Tinariwen on tour in May

Desert blues legends Tinariwen will be playing their first ever gigs in Wales as part of a short UK tour in May.

They'll be at Pontardawe Arts Centre on Tuesday 20 May, The Point in Cardiff Bay on Wednesday 21 May, and at the Hay Festival in Powys on Friday 23 May.

The band won fame in the western world through their performances at the Festival in the Desert in Mali in 2001, and have since toured to great acclaim - I saw them myself at Fiddlers in Bristol last summer and can vouch for the fact that they're a fantastic live act.

Support comes from the Justin Adams and Juldeh Camara Trio, who'll be showcasing tunes from their Soul Science CD.

Adams, a guitarist dubbed the British Ry Cooder, has toured with Robert Plant and co-wrote his Mighty Rearranger album, as well as producing Tinariwen's latest release Aman Iman.

Camara is a Gambian griot who has also collaborated with the Led Zeppelin frontman and Tinariwen before joining forces with Adams last year.

Tickets cost £20 (Hay price to be confirmed) are available from the venues.

For more details about the artists see www.tinariwen.com and www.myspace.com/justinadamsproducer