On Tuesday, Sept. 30, Ca d’zan House Concerts in Cambridge will present Zar Electrik, a Franco-Moroccan trio blending Gnawan trance, sub-Saharan rhythms and mesmerizing electro.
The evening begins with a community potluck and social hour from 6-7 p.m., followed by the concert at 7 p.m. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets for comfortable outdoor seating. Suggested donation is $20–30, and the event is open to all ages.
Based in Marseille, Zar Electrik has carved out a distinct place in the Mediterranean and global music scenes by weaving together traditional African instruments and modern electronic soundscapes. Their name references a healing ritual from the Horn of Africa, and their music echoes that spirit—immersive, transcendent, and deeply communal.
Fronted by singer-instrumentalists Anass Zine – voice, oud, gumbri, guitar, carcabas, percussion and Arthur Péneau – voice, electric kora, percussion, alongside producer and electronic alchemist Didier Miosine – sound machines, synthesizers, the trio channels the trance-inducing power of Gnawa traditions while infusing it with hypnotic electronic loops and modern textures.
NPR Music describes the group as creating “a sub-Saharan rave sung in Arabic, French, and Darija,” where centuries-old traditions collide with cutting-edge innovation. The result is a sound both grounded in cultural roots and boundless in its global appeal.
Their concerts are celebrations — rich, swirling journeys that call audiences to dance, meditate, and lose themselves in the fusion of Maghreb, sub-Saharan Africa, and Western electronic influences.
Don’t miss this rare opportunity to experience the boundary-breaking sound of Zar Electrik in the intimate and welcoming setting of Ca d’zan House Concerts.
