Dhruv Arts presents: London International Arts Festival – November 2016
Taking you from the bohemian streets of Shoreditch to Kings Cross’ finest contemporary cultural institutions, the fifth edition of the London International Arts Festival (LIAF) is a pan-London celebration of the capital’s most exciting music and culture. Running for five nights across five different venues, LIAF a must for anyone wanting to know what London truly sounds like right now.
Curated by the Indian violinist Jyotsna Srikanth, LIAF celebrates the many colourful cultures of London’s historic East End in some of its landmark venues. 2016’s handpicked line-up spotlights the best up-and-coming world music bands alongside masters of the South Indian classical world.
LIAF is hosted by Dhruv Arts, a UK-based not-for-profit organisation that provides music education and workshops for all ages along with performances of South Asian, Carnatic and world art forms.
The first LIAF took place in 2012 and has since featured artists from across the globe; India, Mexico, Serbia, Turkey and North America to name a few. Alongside world-class concerts, LIAF offers hands-on masterclasses providing a crucial platform for cross-cultural and multi-generational artistic interaction.
Festival founder, curator and violin virtuoso Jyotsna Srikanth explains; ‘What started as a desire to showcase the very best of South Indian Carnatic music has expanded into a far richer tapestry of music and arts originating from different continents’.
You can can get tickets to the shows here.
LINE UP:
Wednesday 2 November 2016: Vortex Jazz Club, Dalston.
Enjoy Jon Sterckx’s solo project ‘Drumscapes’; a whirlwind of rhythms from around the world blended with live sampling and sonic sculptures. This evening also stars pianist Rekesh Chauhan, previous collaborator with Mercury award-winner OBE Talvin Singh. Rekesh takes his Indian heritage forward into contemporary world music with creative flair.
Thursday 3 November 2016: Oslo, Hackney.
This is your chance to pay your respects to one of London’s best drum’n’bass giants, Cleveland Watkiss and his Project 23. Watkiss is famously known for being the voice of ‘Metalheadz’ – Goldie’s’ epochal Sunday sessions at the legendary Blue Note club in Hoxton. Audiences will also be enthused by the spirit of pure improvisation with Black Top’s performance; magic from multi-instrumentalist duo Orphy Robinson and pianist/sound-sculptor, Pat Thomas.
Friday 4 November 2016: Rich Mix, Shoreditch.
This gig is headlined by the infectious sounds of Soom T an Indian artist born and raised in Scotland and signed to French label Chapter Two Records. Themes of liberation resonate deep within her sound which fuses elements of reggae, hip-hop, folk, dance and dub. Performance also comes from sonically gymnastic Parisian beatboxer David X accompanied by contemporary Indo-jazz band Bangalore Dreams. The night will be opened by Ennè a soulful singer from St Albans known for her operatic reggae and freestyle ukulele and guitar riffs.
Saturday 5 November 2016: Redbridge Town Hall, Ilford.
A Carnatic feast from eminent artists of the South Indian tradition. Full line up: Redbridge Symphony Orchestra, Classical ,Dhruv Ensemble, Contemporary Indian Music Choir , Yakshagana, Traditional dance from South India, Binal Trivedy, Folk and Contemporary Dance from South India, Sundaresan, Carnatic Classical Vocal Vamshikrishna Vishnudas, Carnatic Classical Vocal, Rithvik Raja from Chennai presenting Carnatic vocal concert
Sunday 6 November 2016: Venue tbc
A day of participatory workshops and masterclasses on South Indian carnatic music.
Monday 7 November 2016: King’s Place, Kings Cross.
Kings Place showcases two of India’s most sought after musicians. Hailed as a global maverick fifth generation sitar player Niladri Kumar is an unconventional rare instrumentalist. Delving into the depths of North Indian Hindustani music with playful improvisation, his performances always delight with electrifying speed and agility. The night also features virtuoso violinist and composer Jyotsna Srikanth, Europe’s leading South Indian violinist. Jyotsna will present a recital of South Indian Carnatic music accompanied by two drummers.
