Girma Bèyènè at Le Poisson Rouge

Girma Bèyènè at Le Poisson Rouge, Thurs., Sept. 12
Tickets: $25-40. 18+. Show at 7:30 pm. 

Fifty years ago, it wasn’t just London that was swinging. The sounds of Western pop and jazz infiltrated Ethiopian music, resulting in what was known as the Golden Age of Ethiopian pop, and the capital city of Addis Ababa was often referred to as “Swinging Addis.” The scene crashed to a halt with the overthrow of the emperor in 1974, but while it lasted, it featured enduring stars like Mulatu Astatke, Mahmoud Ahmed, and Hailu Mergia, and Girma Bèyènè. Girma Bèyènè plays at Le Poisson Rouge tonight with Akalé Wubé, celebrating Ethiopian New Years' Day.