Hailu Mergia Tickets
Hailu Mergia Concert Tickets
Don’t miss out on an incredible evening of live music with Hailu Mergia! Secure your Hailu Mergia tickets today and immerse yourself in a performance brimming with passion, culture, and unforgettable melodies. As a major star of the Ethiopian music scene in the 1970s, organ player Hailu Mergia and his Walias Band created a groundbreaking mix of traditional melodies and psychedelic funk and soul grooves, although international recognition eluded him until he was finally re-discovered by a young American audience in the 2000s. Born in the ancient city of Debre Birhan in the central Shewa Province, he was raised on tribal songs from the Oromo, Amhara and Tigrinya cultures before learning the accordion as a 14-year-old while serving in the Ethiopian army, later discovering the electronic organ in the 1960s.
He plied his trade playing long sessions in Addis Ababa hotels and clubs for tourists and the upper classes, but a cultural revolution and the influx of Motown, soul and jazz records brought in by US Peace Corps led to a golden age of experimental Ethiopian pop music with Mergia and Walias at the forefront.
The hypnotic, funky synth sound was best captured on the popular hit 'Musicawi Silt' and Mergia's landmark album 'Tche Belew' in 1977, but amid civil war, famine and a Marxist dictatorship, Mergia and Walias headed to America on tour in 1981. A lukewarm response in the US caused the band to split after two years, but Mergia went on to release the solo album 'Hailu Mergia and his Classical Instrument: Shemonmuanaye' in 1985, before settling in Washington DC and working as a taxi driver.
Between shuttling people to and from the airport he continued to play for his own pleasure on an old Moog synthesiser, until obscure music obsessive Brian Shimkovitz stumbled upon his recordings and offered to reissue them through his Awesome Tapes from Africa label in 2013.
Despite his humble, shy nature, his old albums became popular with young, Brooklyn hipsters and nerdy record collectors alike and he put together a trio to play gigs across the US and Europe and tour with the indie band Beirut. He finally released a brand new album 'Lala Belu' in 2018 and its mesmerising, free-form grooves and vibrant, intoxicating energy cemented his reputation as a groundbreaking maestro of Ethio-jazz. Get your tickets before they sell out!
How much are Hailu Mergia tickets?
Here’s a look at how much you can expect to pay when you see Hailu Mergia love.
- Average Ticket Price: $97 per ticket
- Cheap Ticket Options: GA tickets and standard reserved seats cost as low as $58
- VIP Seating: Premium VIP access to the concert can cost over $200 a ticket
How to buy cheap Hailu Mergia tickets?
Easily find cheap Hailu Mergia tickets by looking for GA tickets or reserved seats in the back or off the side of the stage for around $32.
How much are VIP Hailu Mergia tickets?
A premium seat to see Hailu Mergia live in concert can cost $987 or more.
What is Hailu Mergia 2025 Schedule?
Hailu Mergia currently has now shows scheduled for 2025.
When is Hailu Mergia playing?
Hailu Mergia has no upcoming live shows scheduled at this time.
Where is Hailu Mergia playing?
The venue for %Performer’s next tour stop has not been announced.
Are Hailu Mergia tickets still available?
No, we will list tickets once Hailu Mergia announces a new show.
Where to buy Hailu Mergia tickets?
Secure your Hailu Mergia tickets directly from TicketSmarter. All of our concert tickets are backed with our 100% Ticket Guarantee.
What songs are on Hailu Mergia's setlist?
Hailu Mergia's setlist while performing in Columbia , MO at “The Blue Note” included the following songs:
- Yegle Nesh
- Tche Belew
- Monalisa Nesh
- Shemendefer
- Shemonmuanaye
- Hari Meru Meru
- Wede Harer Guzo
- Yene Abeba
- Lala Belu
Source: Setlist.fm
