The Tinariwen story is already well marinated in startling myths; fierce nomadic desert tribesmen toting guns and guitars, Ghadaffi’s poet-soldiers spreading their gospel of freedom throughout the world, turbaned rock’n’roll troubadours, Stratocaster on one shoulder, Kalashnikov on the other, 17 bullet wounds and rawest desert blues on earth.

Like all myths, like all legends, there’s plenty of truth mixed in there with the wild fantasy and wishful thinking. But the real story is deeper, richer, more engrossing, and more universal. In the desert oasis of Tamanrasset, southern Algeria, three aimless teenage friends in exile – Ibrahim Ag Alhabib, Hassan Ag Touhami aka ‘The Lion of the Desert’ and Inteyeden - fall in love with the guitar, and with all the dreams of modernity and freedom that it embodies. They write songs about their own lives and about those of their friends, the modern Touareg youth, no longer lording over the desert on their camels, but living the clandestino life far from home, surviving by any means necessary, longing for friends and family, dreaming of retribution, of freedom, of self-determination. They are Kel Tinariwen, the ‘desert boys’.

Hassan Hakmoun is a powerful,soulful and charismatic "Master" musician who has been performing since childhood on the streets of Marrakech, Morocco. Hassan started performing in his homeland as an entertainer for Gnawa Ceremonies. These ceremonies are known for spiritual healing and trance. He soon became the "Lead Musician" of his group, learning all the music and instruments by heart.

Not before long, Hassan became a Master of the Santir,(a three string,long necked lute). His music has been called prayer, a celebration of emotions, a mixture of happiness and sorrow. Trance is a brilliant fusion of traditional Moroccan healing music, funk, rock, jazz, and reggae. Hassan first made his debut in 1987 at Lincoln Center,New York. Since then, Hassan and his music have been selected by Rolling Stone as one of the "Hot Picks of ..94", topped the charts with his albums "The Fire Within", "Gift of the Gnawa", and "Trance" on the World Music Albums, World Music Charts Europe, New World,and CMJ Radio Top 150 and more. He won "The Album of the Year" in 2003 from the AFIM Indie Awards for the album, "The Gift". He performed at WOODSTOCK 94, WOMAD 94 tour with Peter Gabriel. Hassan Hakmoun has performed and recorded with Randy Weston Don Cherry, Richard Horowitz, Adam Rudolph, Paula Cole, Bob Telson, Peter Gabriel, Ittal Shore,and many more.He has appeared on the Tonight Show and David Sanborn's NBC Sunday Night Music.

Hassan is currently working on his new album which will be a new riveting and sensational collaboration between inspirational singers around the world. Overall, Hassan Hakmoun has truly shined to many people around the world bringing them together, and intertwining the diversity of music. Hassan can hold a crowd in a constant motion of enthusiasm with both him and his bands energy. " I love his extraordinary voice. He has a fantastic way of blending his Moroccan roots with a variety of western and African styles to produce music that is very fresh,modern yet familiar. As a performer he is charismatic, energetic and a spectacular dancer. I'm very happy to be able to work with him." -Peter Gabriel, Rolling Stone