Montreal’s Ayrad creates cross-cultural music that combines Andalusian and Berber rhythms, reggae and Moroccan Chaabi grooves, and strains of pop and rock. Galvanized by singer-songwriter and composer Hamza Abouabdelmajid’s exceptional voice, this JUNO-nominated, diasporic group of artists infuses their music with a contagious, quasi-magical energy that leaves no audience untouched.

Ayrad (pronounced hi-e-rad) is the brainchild of Hamza and Montreal oboist-vocalist Annick Beauvais. With Anit Ghosh on violin, Kattam Laraki-Côté on percussion, Sylvain Plante on drums, and Gabriel Brochu-Lajoie on bass and keyboards, Ayrad delivers a truly unique cross-pollination of musical styles distinguished by inspiring melodies and improvisation.

This concert is part of Canada Scene’s free Scene@6 series. Running every evening at 6:00 from July 2 to 23, the series showcases this country’s top folk, roots, world, and jazz artists in the NAC’s new Atrium.