Thursday
Roopa Panesar - Evening Concert
Roopa Panesar, born and raised in the UK, is considered one of the finest sitar players to emerge on the Indian Classical Music scene from the UK. She is a disciple of the renowned educationalist and leading musicians of the UK, Ustad Dharambir Singh ji MBE (a disciple of the late Ustad Vilayat Khan), and was recognized as a talent for the future. She began her training at the age of seven, under her Guru until present day. She also had the honour of learning from the senior most disciple of the late Ustad Vilayat Khan, Pandit Arvind Parikh ji. As per the introductions made by Ustad Dharambir Singh, Roopa's musical vision has been enriched while receiving guidance from many outstanding musicians visiting the UK including Ustad Shahid Parvez, Pt Buddhaditya Mukherjee, Ustad Bahauddin Dagar, Pt. Ajoy Chakraborty, Pt. Rajan Sajan Mishra, Prof Yashpaul ji, Ustad Siraj Khan, Pt. Buddadev Das Gupta ji to name a few.
Roopa has toured extensively in the UK, Europe and USA performing at prestigious venues and festivals and released her debut album “Khoj” in 2011. She performed in her debut tour of India in 2015 where she played to vibrant audiences in Delhi, Mumbai and SRA Kolkatta. She had a highly successful tour in USA in 2017 and has played in major festivals like Darbar Festival and Womad. She was invited to play at the Doverlane Music Conference and became the first UK born Sitarist to play at this most prestigious stage for Indian Classical Musicians.
Aside from touring Europe, US and India she has made numerous BBC appearances, collaborated with Mercury Prize winner Talvin Singh. She released her debut album, Khoj (‘discovery’) in 2011, followed by Subha, voted Songlines "Top of the world album" and her most recent critically acclaimed album ATMA (The Soul). Roopa also played at the VJ75 memorial, in the presence of HRH King Charles III, which was broadcast on BBC 1 and performed with Sir Simon Rattle for the CBSO 100 programme. Also qualified as a Chemical Engineer, Roopa made her choice to follow her musical passion and pursue her dreams of becoming a professional Sitarist. She is among a very small number of Indian females, worldwide, who have launched their careers as full-time touring Sitar players.
Kaviraj Singh - Evening Concert
Kaviraj Singh is a musician known for his mastery of the Santoor and Indian voice. Born with a deep passion for Indian classical music, Kaviraj began his musical journey at a tender age and quickly demonstrated prodigious talent in both the instrumental and vocal realms.
Hailing from a family deeply rooted in the classical music tradition, Kaviraj was exposed to the rich musical heritage from an early age. He received his initial training in santoor under the guidance of his revered father, himself an accomplished Sitar maestro. Later, Kaviraj sought the mentorship and guidance to further refine his skills and broaden his musical horizons from Ustad Harjinderpal Singh, a senior disciple of the santoor legend Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma.
Kaviraj's expertise lie not only in the mesmerising sounds of the santoor but also in his captivating vocal prowess. He possesses a soulful and melodious voice that effortlessly weaves through intricate rāgas and mesmerises audiences. His vocal renditions exhibit a deep understanding of the nuances of Indian classical music, showcasing his impeccable control over intonation and improvisation thanks in large part to his tutelage under Pandit Ajoy Chakraborty of the Patiala style of vocal music.
Over the years, Kaviraj has garnered immense acclaim for his performances, both in the United Kingdom and on the global stage. He has had the privilege to perform at some of the most prestigious concert halls and festivals, captivating audiences with his virtuosity and heartfelt expressions. His performances exude a rare blend of technical brilliance, emotional depth, and artistic finesse, making him a highly sought-after artist in the realm of Indian classical music.
With his unwavering dedication, remarkable talent, and profound musicality, Kaviraj continues to enrich the world of Indian classical music, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts of music lovers and enthusiasts alike.
Friday
Leo Day - Daytime Kirtan
Born and raised in India to parents from diverse and different backgrounds, Leo Day comes from a unique blend of musical traditions and cultures. His father is an accomplished Bengali Folk singer in the lineage of traditional Indian heritage. His mother's origins are from Native American tribes and Colombian roots in Latin music. Growing up in a truly versatile artistic family, Leo has been a gifted musician from the very start. He began his formal training in Indian Classical Music at a young age. His singing has been described by his teachers as having the "causeless mercy of Mother Saraswati, the Goddess of Knowledge". Leo Day has performed numerous concerts all around the world and continues to share his heartfelt melodies. As a well-established, internationally recognized vocalist, he now dedicates his life to music whilst teaching and training his students in this artform through his academy "Swar Yoga”.
