Tell us about your current tour, The Secret? How long have you been on the road?

“I like touring very much, but I don’t tour for very long stretches of time - I have a family in Mali that depends on me and I need to return home every now and then and spend time there.  I have just started my February tour in France and the UK, and then I will take another break in March before touring a lot in April, May and June.

“The energy from the audience is the best thing about performing live - it is inspiring to make them happy. I love feeling that energy from the crowd. I think all musicians live for that feeling.”

You must have been inspired by your father [guitarist Ali Farka Touré],  but what other musicians have also inspired you?

“I would say Jimi Hendrix, BB King, Toumani Diabate, and my uncle Afel Bocoum -they have all inspired me in their own ways.”

What albums  are you listening to at the moment?

“At the moment I am listening to the master of my new album with Idan Raichel called 'The Tel Aviv Session'.  I am listening a lot to Desert Rebel lately, too.  I really like the music from Niger.”

Why do you think the music of Mali is so popular with western audiences?

“There is no music as deep as the music from Mali.  It is music of the pure soul.  I think people understand the feeling of it even when they cannot understand the words.  Also, a lot of music in Mali uses the pentatonic scale, and that is what formed the base of American music -- blues, jazz, rock, hiphop, funk... everything!  So we are all connected and Mali is at the source.”

Are you looking forward to performing at the Howard Assembly Room?

“Yes, of course!  We are going to have a great time together.  I hope you are ready to dance on the moon!”

Vieux Farka Touré performs in the Howard Assembly Room on Wednesday 8 February. For more information and to book tickets, click here.