From making music with a bicycle wire strung to a tin can to playing western style blues guitar. From the deserts of Mali to Austin, Texas, Tinariwen or the “the desert boys” stood in full traditional garb in front of a crowd at Fun Fun Fun Fest.

As gusts of dust danced through the crowd, a lone clap started the show. No introduction just the sound of leathered hands setting beat for the bass, guitar and tindé drum.

The sound is a mixture of the western blues and Arabic folk songs. Tinariwen’s sound combines both eastern and western folk music creating a sound which can be shared by all.

Though most in the congregation did not understand the words everyone understood the beauty of the way Arabic lyrics sounded. Both the lyrics and the music song. As the bass line ratted the crowd, on stage the man with the leather hands clapped and twirled, letting his green robe spin with him.

When the clapping stopped, the singing and guitar hushed down, bass line died and the words, “Thank you, thank you so much,” were spoke into the microphone. These were the only English words through out the show.