MALIAN singer-songwriter/ guitarist Vieux Farka Toure? ends his 15-date UK tour with a Turner Sims date tonight.

Often referred to as 'The Hendrix of the Sahara', Vieux Farka Touré is one of the greatest living exponents of guitar Desert Blues.

Hailing from Niafunké, Mali, he is the son the late Malian guitar legend Ali Farka Touré, who died in 2006. Vieux’s father discouraged him from following his rich heritage to become a musician. He was eventually persuaded otherwise and the pair recorded a couple of tracks together. Touré played rough mixes of these songs when people visited him in his final days, at peace with, and immensely proud of, his son’s extraordinary musical talent.

Vieux’s father would sadly never experience his son’s high-energy live sets, his effortless speed and dexterity on the fretboard, or the effect on audiences of his palpable on-stage charisma. Nor would he have imagined that Vieux’s musical output would grow to include four solo studio albums - with names such as Dave Matthews, Derek Trucks, John Scofield as his guests - one live album, and two collaborative albums with pianist Idan Raichel as The Touré-Raichel Collective.

For his latest project and album, Touristes, Vieux has further broadened his musical pallet and teamed up with New York vocalist Julia Easterlin, for an impromptu studio session in New York City resulting in an album that examines their respective musical roots and passions.

As Vieux continues to embrace new challenges, recognition for him grows as one of the most innovative and exciting guitarists on the planet.

See him perform in his favoured trio format, with Jean-Alain Hohy on bass and Jean-Paul Melindji on drums, a kind of modern-day Desert Blues equivalent of 60s power trio, Cream.

Call 023 8059 5151 or visit turnersims.co.uk