Two bands lend talents to help Darfur II

I just heard about a concert that is coming up next Friday.

Not that it’s a new concert, mind you. Maggie Murphy has been conducting her magic on this fundraiser for Darfur for months.

“She has been working on this for well over a year,” said Pete Marshall, a volunteer DJ with radio station WTJU. “She really wants to do something to help.

“She raised enough money to cover all the expenses, so that all of the money from ticket sales goes directly to the refugees in Darfur.”

Marshall, too, seems excited about the cause. But being inside the music scene, Marshall is also pretty excited about the talent that will be on the Paramount stage next week.

Lunasa and Vieux Farka Toure may not be the most recognizable names in valleys of Virginia, but they are two of the hottest groups for those who dance to the world music beat.

“Maggie was trying to come up with two interesting acts, and she came up with two outstanding acts.

“Lunasa is one of the top three Irish bands in the world today, and that’s with the Chieftains as one of the other two,” Marshall explained.

Folk Roots called them the “Irish music dream team.” Then there is Vieux Farka Toure, a young guitarist from northern Mali.

“His father was Ali Farka Toure,” Marshall said. “He became a star for his guitar work, but he never encouraged his son to play because of the hard time he had had as a guitarist in the industry.”

But one day the father’s friend, Toumani Diabate, heard the aspiring young

guitarist play.

“Toumani Diabate had recorded with Ali Farka Toure,” Marshall said. “He told the son, ‘I am going to tell your dad what you are doing. You are a great guitarist.’ ”

On his MySpace page, Vieux Farka Toure lists both his late father and Toumani Diabate as his musical inspirations.

“Vieux Farka Toure will be heading here straight from headlining in a major festival in Lisbon,” Marshall said. “In fact, both acts will start their U.S. tours from Charlottesville.

“In my opinion,” he added, “this is going to be the best musical experience anybody can hear this fall.”

Stand Up Charlottesville for Darfur II will 7 p.m. Sept. 12 at the Paramount.

You can hear both groups on the radio beforehand.

Vieux Farka Toure will be on WTJU at 9 p.m. Thursday. Lunasa will be on the same station at 5 p.m. Sept. 12 and on NPR earlier in the morning.

Concert tickets — $48, $68 and $88 — can be purchased at http://www.theparamount.net.

Stay tuned.