In the 2008 festival, Darbar welcomes more than 35 artists from Britain and overseas representing some 20 traditions in South Asian Music. Exchange ideas with fellow music lovers, talk to the artists as they mingle with the audience and be part of the experience.

Established artists include the multi-talented Pandit Nayan Ghosh on Tabla and Sitar, Surbahar maestro Irshad Khan and Uday Bhawalkar representing the ancient tradition of Dhrupad, a form that traces its ancestry back to the recitation of the Vedas before the dawn of recorded history.

Rising stars include the versatile vocal virtuoso Kaushiki Chakrabarty and Purbayan Chatterjee, carrying forward Nikhil Banerjee’s lyrical Sitar tradition.

British artists, many being given a first to perform in a major setting, share the stage and rub shoulders with the greats. Tarun Jasani on Sarod opens this year’s festival. Bhupinder Chaggar brings a British sensibility to the Punjab and Benares Tabla traditions. And we have Kaviraj Singh on Santoor and Upneet Singh on Tabla – two products from Tarang, The National South Asian Music Ensemble, which has done much to develop the musical careers of young British musicians. New musical forms are also emerging. Check out the Su–ev ensemble, which brings together the Tabla, the electronic Rai violin, Saxophone and various drums as they create innovations from age-old musical traditions.

Darbar is taking on fresh challenges. In 2008, Darbar is working with London’s Victoria and Albert museum to bring three days of taster musical sessions. 2008 also sees a major exhibition on Indian Music at the Horniman Museum in South East London. Darbar is collaborating here to bring short concerts, workshops and educational sessions to accompany the exhibition. Details of both events, which showcase UK artists in some of this country’s most important cultural spaces and reaching out to new audiences, are in this brochure.

For Further Information Please Email: sandeep@darbar.org.uk