For the first time ever, Tangier welcomed two icons of contemporary music — Bill Laurance and Michael League, founding members of Snarky Puppy and five-time Grammy Award winners. Their appearance at the second edition of The Local Spring Festival 2025 marked a historic moment for both the city and the festival, blending world-class musicianship with the intimate energy that defines The Local Sessions.
This special concert — presented in partnership with the British Council Morocco — highlighted the festival’s growing international collaborations, bringing world-class artists into dialogue with Tangier’s vibrant creative community.
A Night of Pure Musical Dialogue
Performing songs from their latest duo album Keeping Company (ACT Music, 2024), Laurance and League took the audience on a sonic journey rooted in trust, friendship, and creative curiosity. Unlike the large-scale, groove-driven universe of Snarky Puppy, this project offers something more personal — a dialogue between piano and oud, harmony and silence, presence and space.
Laurance’s graceful melodies met League’s fretless bass and oud in a seamless exchange that felt spontaneous yet deeply connected. The result was an atmosphere that captivated the crowd from the first note — meditative, soulful, and effortlessly human.
The Sound of “Keeping Company”
Keeping Company is the duo’s second release, following their acclaimed debut Where You Wish You Were. The album captures what happens when two long-time collaborators strip their sound down to its essence. Recorded mostly live in Catalonia, it embraces imperfection, intuition, and the raw beauty of acoustic sound.
From the introspective piano lines of “You” to the rhythmic pulse of “Africa” and the emotional depth of “Stonemaker,” every piece feels like a conversation — sometimes playful, sometimes reflective, but always genuine. As Laurance explains, “We’ve found a particular beauty in concentrating on what happens organically, without too much extraneous thought or effort.”
In Tangier, that ethos resonated perfectly. The city’s rich mix of cultures and its long history of artistic exchange made it an ideal setting for their music — open, curious, and borderless.
Learning from the Masters
Next day, Laurance and League led an exclusive 90-minute masterclass at the festival — an experience that quickly became one of this year’s highlights.
They invited participants into their creative world, breaking down compositions from Keeping Company, sharing how ideas evolve into full pieces, and discussing the delicate art of performing as a duo. The pair performed excerpts, explored the dynamics of musical conversation, and opened the floor to an engaging Q&A where local artists and students could ask directly about their process, influences, and approach to collaboration. They also inspired the audience with stories from the early days of Snarky Puppy, recounting remarkable milestones, memorable compositions, and reflections on what it truly means to be a Grammy Award-winning artist.
It was an inspiring exchange — a reminder that even for artists at the top of their field, curiosity and experimentation remain the true driving forces.
Bill Laurance & Michael League: A Milestone for Tangier
Hosting Bill Laurance and Michael League was a proud milestone for The Local Spring Festival and for Tangier itself — a city that continues to grow as a creative hub connecting Africa, Europe, and the world. Their performance and masterclass embodied what the festival stands for: collaboration, discovery, and the shared joy of music.
For us to take a common project and drive it forward together is an affirmation of who we are — we’re just good friends, and we’re celebrating that with this album.
– Bill Laurance
In Tangier, that celebration came to life — and left an unforgettable mark on everyone who was there.
