South Asian Arts-uk hosts concert to celebrate the longest day on at 8.30pm on Saturday 21st June
People from all over the UK are invited to celebrate the break of dawn on the longest day of the year at this year’s South Asian Arts-uk, Summer Solstice festival in Leeds on 21st June.
Brimming with mystical, musical charm, the all-night concert is the only one of its kind in the UK and is taking place in the heart of Leeds city Centre. For those new to the festival the performance aims to highlight the magical qualities of an oral ancient, music tradition that is rarely performed.
Running for its third year, the extravaganza of music encompasses a unique array of internationally acclaimed artists of Indian classical music who will take the audience on a journey of R?gs, from the sunset, night, dawn and through to sunrise.
The inspiration behind the festival comes from Keranjeet Kaur Virdee, Chief Executive of SAA-uk, who established the concert in response to increased artists demands, she comments; “The idea came to me when I heard musicians talking about the compositions of music they spend a long time practicing but rarely get chance to perform. A raga uses a series of musical notes upon which a melody is constructed and is associated with a time, season or emotion. Rarely do musicians have the opportunity to play late at night andinto the early morning, times which evoke the true essence of the music that the unknown composers aim tocapture. This festival gives the artists the chance to showcase their musical abilities to a wide audience.
“The whole evening is a transforming experience which I truly believe leaves you on a high, and we welcome everyone to join in the celebrations. I’m confident that even people who don’t understand the music will enjoy being a part of a rich, diverse evening.”
For regular fans of Indian classical music, the festival presents an outstanding line up of seven internationally renowned musicians; Ustad Harjinderpal Sing, Ramprapanna Bhattacharya, Kousic Sen, Ustad Surjit Singh, Manjit Singh Rasiya, in addition two artists are being flown in especially from India to perform; Awad Pratap Balasaheb and Uday Bhawalkar.
The summer solstice marks the day with the most hours of daylight and the fewest hours of darkness, falling this year, on the Saturday 21st June.
Festivities to mark this occasion will begin at 8.30pm on Saturday 21st June with the delicate sound of the Santoor by Ustad Harjinderpal Singh. The romantic recital by Ramprapanna Bhattacharya on Sitar will follow. Surjeet Singh on Sarangi will stir up souls in the midnight hour, leading into the dramatic Pakhavaj of Awad Pratap Balasaheb as dawn beckons. Ending with the powerful voice of headline act, Uday Bhawalkar before a new day begins.
Uday Bhawalker, is a critically acclaimed vocalist, who has performed widely in India and abroad. His concerts, workshops and lecture – demonstration sessions are always popular and his involvement is a real boost to this year’s SAA-uk concert. He hosts workshops in London every year at the Asian Music Circuit and has contributed to the soundtracks of International Art films. Based in Pune, India, he teaches the art form to others as well as regularly performing on Indian National TV and radio. Flown in especially for the Summer Solstice festival he has already been booked for two other concert performances in London and Newcastle while staying the UK.
SAA-uk is a charity that opened its doors in 1997 and is a centre of excellence for classical and contemporary Indian music and dance.
For bookings contact SAA-UK on 0113 244 5523 or email info@saa-uk.org.uk
