Asian Arts Agency will partner with the Southbank Centre for a third consecutive year on the South Asian Sounds series. The concerts return in July 2026 with performances by Indian singer-songwriter Raghu Dixit and a special tribute to the late tabla maestro Zakir Hussain.
The series opens on 3 July at Queen Elizabeth Hall with a concert by Raghu Dixit, whose work combines Indian folk traditions with contemporary influences. Renowned for his dynamic live performances, Dixit has appeared at major international events and venues.
Raghu Dixit shared: “I’m so excited to perform at South Asian Sounds this year. The festival has been curated with much care and love by Asian Arts Agency and I can’t wait to return to the wonderful Southbank Centre, of which I have so many memories.
London has always embraced our music with so much love and was one of the first champions of my work, and I’m really looking forward to returning – singing, sharing, and celebrating together once again. I’ll be bringing a lot of new material this time – songs from my new album, some independent singles and a lot more. Please be there with your entire family!“
The following evening, Talvin Singh will present Shradhanjali – A Homage to Zakir Hussain at Queen Elizabeth Hall. The concert will celebrate Hussain’s artistic legacy and his role in fostering collaboration among leading percussionists through the Masters of Percussion project.
In addition, Singh will perform alongside drummer Marcus Gilmore, mridangam player Anantha R Krishnan, multi-percussionist Satin Singh and pianist Tom Rogerson. The program will feature improvisation and cross-cultural musical exchange, reflecting the collaborative spirit that defined Hussain’s work.
Talvin Singh said: ”My deepest gratitude to Asian Arts Agency for gracing me for this opportunity to pay a tribute to the most influential musicians of our world of music. We are very much looking forward to bringing this personal homage to Ustad Zakir Hussian, Shradanjali, to London this summer at the Southbank Centre.”
Jaswinder Singh, Director, Asian Arts Agency stated: ”Since its launch in 2024, our partnership with Southbank Centre has gone from strength to strength, producing multiple events celebrating a rich spectrum of South Asian music and cultural expression. This year the program features a particularly exciting line-up, with concerts from Raghu Dixit, alongside a special homage to Zakir Hussain led by Talvin Singh. These milestone concerts underscore Asian Arts Agency’s commitment to broadening artistic horizons across the UK.”
Lastly, Jane Beese, Head of Contemporary Music, Southbank Centre, commented: “We are delighted to continue our partnership with Asian Arts Agency for the third edition of the South Asian Sounds festival. As a founding partner of the festival, Asian Arts Agency and its CEO, Jaswinder Singh, have played a significant role in supporting and shaping the development of the program since its inception.
“As a nationally significant South Asian music organization, their programming expertise, cultural insight and strong relationships with artists have been invaluable in bringing outstanding South Asian music and contemporary cultural experiences to Southbank Centre audiences.
Raghu Dixit
Friday 3 July, Queen Elizabeth Hall
Talvin Singh: Shradhanjali – a homage to Zakir Hussain
Saturday 4 July, Queen Elizabeth Hall
More information at: https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/events/south-asian-sounds
Author: World Music Central News Room
World music news from the editors at World Music Central