Radhika Das & friends - Evening Concert
In 2007 Radhika Das first discovered the practice of Bhakti Yoga, the path of love and devotion. He decided to dedicate more time to absorb himself in the ancient practice of Kirtan and discovered the beauty of mantra. Radhika is committed to helping people, whether it be from an existing yoga or spiritual background or to those with limited or no exposure to the practices. His aim is to help you through accessible and relevant chants to feel more fulfilled, connected and joyful in the mind, body and soul. He has shared in a variety of spaces including major Yoga festivals: Wanderlust, World Yoga Festival and The British Museum.
"Every human being has a beautiful light within that is just waiting to shine, but our false ego can often block us from unlocking our full potential. As a Bhakti practitioner, I want to serve you to dive deep and explore, unleashing your true vibrancy and joy." Radhika Das also helps to run ‘Kirtan London’, a project which aims to make sacred mantra music accessible to a wider audience, including schools, mental health institutions and outdoor events.
Saturday
Bhavini Vyas - Daytime Kirtan
When Bhavini Vyas sings, she takes the listener on a profound journey to the core of their being, quite literally channeling her voice into the collective evolution of humanity. The product of a culturally rich family hailing from the northern suburbs of London with a spiritual yet Western upbringing, today Bhavini is committed to giving the world an experience of mantra, meditation, and yogic philosophy through her music and spiritual alchemy.
An avid supporter of maintaining cultural diversity and with a profound understanding of global music, Bhavini has been responsible for curating spiritual and artistic performances at festivals and events around the world. Exposed to high-caliber musicians from the beginning of her musical journey, Bhavini spent her younger years collaborating with various producers and musicians and featuring on their projects, inadvertently developing an international repertoire. Influenced by themes as diverse as soul, pop and devotional music, she works closely with musicians, DJ collectives, and producers to devise unique musical arrangements.
Bhavini is an accomplished and highly trained vocalist with an ability to connect to individuals in intimate settings as well as crowds of thousands. She has an inherent understanding of the ancient Vedic philosophy behind how music can have a very real and transformative effect on the body and mind, and Bhavini is known for the emotional journey she takes her listeners on.
While she continues to present music performances in English, Sanskrit, and other Indian languages, Bhavini has been expanding her musical expression. Having spent the last few years exploring various genres, Bhavini launched a highly anticipated soul and contemporary album 'The Lighthouse' at the Truman Brewery in London, and ’New Moon’ in 2021. Bhavini now frequently performs online for audiences of thousands at festivals and private events.
Manish Vyas Band - Evening Concert
"India My Love" Sacred Sounds from India, with Manish Vyas and Band: Mantras, Kirtans, Bhakti Songs: Join us to dance and celebrate with the unbeatable spirit of the Bhakti Sounds from India.”
Manish Vyas is considered a unique phenomenon in the world of Indian fusion music. Singer, composer and multi-instrumentalist, Manish has emerged as both performing and recording artist. Growing up in Gujarat, India in a family passionate about Indian music; from classical to kirtan, devotional, Mantra, Sufi and folk. Music is quite simply in his blood and he is held in high regard as a composer with a talent for creating beautiful melodies. Manish has so far created more than thirty albums; each of his creations having a different flavor, an indication of how versatile and far reaching his musical style is. From the ancient spiritual roots Hinduism to the pulsating rhythms of contemporary dance, from Sufi to celebration, from relaxation to sounds for meditation; all these flavors have been explored extensively. With a fan base of young and old, east and west, traditional and new-age, and of course Mantra-Kirtan lovers, Manish Vyas has touched and inspired people in every corner of the globe and continues to bring his unique form of creativity to an ever more appreciative audience searching for an authentic yet contemporary Sound from Bhãrat - India. (manishvyas.com)
Sunday
Nikki Slade - Daytime Kirtan
Nikki Slade is a leading pioneer in the field of chanting, core voice and sound work in the UK. Nikki has inspired thousands of individuals to chant and has led chanting workshops for many corporations including M&C Saatchi, Deutcshe Bank and Cisco. She has also taken her cutting edge approach to working with the voice into Wandsworth men’s prison and she is the resident voice facilitator at the Priory hospital in North London where she has impacted the recovery of hundreds of addicts over the past 15 years.
Nikki has recorded four highly popular chanting CDs: Nectarine, Monsoon, Soundscape and her latest double album Epiphany. She is the resident Kirtan (Chanting) leader at Triyoga in London and has travelled the world with her work to places including California, Singapore, NYC, Europe and Melbourne. She has led chants for over 2000 people at the Mind, Body, Spirit show and at the Oneness ceremony in London.
Alok Verma - Evening Concert
Alok Verma is a London based music producer, performer and live looping artist. As a tabla player and multi-percussionist, Alok has performed globally with a number of artists including Ian Anderson/Jethro Tull, Boris Grebenshikov, Dr L Subramanium, Erik Truffaz, and Julian Joseph to name but a few.
He also produces his own music, beats and has developed his own style of mixing electronic and acoustic instruments live on stage. One of his albums Avartan did a top in iTunes chart. He has also produced fusion music with Indian influences and has released tracks for mantra, meditation and relaxation.
