TK2,” was produced by Grammy-winning producer Steven Heller and released on the Nat Geo Music label in 2010.