Marvel at Morocco’s mystical master musicians
Joujouka, Morocco
What is it? A micro-festival in the tiny Moroccan village of Joujouka, dedicated in 2020 to the memory of Rolling Stones guitarist Brian Jones. It’s hosted by the Master Musicians of Joujouka, whom acid godfather Timothy Leary called a ‘4,000-year-old rock ’n’ roll band’. They’re a group of Sufi trance musicians who pass their skills from generation to generation in their home village, nestled in the southern Rif mountains of Morocco. They were much loved by the Beat Generation for providing a suitably trippy soundtrack back in the days when everyone wanted to join Crosby, Stills & Nash riding the Marrakesh Express.
Why go? Last year was the fiftieth anniversary of the death of Jones, who often played with the Master Musicians of Joujouka and did more than anyone to publicise their music in Britain. They’ve dedicated 2020’s event (running from June 5-7) to keeping the Rolling Stone’s mythical memory alive in song. Want to go? Act fast: with numbers strictly limited to just 50 total visitors, it’s a truly remarkable and unbelievably intimate experience.
The Collected Works of Kevin EG Perry 