Ustad Noor Bakhsh, Jaubi and Amrit Kaur at Band on the Wall
Johnny James, Managing EditorBook now
Ustad Noor Bakhsh, Jaubi + Amrit Kaur
Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.
Dialled In, the London-based, artist-led collective all about inspiring South Asian expression, return to Manchester this autumn with a pretty unique triple bill at Band on the Wall.
At 78, Ustad Noor Bakhsh is a living link to Balochistan’s folk lineage, while pushing it in new directions. Performing on the benju, a keyed zither adapted from the Japanese taishōkoto, he threads Balochi music, South Asian Raags, and folk tunes across Pakistan, including Sindhi and Bollywood songs, with improvisations that spiral into something cosmic. His transcendent debut album Jingul (2022) brought international attention to the rich, cross-cultural heritage of his region.
From Lahore, Jaubi pursue improvisation of a different stripe, fusing spiritual jazz, psychedelic Hindustani classical, and golden-era hip hop. Their debut Nafs at Peace (2021) grew out of spontaneous sessions with Tenderlonious and Latarnik and drew praise from Pitchfork, Rolling Stone and The Guardian – the latter noting how they “stretch the boundaries of Indian classical music”.
Completing the lineup is Amrit Kaur, the North London singer-songwriter, Sarangi player and commanding live performer, co-signed by Rick Rubin. Her music has been described as “Punjabi folk meets Aretha soul”, and she’s taken it everywhere from Glastonbury to the UN General Assembly. With voice, story and instrument, she brings the culture of Panjabi women together with the heart of jazz, blues and soul.
It’s an eclectic bill that feels emblematic of Dialled In’s mission. Since 2021, the artist-led initiative has been building platforms for South Asian artists and scenes of all kinds, while forging global links. From Boiler Room Pakistan to an artistic residency in Nepal, a V&A late night to the first dedicated South Asian space at Glastonbury’s legendary Shangri-La, they’ve done some amazing things in a very short time.
This gig is another exercise in linking scenes and sounds – happily, in the heart of Manchester.
