JanineSouth Asian Arts UK are taking over part of the grand and iconic Leeds Corn Exchange, with an exciting range of events and music going on from 11am on the 21st of June to 5:30am on the 22nd. As well as being the longest day, it’s International Yoga Day and World Music Day, so this is a fantastic triple celebration.
This is their 13th year of doing a music festival, and if you’ve never been involved before, now is the perfect time to experience new sounds, new feelings and have a great time. There’s also a fantastic array of independent shops in the Corn Exchange, in case retail therapy is also your preferred spiritual salve while still getting to experience music you might never have heard before.
The summer solstice marks the longest day and shortest night of the year as the sun reaches its highest point in the sky. For many, it’s a time of celebration, a time to connect with nature and honour the changing of the seasons. And what better way to celebrate than with live performances that focus on fantastic music, an exploration of arts and culture, yoga, and self and well-being.
Experience an immersion into your own being with a soul-stirring musical accompaniment. Indulge in the hypnotic melodies of Indo-Jazz and allow the raags, to transport you into the depths of your soul. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to connect with your inner self and let the music guide you into the sunset. (Information on raags is available at the end of the article)
There will be music throughout the day from some incredibly talented performers. This is from the South Asian Arts UK website:
Our stellar line-up includes Shah-e-Mardaan qawwali ensemble and whirling Dervish, award-winning musician Qais Essar, who is travelling all the way from the USA to invite you to explore the enchanting melodies he plays on the 2.500-year-old instrument the Afghan rabab. Formidable Scotland-based Sarangi player Sardar Satwinderpal Singh will also arrive to colour the celebrations with his sweet tunes, as will rising star Kaviraj Singh and award-winning singer Anamika Chowdhury.
https://www.saa-uk.org/concerts/summer-solstice-asian-music-festival/
With events going on throughout the day, it’s a prime opportunity to pop along in your lunch break or before your evening commute and take the opportunity to recentre yourself and approach the second half of the year either at peace or inspired by art, music and poetry and yourself.
A raga or raag is a melodic framework for improvisation in Indian classical music akin to a melodic mode. The rāga is a unique and central feature of the classical Indian music tradition, and as a result has no direct translation to concepts in classical European music.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raga
By Jonathan Lawrence, edited by Natalie Tharraleos
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