Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

Celebrate Vaisakhi with music at Symphony Hall Birmingham

An uplifting afternoon of live music and cultural connection in the heart of Birmingham

Celebrate Vaisakhi with music at Symphony Hall Birmingham

Join Sampad and B: Music this Saturday, April 12, for a special edition of Midday Mantra, celebrating Vaisakhi — a festival that marks the harvest season and the birth of the Khalsa in Sikh tradition. Held at the Jennifer Blackwell Performance Space in Symphony Hall, Birmingham, this uplifting daytime event invites you to take a cultural pause and experience the richness of South Asian musical heritage.

Midday Mantra is more than a concert series — it’s a space where music becomes a bridge between communities, generations, and traditions. Curated by Sampad, a leading arts organisation dedicated to showcasing South Asian arts, the series brings together celebrated and emerging artists from across the globe. From classical Indian ragas to contemporary fusion, each performance is a journey through sound, history, and identity.


This Vaisakhi edition promises a soul-stirring performance that reflects the festival’s themes of gratitude, unity, and joy. Whether you’re already immersed in the traditions or discovering them for the first time, this is a chance to enjoy world-class music in a warm, inclusive atmosphere.

Perfect for a lunchtime break or a cultural outing with friends and family, the event is free to attend — just drop in and let the music move you.

To find out more and plan your visit, head over to www.bmusic.co.uk.

More For You

Blue Horizons

Blue Horizons: Nature, Art, and Mindfulness for Women

Blue Horizons: Women's Nature Art

For many, the seaside offers a place of peace. But on Saturday, 12 July, the Lincolnshire coast becomes something more: a space for healing, empowerment, and connection — designed specifically for women of colour.

‘Blue Horizons: Women of Colour Connecting by the Coast’ is a unique, free-to-attend day retreat set against the backdrop of Mablethorpe beach and the nearby Rimac National Nature Reserve. Created by Her Khaani is Changing, in collaboration with Ocean Generation, South Asians for Sustainability, and Natural England, the gathering promises a thoughtful blend of mindfulness, art, nature and storytelling.

Keep ReadingShow less
Chai & Chat

Chai & Chat: A Conversation Space for British South Asians

Chai & Chat: British South Asian Space

A warm cup of chai and an open conversation – that’s the essence of Chai & Chat, a welcoming dialogue forum hosted by the British South Asian Dialogue Forum. Taking place on Friday, 11 July 2025, from 1:00 to 2:30pm at Aston Students' Union in Birmingham, this inclusive event invites adults aged 18 and over to share, connect, and reflect on the British South Asian experience.

Whether you're a student exploring your identity, a professional navigating cultural expectations, or someone simply seeking community, this 90-minute gathering promises meaningful exchange and open-hearted dialogue. It’s an opportunity to talk about the shared stories, challenges, joys, and hopes that shape South Asian lives in Britain today – all over a comforting cup of chai.

Keep ReadingShow less
Scottish-South Asian art

Exploring Shared Heritage: Scottish and South Asian Narratives in Art

getty images

Kindred Eyes: Scottish-South Asian Art

A powerful new exhibition is now open at the Scottish Storytelling Centre in Edinburgh’s Old Town, spotlighting the cultural links between Scotland and South Asia. Through Kindred Eyes: Two South Asian Artists’ Framings of Scotland brings together two strikingly different yet deeply connected bodies of work that explore identity, belonging, and the beauty of shared heritage.

Running from 3rd to 20th July 2025, this free and non-ticketed exhibition features oil paintings by Vibha Pankaj and documentary photography by Hermann Rodrigues, two South Asian artists based in Edinburgh who offer a distinct, reflective lens on Scotland as home, muse, and memory.

Keep ReadingShow less
Fanna Fi Allah's

Don't Miss Fanna-Fi-Allah's Enchanting Qawwali Performance

Fanna-Fi-Allah's

Fanna-Fi-Allah Sufi Qawwali in London!

London is set to host an unforgettable night of spiritual depth and musical brilliance as the renowned Sufi qawwali ensemble Fanna-Fi-Allah brings their celebrated performance to Union Chapel on Friday, 27 June. Located at 19b Compton Terrace, the historic and acoustically rich venue in Islington will come alive with the passionate, poetic and soul-stirring sounds of qawwali — a centuries-old devotional music tradition rooted in the mystical practices of Sufism. This much-anticipated concert promises to be a transcendent cultural experience, fusing ancient rhythm, powerful vocals and heartfelt devotion in a way that deeply resonates with audiences from all walks of life.

Fanna-Fi-Allah, an ensemble revered across continents for their authentic interpretations of classical qawwali, continues to preserve and elevate this spiritual art form with integrity and passion. With decades of dedication and training under legendary qawwals in Pakistan and India, the group has become one of the most respected global ambassadors of Sufi music. Their performances are marked by an electrifying blend of tabla, harmonium, handclaps and rich vocal harmonies that build to ecstatic crescendos — transporting listeners into a meditative and emotional state known in the Sufi tradition as haal.

Keep ReadingShow less
Nabeel Khan and Junaid Ali

Jugalbandi: A Musical Dialogue at Rich Mix

Indian Classical Music at Rich Mix

East London is set to come alive with the sounds of tradition, rhythm and spiritual resonance as internationally acclaimed sarangi player Nabeel Khan and renowned tabla artist Junaid Ali take centre stage at Rich Mix on Sunday, 22 June 2025. The event, which will be held at the vibrant cultural venue located at 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, London E1 6LA, invites audiences to experience the enchantment and intricacy of Indian classical music in an unforgettable live performance.

Curated for music lovers, cultural enthusiasts and those seeking a deep connection with the Indian subcontinent’s artistic legacy, the evening promises a unique dialogue between melody and rhythm. Nabeel Khan and Junaid Ali will perform in jugalbandi (duet), weaving together their instruments—the sarangi and tabla—into an expressive conversation that transcends language and borders.

Keep ReadingShow less