Thanks to cooperation between the Algerian Ministry of Culture, the Algerian Agency for the Dissemination of Culture, and the U.S. Embassy in Algiers, large audiences in the cities of Algiers and Annaba were treated to two concerts each of bluegrass music by U.S. band Student Loan at the Moufdi Zakaria concert hall, in Algiers, and the Regional Theater, in Annaba, on December 20 and 12.

Student Loan a four-piece band featuring violin, banjo, guitar, bass and mandolin, delighted the public with music from Bill Monroe, The Beatles, Phish and Sublime. The band members also gave four master classes on bluegrass to music students and will repeat such teachings in other Algerian cities that they plan to perform in. This tour was a great opportunity for the Algerian and American peoples to come together, transcend cultural or linguistic barriers and share the universal language of music.