Kobi Farhi, lead vocalist of Israeli progressive folk metal masters Orphaned Land, will embark on a solo music and conversation tour in major cities across the United States in the spring.
He will perform an acoustic set, including songs from Orphaned Land’s new album, and engage in a conversation about how art and music can bring diverse peoples and cultures together. He will discuss his band’s incredible experiences in Turkey, his tours and collaborations with Arab musicians, and the negative impact of cultural boycotts. The tour will be sponsored and organized by Creative Community For Peace, an organization which supports art and music as a means to foster understanding, encourage dialogue, and build bridges between Israel and the world. Tour dates and further details will be announced shortly.
Orphaned Land has built a huge following among Muslims and Arabs, and has been described as the most influential metal band in the Middle East. The band was given the Peace And Friendship Award by Turkey and featured on the front page of Divan magazine, the first rock and metal magazine in Iran. In October 2012, a petition was submitted to the Norwegian Nobel committee to consider Orphaned Land for the 2013Nobel Prize.
Orphaned Land is currently recording the follow-up to 2010’s The Never Ending Way Of ORwarriOR for a late spring release. The band’s forthcoming effort will be its first to feature guitarist Chen Balbus following the departure of Matty Svatizky last June due to “personal” and “professional” issues.
The Never Ending Way Of ORwarriOR sold around 600 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at No. 80 on the Top New Artist Albums [Heatseekers] chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.
The Never Ending Way Of ORwarriOR was released in Europe on January 25, 2010.
Weblinks: Website / Facebook / Myspace
Current members:
Kobi Farhi – Vocals and growls
Yossi Sassi – Guitars, backing vocals & Middle Eastern strings
Chen Balbus – guitars
Uri Zelcha – Bass
Matan Shmuely – Drums
Video below: Norra El Norra
Related articles:
‘Orphaned Land’ Guitarist ‘Yossi Sassi’ Releases Solo Debut [March 2012]
‘Orphaned Land’ Receives Turkish Peace Award [March 2012]
‘Orphaned Land’ ‘The Beloveds Cry’ 20th-Anniversary Edition To Receive North American Release [May 2012]
Guitarist ‘Matti Svatizky’ Quits ‘Orphaned Land’ [June 2012]
‘Orphaned Land’ To Become Turkish Citizens [July 2012]
‘Orphaned Land’ Guitarist ‘Yossi Sassi’s’ ‘Simple Things’ Video Released [August 2012]
Video Interview With ‘Orphaned Land’s’ ‘Yossi Sassi’ [Oct. 2012]
‘Orphaned Land’ Begins Recording New Album [Dec. 2012]