Tinariwen’s rambling Tishoumaren sound is a world music festival favourite, but Tunng’s “folktronica” guitars, keyboards, programming and vocal harmonies added intriguing depths.

The Malian group wore shot silk robes and traditional Tuareg headdresses, slipping to reveal delighted smiles, while Tunng nodded to the traditional Bexhill-style colour-coordinated hoodies.

Tinariwen’s drummer Said tapped a calabash and a round gourd, seemingly unfazed by Tunng’s startling array of percussion – plastic hands clapping, strings of windchimes, rolling seed pods like rain, even a wind-up twittering cage bird.

“Is OK?” singer Abdallah asked the nodding, swaying audience.

His plaintive voice faded in and out of a song about friendship, while a slow track with laboured beats and alternate English and Tamashek verses was about tea – an essential beverage in both cultures.

Enthusiastic Tunng frontman Sam invited shy bassist Eyadou ad Leche to an AC/DC-inspired jam, and the energy picked up as he leapt and twisted in the air – but they soon brought the instrumental to a close, missing the opportunity to launch into a cover.

Forgotten introductions and snapped guitar strings were temporary setbacks, but after only four day’s rehearsal, this evolving collaboration is already one to look out for.