AK'CHAMEL with Derek Monypeny and Descending Pharaohs

AKCHAMELHoned and expanded through their travels, and quietly drawing from their South American and Texan roots; Akchamel, The Giver of Illness forge a singular sound of desert-scorched psychedelia, fictitious post-apocalyptic shamanism, and impish ritual folk as unique as the physical theater of their otherworldly live performances.For over fifteen years they have released dozens of cassettes, several vinyl records, and a handful of cryptic VHS tapes. The trio remains veiled in mystery, yet they tour oftenbringing their plague into the ravaged heart of the world.Performed in full costume, Akchamel are about as weird as we all thought the first season of True Detective was supposed to be -VICEDEREK MONYPENYBorn in the Arizona desert, a veteran of multiple explorations intothe Sahara desert via Morocco and Western Sahara, and now a residentof the Mojave, Derek Monypeny sees his musical mission as adding toand expanding on what he calls the desert continuum; the psychedelicsirocco swirl of desert-based stringed instruments played with utterabandon by musicians the world over.Dereks desert continuum concept takes great inspiration from desertguitarists whose playing so perfectly reflects their surroundings inits gnarled beauty and all-pervasive individualism: Richard Bishop,Zoot Horn Rollo, Curt Kirkwood, Jesus Acedo, Bob Log III, and HoweGelb to name a few. In his travels in North Africa, Derek discoveredthat same spirit in Saharan guitar playing, in artists such as Seddoumould Eide, Hammadi ould Nana, and Luleide ould Dendenni.Derek uses a variety of instruments to achieve these ends. In additionto guitar, he has recorded an album of solo oud recordings (DontBring Me Down, Bruce) and is currently performing and recording usingthe 15-string electric shahi baaja (Indian electric banjo).Derek is a former member of the bands Oaxacan (Oakland, CA), ALTO!(Portland, OR), and Sir Richard Bishops Freak Of Araby Ensemble. Inaddition to his solo work, he has an ongoing duo proj