Tuareg musicians come from all across the sprawling Sahara Desert and incorporate a variety of traditional and rock-music styles in their songs, which are distinguished by hypnotic grooves and mesmerizing layers of psychedelic guitars. Omara “Bombino” Moctar hails from Niger, although he and his family ended up for awhile as war refugees in Algeria, where he taught himself how to play guitar. Bombino’s latest album, Deran, ranges from “Imajghane,” a funky, uplifting groove spiked with reggae accents, to the intricate stop-and-start blues patterns of “Deran Deran Alkheir (Well Wishes).” His fiery guitar playing relents at times for such sun-dappled idylls as “Tehigren” and the trance-like meditation “Midiwan.” Bombino’s twist on Tuareg music is so distinctive that he was the subject of the documentary film Agadez, the Music and the Rebellion. With Disco Shrine and L.A. Arabs Orchestra.

Santa Monica Pier, 200 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica; Wed., Sept. 4, 7 p.m.; free. (310) 458-8900, www.ticketfly.com/event/1873740-twilight-on-pier-bombino-santa-monica.

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