The Indika Festival, scheduled for this upcoming Autumn from the 1st to the 12th of November 2023, promises a splendid 12-day extravaganza celebrating the diverse facets of Indian music, dance, arts, and culture. The festival’s stellar headliner is percussionist, producer, and composer, Talvin Singh. His remarkable career, spanning several decades, has witnessed collaborations with artists such as Sun Ra, the late Ustad Sultan Khan, Madonna, and Yoko Ono, to name but a few.
Notably, Talvin Singh, acclaimed for his role as Björk’s percussionist and artistic director in 1993, garnered significant acclaim in 1999 by clinching the Mercury Music Prize for his debut album, Ok. His artistic fusion, melding electronic music with an Eastern aesthetic, is often hailed as the “Asian Underground.” The maestro is set to grace the stage at The Tung Auditorium on the 5th of November, where he will exclusively unveil material from his new album.
The city of Liverpool will serve as the backdrop for this cultural celebration. The festival has expanded its horizons to encompass a diverse program of contemporary Indian music, dance, visual arts, films, poetry, talks, and interactive activities unfolding throughout the city.
The roster of artists set to perform at Indika 2023 ranges from seasoned virtuosos to fresh collaborations tailored specifically for this event. Among the luminaries, the program includes maestros of the sitar and the tabla, Shakir Khan and Shahbaz Hussain. Making their debut on the UK stage, the rising stars known as The Sarod Sisters will share their talent alongside Milap artist-in-residence, Kousic Sen.
Returning to Liverpool after a hiatus of 15 years is the renowned vocalist and composer Swati Natekar, whose performance will surely captivate audiences with the same excitement that 벳38 카지노 offers to its players. The MMR Trio’s collaboration is a testament to the harmony of diverse talents, much like the ensemble of games and entertainment found at 벳38 카지노. This year’s INDIKA 2023, featuring the Indika Collective’s debut, promises to blend the rich heritage of Indian folk and classical music, creating a rich experience.
For aficionados of Indian dance, the renowned artist Harinie Jeevitha will mesmerize audiences with ‘VARADARĀJAM UPĀSMAHĒ’ at the Unity Theatre. Subsequently, Payal Ramchandani and a troupe of artists will deliver a mystical performance titled ‘The Forest Dream’ at The Capstone Theatre. Families can also relish a double billing of the dance theatrical production ‘Sita’s Magical Forest,’ perfectly timed for the half-term break.
While the festival places Indian music and dance at the forefront, The Reader at Calderstones Park will host a range of literary and mindfulness events. These include family-friendly activities suitable for all age groups, with ‘Shared Reading’ sessions offering participants the chance to explore and discuss Indian literature collectively. An early-morning yoga session set to live Indian music, followed by chai, will grace the elegant surroundings of The Reader’s Mansion House, nestled within the enchanting Calderstones Park. For younger audiences, ‘The Diwali Story’ will unfold at The Storybarn on the 11th of November.
The culinary geniuses of Indian Street Food, Bundobust, will serve as official food and drink partners for Indika 2023. They will co-host two exclusive events—a special Indian DJ night on the 4th of November and a Diwali Celebration on the 12th of November, open to all.
In a momentous expansion, this year’s festival will reach beyond the confines of the City Centre to embrace the wider City Region. This will ensure that an even broader audience can partake in and be inspired by the splendors of Indian arts and culture.
Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Culture, Councillor Harry Doyle said: “We’re delighted to support Indika which is a fantastic, family-friendly celebration of the rich cultural heritage of India. It’s a vital part of Liverpool’s cultural offer, spotlighting contemporary Indian music, dance, visual arts, film, and poetry and in doing so, encouraging people of all backgrounds to get involved and have a greater understanding and appreciation of our vibrant Indian community.”
Announced so far:
Shakir Khan & Shahbaz Hussain
1st November, 7pm
The Music Room
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Hope Street, L1 9BP
BUY TICKETS – £15/12
Shakir Khan and Shahbaz Hussain will be kicking off the festival proceedings with a mesmerizing performance featuring two staples of Indian classical music; the sitar and the tabla. Khan’s exquisite sense of melody and rhythm, coupled with his alluring stage presence, will leave audiences captivated, while Shahbaz is widely regarded as one of the finest Tabla artists in the country with a reputation for exceptional skill and artistry.
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Sarod Sisters & Kousic Sen
2nd November, 7pm
The Music Room
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Hope Street, L1 9BP
BUY TICKETS – £15/12
On November 2nd, audiences will experience an enchanting world of music with the Sarod Sisters, Dr Troilee Dutta and Moisilee Dutta. The rising stars will make their UK debut, enthralling audiences with their exceptional talent and artistry. The sarod, with its unique sound and intricate design, has inspired countless musicians and music-lovers alike.
Joining the sisters on stage will be renowned Tabla maestro – and Milap artist-in-residence – Kousic Sen.
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Sita’s Magical Forest
2nd November, 11am and 2pm
Unity Theatre
1 Hope Place, L1 9BG
TICKETS TBC – £5
The Ramayana, an epic celebrated across Asia, tells the trials and triumphs of Rama and Sita. In the story, the couple are exiled into the woods, encountering enchanted creatures along the way. In this children’s production by Apsaras Arts, Sita recounts her adventures with the animals of the magical forest through storytelling and dance.
