Does the name Ahmed Fakroun sound familiar? If not, you’ve been missing out on something of a legend in North African pop music. But luckily, that ends here! Because this February, the Libyan musician is making a stop at ALICE on his very first Scandinavian tour!

Ahmed Fakroun blends traditional Arabic melodies with electronica. That sound – and specifically his 1987 album Words of Love / Mots d’Amour / كلمات حب – has made the Libyan singer something of a legend in North African popular music. On the album, you can hear his inspiration from the New Wave of the 1970s. Yet it’s played with instruments familiar from Arabic music, such as the oud, qanun, saz, ney, and darbuka. With this combination, Fakroun carved out a unique musical niche of his own. One that has been rediscovered in recent years: Tracked down by collectors, spun in clubs, and featured on mixtapes released by the Berlin-based label Habibi Funk Records.

Then as now, Fakroun captures the hearts of music lovers through his willingness to experiment and his ability to fuse his homeland’s rich musical traditions with the sounds of synthesizers, electric guitar, and drum machines. His music reflects his Libyan roots and has served as a means of resistance against oppression and censorship. This ultimately led Fakroun into exile; he has since lived in both France and the United States. Even today, he continues to use his music to build bridges across cultural and geographic divides. In fact, Ahmed Fakroun is soon to release a brand-new album. So whether the Libyan singer and multi-instrumentalist is a new discovery or an old favorite, there will be fresh sounds to hear at ALICE this February. Don’t miss the chance to experience Ahmed Fakroun live on his first-ever Scandinavian tour!

The concert is part of Vinterjazz 2026. Vinterjazz is a nationwide music festival spanning three weeks, presenting around 600 concerts across more than 150 venues and organizers from Skagen to Svaneke. Vinterjazz 2026 takes place from January 30 to February 28. Learn more at www.jazz.dk.