Uuhai in concert at La Maroquinerie: we were there, we tell you all about it

A successful bet for Uuhai in Paris! This folk metal band, originally from Mongolia, was at La Maroquinerie on Tuesday June 13, 2023, for its very first concert in France. Let's take a look back at this powerful, dynamic show, driven by the traditional art of Khöömii and the bewitching sounds of horse-headed fiddling blended with metal music!

If I say Mongolia to you, you're likely to say " steppes as far as the eye can see ", " Gobi desert ", " yurt " or " conqueror Genghis Khan ". Like many other countries, Mongolia has its share of clichés. But for some years now, Mongolia has also been in the news thanks to its music, and more specifically through certain folk metal bands.

Following on from the phenomenon of The Hu (who have already released two albums, and are scheduled to play at Hellfest this summer), another band from this little-known musical tradition is coming to Europe. Their name? Uuhai. Comprising Saruul, Zorigoo, Shinetsog-Geni, Battuvshin, Batbayar, Dailaitseren and Otgonbaatar, this band brilliantly combines rock/metal melodies with Mongolian tradition.

Like The Hu, Uuhai sings in Mongolian. And like The Hu, Uuhai features the art of Khöömii, that famous throat singing as fascinating as it is transcendent, as well as traditional instruments such as the sublime"Morin Khuur" (horse-head fiddle), not forgetting the Jew's harp. But Uuhai is not The Hu, and clearly asserts its style.

On Tuesday June 13, 2023, Uuhai gave its very first show in France. The venue chosen for this grand premiere? La Maroquinerie in Paris. So, what does Uuhai sound like live? It's not easy to put on a show when there are 7 of you sharing the small stage at La Maroquinerie. But Uuhai set the stage on fire in masterly fashion throughout their 1h30 set. Despite the heat in the room on Tuesday evening, Uuhai delivered a powerful, ultra-dynamic performance.

After a grand entrance, with some musicians dressed in traditional Mongolian garb and others wearing warrior masks, the band quickly transported us to the Mongolian steppes with disconcerting ease.

Unison chants sent the audience into a kind of collective frenzy, while the melodies blending ancestral sounds and metal music literally held the audience spellbound. Uuhai 's strength? A perfect blend between the shivering throat-singing of the two horse-headed fiddle players accompanied by the percussionist, and the more metal line-up of drummer, guitarist, bassist and, of course, the singer, whose voice is just as impressive as that of his compatriots.

Although Uuhai have yet to release an LP, the Mongolian band performed no less than 15 compositions at La Maroquinerie that evening. While a couple of tracks deserve to be reworked to our liking, the others offered us a fine glimpse of their style and talent. And some of the tracks were well worth the detour, such as the powerful " Ser Ser ", the sublime " Khurai " and the haunting shamanic " Uvidas ".

All in all, Uuhai delivered a successful set in Paris, marked by an overflowing, communicative energy that we can't wait to see again. In fact, the band has announced its return to Paris this autumn. For the impatient, Uuhai will be at Motocultor in Carhaix this summer!