The Other Side of Life is proud to present:

TAKAAT
with special guests
SPHERE BATS and STRANGE BIRDS

Thursday, March 26th, 2026
at Art Sanctuary (back room)
1433 S. Shelby Street
Louisville, KY 40217

$15 advance tickets, $20 day of show
Advance tickets available online at Art Sanctuary;
Physical tickets available for in-person purchase at Surface Noise (cash only), 600 Baxter Avenue, Louisville KY 40204

18+
7:00 PM doors
8:00 PM music

TAKAAT (pronounced tuh-cot), meaning “noise” in the Tuareg language Tamashek, is the trio of Ahmoudou Madassane, Mikey Coltun, and Souleymane Ibrahim, also known as the rhythm section of Mdou Moctar. TAKAAT is sonic chaos, improvisation, freedom of exploration, and the punk styles of bands such as Fugazi and Unwound, all mixed together with the guitar music from the Sahel. TAKAAT started during soundchecks while on the road with Mdou Moctar when the trio indulged their shared love for amps cranked to 11 and the sound of blown out speakers. Towards the end of 2023, the three started writing music together, inspired by their shared experiences with the sounds and energy of Hausa bar bands, gritty soukous, and 2000s post-punk. The music of TAKAAT is intense, dark, and energetic. Deeply inspired by the DIY ethos of punk, Ahmoudou, Mikey, and Souleymane capture that thrill of the new and the ecstasy of togetherness in these heavy rockers. TAKAAT follows in the spirit of the independent music culture that birthed hardcore basement shows, bedroom tape labels, and generator-powered pick-up wedding bands.

Please note that TAKAAT is performing as a duo on their Spring 2026 tour.

SPHERE BATS is an experimental instrumental rock band from Louisville, Ky. Formed originally in 2022 by drummer Doug Campbell and guitarist Ian Gordon, the band started to grow legs in 2025 with the addition of bassist Spencer Floyd. Since March of that year, the band has been playing regularly in Louisville and surrounding areas. They are currently in the process of recording their debut album and plan to release it in summer of 2026. All hail bobby mosquito.

Louisville, Kentucky’s STRANGE BIRDS carry with them the DIY ethos and punk sensibilities of their earlier years while churning out mature songs that blend the three friends’ extensive and eclectic musical past. Brandon Butler (Canyon, Boys Life) manages an almost-sweet, slightly off-center American twang over dissonant yet consistently melodic guitars. Bassist Matt Olson (Black Heva) anchors the trio with a thumping and precise presence alongside the dynamic crescendo of drums from Ella Lumpkins (Blue Collar Revenge Theory, 3 Nails for a False Prophet).

Live music events in Louisville, KY. Show announcements, music and news, and other ephemera at: https://bsky.app/profile/theothersideoflife.bsky.social.