New North and South is a three year programme of co-commissions, exhibitions and intellectual exchange to celebrate shared heritage across continents and develop artistic talent, produced by a new network of eleven arts organisations from across the North of England and South Asia.
Today we announce the full New North and South music programme, featuring world-renowned artists from the UK and South Asia, presented in a unique and highly engaging series of concerts, workshops and participatory arts and music experiences at Band on the Wall, the Royal Northern College of Music, the Bridgewater hall, the Whitworth, the Manchester Museum and Manchester Art Gallery.
Many events are free and suitable for all ages.
Vijay Venkat
Manchester Museum / 20th Jan
Vijay Venkat is a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, performer and composer specialising in the violin, viola, flute, vichitra veena (an ancient Indian fretless slide instrument) in the South Indian Classical (Carnatic) music style.
Asian Dub Foundation – La Haine Live – SOLD OUT
Band on the Wall / 20th Jan
Asian Dub Foundation celebrate cult film “La Haine” with an exclusive live soundtrack set. This incredible live show brings on stage a reinterpretation of the original soundtrack played by the band while the film plays in the background, for a unique and powerful journey between music and frames.
Dr Mukul Acharya with percussion and vocals
The Whitworth / 3rd Feb / Free
A performance of Indian classical ragas on vocals, presented with a Western classical music structure. We explore what happens when Eastern and Western musics are fused and how this fusion has gone on to influence popular Indian film music.
Mindful Marks ft. Akash Parekh (sitar) and Kousic Sen (tabla)
Manchester Art Gallery / 8th Feb / Free
Mindful Marks is an immersive concert and workshop where the audience is invited to the sounds they can hear in response to the music.
The Dhol Foundation
Band on the Wall / 10th Feb
The Dhol Foundation perform at Band on the Wall in celebration of their new studio album, ‘Basant’.
Mudras and Storytelling ft. Dr Gayathri Ganapathy
Manchester Art Gallery / 15th Feb / Free
Bharatanatyam is an Indian classical dance that originated in the Hindu temples of Tamil Nadu, and comprises spectacular footwork teamed with mudrās (hand gestures) and abhinayā (facial expressions). Defined gestures can be an effective tool by which we can tell stories, and here we explore the narrative aspects of this graceful art form as the artist leads this dynamic session blending gestural storytelling and movement.
Nitin Sawhney: ‘India and Me’
RNCM / 17th Feb
Recent recipient of the Ivor Novello Lifetime Achievement Award, acclaimed artist and polymath, Nitin Sawhney co-presents an evening of music and memories with London theatre company Tara Arts, India and Me, featuring Aref Durversh on tabla and vocalist Eva Stone.
Whitworth Young Creatives
The Whitworth / 22nd Feb / Free
Whitworth Young Creatives is an evening of art, music and performance, programmed by the Whitworth Young Contemporaries, the Whitworth’s programme by and for young people aged 15-25. Full programme details to be announced soon.
Movement and Rhythm Workshop ft. Dr Gayathri Ganapathy
The Whitworth / 22nd Feb / Free
In this workshop, participants will experience rhythms and movements inspired by South Asian heritage. The movements demonstrated will be from the Indian classical dance style of Bharatanatyam, and the percussions will be that of the tabla.
Music for the Mind and Soul: Rekesh Chauhan Piano Recital
Band on the Wall / 27th Feb
Rekesh Chauhan is a versatile multi-instrumentalist with both Indian and Western classical training. As a solo pianist, Rekesh has performed in some of the world’s most prestigious concert halls, and has shared the stage with many leading artistes including Ravindra Jain, the legendary Pt. Birju Maharaj, and Mercury Prize-winner Talvin Singh.
Raghu Dixit
Band on the Wall / 18th Mar
Often hailed as India’s biggest cultural and musical export, Raghu Dixit’s unique brand of infectious, happy music transcends age, genre, and even language. His music is strongly rooted in Indian traditions and culture and is presented with a very contemporary, global sound.
Discover India Day
Manchester Museum / 19th Mar / Free
A fascinating and engaging series of workshops for children covering different areas of Indian arts, including both North and South Indian percussion (Hindustani and Carnatic), Indian classical dance (Bharatnatyam), Rangoli art and storytelling.
New Commission: Electronic Empires
Band on the Wall / 22nd Mar
A premiere performance by cross-disciplinary artists Electronic Empires, commissioned specially for New North and South.
Music for the Mind and Soul: Shreya Devnath (Violin), RN Prakash (Mridangam), Pujenthan Sivagurunathan (Kanjira) and Kousic Sen (Tabla)
Bridgewater Hall Barbirolli Suite / 25th Mar
The beautiful melodic tones of the violin weave into the rhythmic mastery of the mridangam, kanjira and tabla for this very special concert.
Music for the Mind and Soul: J A Jayanth (Flute), Ashwani Skankar (Shehnai), Neyveli Venkatesh (Mridangam) and Kousic Sen (Tabla)
Bridgewater Hall Barbirolli Suite / 29th Apr
Two of the most remarkable woodwind instruments – the Bansuri Flute and Shenai – combine to take the audience on a melodic journey through both the Hindustani and Carnatic genres of music.
