Mercury Prize and Ivor Novello-nominated rap renegade and visionary Pa Salieu makes his long-awaited Australian debut this summer, bringing his electrifying live show to Melbourne and Sydney for two exclusive headline performances, in addition to his much-anticipated appearance at Meredith Music Festival. Pa Salieu’s genre-blurring sound – shaped by his British upbringing and deep Gambian roots – has seen him hailed as one of the most compelling voices in contemporary hip hop.

Recently shortlisted for the prestigious 2025 Mercury Prize for Album of the Year with his transformative album Afrikan Alien, Pa Salieu continues to redefine the boundaries of global hip hop. Afrikan Alien is a bold, genre-defying statement of identity, resilience and creative rebirth with Pitchfork stating, “as a blueprint for a new, pan-African pop music, it is thoroughly convincing”. Written during a period of deep introspection and systemic barriers, the album channels his lived experience navigating ADHD and mental health, embracing the duality of his Gambian heritage and British upbringing.

Since bursting onto the scene with his breakout single Frontline in 2020, Pa Salieu quickly captured attention with his raw lyricism and genre-blending sound. His critically acclaimed mixtape Send Them To Coventry earned widespread praise and an Ivor Novello nomination for Best Album in 2021. That same year, he was named BBC’s Sound of 2021, received a Brit Rising Star nomination and made his US television debut on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.