A number of the artists and industry personalities we profiled in our 2005 Year in Review cited Toubab Krewe as their favorite new band. So its not surprising that 2006 has been a banner year for the Ashville, NC-bred group. After being asked to open this weekends Vegoose festivities, the members of Toubab Krewe brought their mentor, multi-instrumentalist Lamine Soumano, over from Africa for a few shows. Soumano has been on the road with the group since October 25, including its stops at Vegoose Saturday and New Yorks Mercury Lounge Monday (which doubled as a CMJ showcase). Adding to last nights Halloween festivities, Toubab Krewe dressed as ninjas throughout their CMJ performance. Toubab Krewe will perform at New Paltz, NYs Bacchus Friday.