Rastak Ensemble (Saturday June 7th & Sunday June 8th – Kings Place, London)
Experience the mesmerizing sounds of Rastak Ensemble as they return to London to present music from their latest project Tales of Earth and Sun. This musical journey showcases six tracks inspired by the diverse folk traditions of Kurdistan, Lorestan, Balochistan, Hormozgan, Kermanshah, and a heartfelt Afghan love song. Blending traditional melodies with contemporary sounds, Rastak revives and reinterprets Iran’s rich musical heritage for a global audience.
https://www.dancewithrastak.com
Music for Rabab & Sarod (Thursday July 3rd 2025 – King’s Place, London)
A double bill featuring a performance of traditional Afghan classical and folk music by the eminent rabab master Daud Khan Sadozai, accompanied by tabla maestro Sanju Sahai, followed by an immersive journey through Hindustani classical ragas by acclaimed sarod maestro Arnab Chakrabarty.
Widely regarded as one of the foremost exponents of the Afghan rabab—considered the direct forerunner of the Indian sarod—Daud Khan brings a rare depth of expression to his instrument. A disciple of the legendary Ustad Mohammed Omar and later a student of sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, he bridges Afghan and Indian musical lineages with nuanced artistry. Now based in Germany, he continues to perform and teach internationally.
Sarod maestro Arnab Chakrabarty is a disciple of three towering figures of the instrument —Pandit Buddhadev Dasgupta, Dr. Kalyan Mukherjea, and Ustad Irfan Muhammad Khan. Chakrabarty brings to the stage a deeply informed and highly individual voice within the Shahjahanpur Gharana. Renowned for his deeply expressive improvisation and lyrical command of the sarod – a fretless, plucked lute integral to Hindustani art music – Chakrabarty will render a traditional solo performance comprising alaap (melodic elaboration) and gats (fixed compositions), accompanied on tabla by the virtuoso Pandit Sanju Sahai of the Benares Gharana. Often described as a raga storyteller of uncommon depth, Chakrabarty’s performances unfold like cinematic narratives—rich in detail, subtle in development, and alive with unexpected turns. In his hands, the sarod becomes a medium through which raga becomes not merely heard but deeply experienced.
https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/contemporary/music-for-rabab-and-sarod
Marcel Khalife, Legacy Tour (Saturday July 5th – Barbican, London)
Join legendary composer and oud virtuoso Marcel Khalife, his son Rami Khalife (pianist/composer), and nephew Sary Khalife (cellist/composer) for The Legacy Tour. Experience a cross-generational musical journey that celebrates their family’s extraordinary artistic heritage. Fusing traditional Arabic music with innovative contemporary compositions, this trio transcends borders and genres. Their powerful performance reflects a deep reverence for culture, poetry, and experimentation, offering audiences a profoundly moving and genre-defying concert experience.
https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2025/event/marcel-khalife-the-legacy-tour
Voices Unveiled: Featuring Maliheh Moradi and Mina Deris (Friday July 11th – Kings Place, London)
Voices Unveiled is a three-part original musical composition by Ehsan Matoori, blending Iranian traditional and folk music in a modern way, particularly from the South of Iran, with modern fusion elements. The work features the powerful voices of two Iranian female vocalists, Maliheh Moradi and Mina Deris, and gives space to stories that are often silenced.
Niyaz featuring Azam Ali (Saturday July 12th – Rich Mix)
The internationally acclaimed fusion group hit London. Founded in 2004 by award-winning vocalist and composer Azam Ali and Iranian multi-instrumentalist and composer Loga Ramin Torkian, Niyaz have pioneered a unique 21st-century global trance tradition. Seamlessly blending medieval Sufi poetry and ancient folk songs from Iran, Turkey, and the surrounding Persian Gulf region – they combine rich acoustic instrumentation with cutting-edge electronic production.
https://richmix.org.uk/music/niyaz-featuring-azam-ali/
Sima Bina (Saturday July 19th – Barbican, London)
Legendary vocalist Sima Bina returns to the stage with her timeless interpretations of Persian folk and regional music. A rare and unforgettable evening with one of Iran’s most treasured voices that has become a bridge between past and present – a voice of resilience, beauty, and belonging. Known for her deep knowledge of Iran’s diverse musical traditions, from Khorasan to Baluchistan and beyond, Bina’s artistry transcends borders, evoking the spirit and soul of a culture through haunting melodies and evocative rhythms. Joined by a handpicked ensemble of master instrumentalists on kamancheh, dotar, ney, and tombak, this concert promises a deeply moving musical journey through Iran’s folkloric landscape. With a career spanning over five decades, Sima Bina continues to inspire generations with her devotion to cultural preservation and artistic excellence.
https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2025/event/sima-bina-live-in-london