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PARAMA PADAM by Mohanapriyan Thavarajah
2nd November, 7:30pm
Unity Theatre
1 Hope Place, L1 9BG
BUY TICKETS – £8
Parama Padam was created by the followers of the Vaishnavite faith, with the dual-purpose of entertainment and teaching the moral values of human life. The production takes the form of a game board, with squares represented by Snakes and Ladders. The ladders in the game represent good virtues, while the snakes bring you down to a cycle of re-births. The game – which originated in India during the 10th century, was later popularized by the British as “Snakes and Ladders”.
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VARADARĀJAM UPĀSMAHĒ by Harinie Jeevitha
3rd November, 7pm
Unity Theatre
1 Hope Place, L1 9BG
BUY TICKETS – £8
VARADARĀJAM UPĀSMAHĒ is a solo thematic presentation based on the ‘Brahmotsavam’ (the grand, ten-day annual temple festival) of Varadaraja Swamy temple situated in Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu.
This production – by Harinie Jeevitha – has been woven in the solo format from the perspective of a devotee who has immense devotion and love for the Lordthe giver of infinite boons. Stringing together works of stalwart Indian poets and musical compositions of saint-poets in Sanskrit, Tamil & Telugu, ‘Varadarājam Upāsmahē’ is an attempt to encapsulate the different festivities of the auspicious Brahmotsavam temple celebration.
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Talvin Singh
5th November, 7:30pm
The Tung Auditorium
Yoko Ono Lennon Centre, 60 Oxford Street, L7 3NY
JUST ANNOUNCED – TICKETS COMING SOON
Percussionist, producer and composer, Talvin Singh, is renowned for establishing the bridge between Indian and electronic music. Drawing inspiration from the classical Indian arts, he has managed to sculpt a unique sonic landscape.
He has taken the Tabla to the cutting edge, with the most unimaginable sonic creations, which has ultimately helped him to demystify Indian classical music, and therefore inspire a whole new generation of musicians and producers of contemporary music in India and the South Asian diaspora worldwide. Singhs influence has also spanned the visual arts, dance and film.
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Swati Natekar
8th November, 7pm
The Music Room
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Hope Street, L1 9BP
BUY TICKETS – £15/12
In her performance of Raag Rang, Swati Natekar will present an unforgettable evening of Bollywood classics, Indian Ragas, Ghazals and Contemproary Music. An illustrious and highly accomplished singer and composer, Swati will return to Liverpool after 15 years joined by a collective of the UKs most talented musicians.
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The Moore, Modarelli & Rayatt Trio
8th November, 1pm
The Tung Auditorium
Yoko Ono Lennon Centre, 60 Oxford Street, L7 3NY
BUY TICKETS – FREE
Featuring Olivia Moore on violin, Giuliano Modarelli on guitar, and Gurdain Rayatt on Tabla, The Moore, Modarelli and Rayatt trio have crafted a breathtaking sound that flawlessly blends Jazz with the rich and vibrant tones of Indian music. The trio – born out of the Covid lockdown – have a repertoire that consists primarily of original compositions, that fuse together the soulful rhythms of Indian music with the improvisational spirit of Jazz; infusing hints of other World Music to create a sound that is entirely their own.
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Milap X Mellowtone – Vedanth Bharadwaj, SJ Downes & Richie Vegas
9th November, 7:30pm
Downstairs at the Everyman
5 – 11 Hope Street, L1 9BH
BUY TICKETS – £11
This unique collaboration between Vedanth Bharadwaj (India) and SJ Downes (UK) will explore Eastern and Western musical styles, in a cross-cultural interplay that draws from diverse musical heritages, and transcends borders to offer an enchanting listening experience.
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The Forest Dream / Payal Ramchandani and ensemble
10th November, 7pm
The Capstone Theatre
Liverpool Hope University, 17 Shaw Street, L6 1HP
BUY TICKETS – £10/8
Audiences will embark on a mesmerizing journey through ‘The Forest Dream’, a breathtaking fusion of dance styles in an immersive, powerful exploration of our planet’s climatic crisis. This intergenerational masterpiece speaks volumes, via a harmonious fusion of Carnatic music, Western soundscapes, and the seamless integration of Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, and contemporary dance forms.
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Indika Collective
11th November, 7pm
The Tung Auditorium
Yoko Ono Lennon Centre, 60 Oxford Street, L7 3NY
BUY TICKETS – £10/8
Created especially for Indika 2023, this festival band is a brilliant new collaboration between a group of diverse artists across a range of instruments. The performance features new arrangements of folk and traditional repertoire, telling stories of love and loss with songs that speak directly to the heart and soul of Indias diverse cultural heritage and its people.
The collective will feature Vedanth Bharadwaj on guitar and vocals, Bindumalini and Muthusirpi Narathar on vocals, Sayee Rakshith on violin, Kousic Sen on Tabla and Janarthan Sivarupan on percussion.
More announcements will be made in the following weeks.
Author: World Music Central News Room
World music news from the editors at World Music Central