Music / south asian
New Sounds Festival celebrates South Asian arts
A wealth of South Asian musical talent is coming to the city in November as part of New Sounds festival which will feature the launch of a new Bhangra music series at Bristol Beacon.
Straddling two weekends the festival programme, presented by the Asian Arts Agency, includes live music, DJs and dance.
The concerts will give audiences an opportunity to experience a breadth of contemporary and experimental sounds from leading and emerging British South Asian artists.
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The first show to be announced features two cutting-edge artists presenting newly commissioned work for the first time.
Sitar player Roopa Panesar, a former collaborator with Mercury Prize winner Talvin Singh, will present Indo-jazz fusion project ATMA, which spans Indian and Western classical music as well as jazz.
The concert at St George’s, just off Park Street, on November 2 also features groundbreaking rhythm artist Sarathy Korwar, known for this hypnotic cyclical drum patterns that draw on ritual symbolism, South Asian temple processions, jazz percussion and contemporary minimalism.
Korwar will premiere his new album, an experimental fusing of live rhythm, drum-triggered electronics and human voice, with a live ensemble of drummers and percussionists.
Bhangra Sounds, taking place at the Beacon on November 14, is designed to showcase the ‘energy, rhythm and spirit of Bhangra’ according to organisers.
Local artists will form the first lineup of what the Asian Arts Agency has said will be a series that is launching as part of the festival.
Longstanding Bristol act RSVP, known for their high energy festival performances, will join producer, DJ and ‘professional grandson’ Indian Man, who has previously lit up WOMAD festivals around the globe with his blend of the sounds of his Punjabi roots with UK dub, garage and jungle.
The programme will be completed by all-female dhol outfit Eternal Taal, a group breaking the mould of a male-dominated tradition with their combination of Punjabi drum and dance performance.
For more information visit asianartsagency.co.uk/new-sounds-festival-2025
Main image: RSVP Bhangra
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