A vibrant celebration of contemporary South Asian music is coming to Bristol

A vibrant celebration of contemporary South Asian music is coming to Bristol

Posted on: 18 Oct 2023

Running for three days next month, Asian Arts Agency have put together a dynamic music festival taking place at Bristol’s leading arts venue and long-term supporter of South Asian arts, Arnolfini.

 

New Soundz Festival will take place at Arnolfini, Bristol between Friday 10 and Sunday 12 November 2023.

 

Showcasing the vibrancy of contemporary South Asian music via live performances and immersive spaces, the festival is organised by the Asian Arts Agency, an arts and music development agency dedicated to promoting and showcasing South Asian music with a commitment to cultural diversity and innovation.

 

Book your festival passes or individual event tickets HERE.

 

 

The launch day on Friday 10 November will see beatboxer and sound artist, Jason Singh, together with table player Aref Durvesh (Nitin Sawnhey, Akram Khan, Sting), multi-instrumentalist Tamar Osborn (Collocutor, Sarathy Korwar, Dele Sosimi) and keyboardist Al MacSween (Kefava, Cinematic Orchestra).

 

This performance will explore a variety of sound worlds, taking inspiration from Indian classical ragas, jazz, ambient, avant-garde hip hop, and dub inspired by the natural world. Labelled “the human sampler” by BBC Radio 6 Music, Singh’s wonderful immersive soundscapes are sure to captivate the Arnolfini crowd.

 

On Saturday 11, New Soundz will be presenting a new work from sarod player and composer Soumik Datta Arts exploring music and memory. ‘Mone Rekho’ (‘remember’ in Bengali) is an immersive concert that layers ragas, voices, spatial audio and memory to pay tribute to Indian music of the past, present and future.

 

New Soundz will also showcase the talents of British sitar virtuoso Roopa Panesar, showcasing the latest ragas from her excellent album, Subha, which presents contemplative ragas that grow more and more intense, mirroring the soft hues of dawn as they crescendo into the full light of day.

 

It’s not only music you have to look forward to, however. Alongside these performances, the audience can expect talks from the artists on their creative journey and the story behind their latest work as well as a range of participatory music workshops.

 

 

New Soundz Festival will take place at Arnolfini, Bristol between Friday 10 and Sunday 12 November 2023 with festival passes available as well as tickets for individual events. Secure your tickets HERE.

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Article by:

Stanley Gray

Stan is a born and bred Bristolian, recently graduated from studying English Literature in Sheffield. His passions are music and literature and he spends the majority of his time in venues all over the city, immersing himself in Bristol’s alternative music scene. A lifelong Bristol City fan, Stan’s Saturdays are spent watching his team both home and away.