Äl-dscha-what?

Up for a burst of good energy? Äl Jawala radiate this energy generously and stimulate the endorphins of their listeners. Starting in March, they are back on the road and celebrating twenty (plus two) years of band history on their I WAY TO ÄL TOUR. Profoundness and a danceable vibe go hand in hand. And refined arrangements keep making space for extensive improvisations by the four musicians. Äl Jawala have grooved their way between wild Balkan brass and relaxed Afrobeats with their unique and open-minded sound creating their very own musical niche. Their new single Sautez! has just been released. The hymn to hopping, jumping and flying is already firing up the anticipation for the upcoming concerts.

How it all started The Balkanbeat wave started a little earlier in the sunny southern German city of Freiburg than in the rest of the country. The reason for this was a young Freiburg band with an unpronounceable name that brought the sound of the wild East to the city's pedestrian zone in the summer of 2000. With two saxophones and lots of percussion, Äl Jawala (Arab. "The Wanderers") sparked the fire of an entire Gypsy Brass Band. They combined urban beats with wild, oriental brass sections and everything else they loved. They attracted ever 1 "Our niche is a whole universe“ they say and take us on their journey larger crowds and it wasn't long, before the first clubs and festivals came knocking.

Today Äl Jawala can look back on twenty years of performing together, which have taken them as far as India, China, Canada and Jordan. More than a thousand concerts all over Europe lie behind them. With their unwavering instinct for well-crafted style mixes, they won the German Creole Award for World Music, released nine albums, launched a worldwide remix contest and provided the soundtrack for the MTV series "Rebel Music". Balkan Big Beats That is the stylistic definition that sums up their sound. The word "big" stands for a big sound, beat-driven arrangements and, above all, a broad musical spectrum. In short: a big heart with plenty of space for the whole biodiversity of music. The cultural melting pot "Balkans" stands for openness, continuing development, for traditional richness and "soul"! The "Beats" link all this together and reveal that Äl Jawala grew up with urban club and sample culture in the 90s. Äl Jawala's message is clear: we are all one, belong together, dance together, party together.

20+2 Years / I WAY TO ÄL

If world history hadn't been turned so completely upside down in 2020, the Freiburg Balkan Big Beats band Äl Jawala would have celebrated their 20th anniversary with all the chicanery. Two years later, the band, now back in its original line-up, continues to surf the I Way To Äl and now celebrates its 20th+2nd birthday instead - and in the year 2022.

So everything just fits together. To mark the birthday, Äl Jawala are releasing the anniversary movie I Way To Äl. A documentary film about the band by director Aljoscha Hofmann, which will premiere at the Jazzhaus Freiburg on 04 March. In addition, there will be an album of the same name, which draws a red thread through their history and musical globetrotting. With three new pieces, previously unreleased versions, audience favourites, insider tips and some classics. Freshly mastered, the birthday compilation traces the band's musical path and destination.