EL KHAT
On Saturday 18th March 2023, we are thrilled to be hosting El Khat in our live room. Named after the drug used so widely chewed across the Arab Peninsula, El Khat brings original compositions to Birkenhead inspired by the music of the golden age in Aden, Yemen. Led by child of Yemeni diaspora, multi-instrumentalist Eyal El Wahab, they’re a self-professed homemade junkyard band, with El Wahab leading so often with the likes of the dli and the Kearat, instruments he constructed himself. It’s a practice that harks back to the family homeland, where even rubbish can have become an instrument to be appreciated by audiences.
Tickets on sale Friday 29th October.
They debuted in 2019 with ‘Saadia Jefferson‘, a record bringing a funky, psychedelic reimagination to the traditional Yemeni songs that electrified El Wahab when he first heard them. It’s is an album almost entirely filled with his own compositions, something close and personal that constantly looks back to his family’s homeland in Yemen.
El Khat’s new album, released in March 2022 , celebrates an homage to Faisal Alawi, a popular Yemeni singer who died in 2010, whilst diving deep into band leader Eyal el Wahab’s Yemenite roots and their inspired re-imaginings. A careening orchestra of percussion, horns, strings, electricity and el Wahab’s own DIY instruments, culminating in mesmerizing, retro-futurist sounds.
Enjoy them both live us in March 2023.
Future Yard presents
El Khat
Saturday 18th February 2023
7:30pm doors
75 Argyle Street
£10 advance
#thefutureisbirkenhead
Tickets available online in advance or in person at the Future Yard Box Office.
Future Yard is a cashless venue – all payments are taken by contactless or chip and pin. Live curfew 11pm. Kitchen open 4pm-9pm.
If you have any specific access requests, please read all of the details about accessibility at Future Yard here.