Ethiopian keyboardist Hailu Mergia was a star in 70s Addis Ababa, playing keyboards with the famed Walias, house band at the swankiest Hilton in the country. Word spread thanks in part to the hotel’s jetsetting guests, and the band remained successful through the early 80s. That’s when they toured the United States, and when Mergia and several other members decided to stay. He’s had something of a resurgence lately, with original cassettes from forty years ago getting reissued. Now based in Washington, DC, Mergia heads to Pawtucket to headline the day-long Dot Air Festival, taking place on a downtown Pawtucket parking garage. More info can be found at dotair.org.
Hailu Mergia
