Majestic Qawwali music from the nephews, and living legacy of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, come to Town Hall!

Rizwan-Muazzam Qawwals, the de facto torchbearers of the Qawwali musical tradition – a tradition that spans five centuries - have developed a worldwide following for their hypnotic and intoxicating live shows.

The two lead singers come from a direct family line of Qawwali music and continue their uncle's pioneering efforts to transcend cultural, language and religious barriers to spread the devotional, vibrant music of the Sufi mystics - a centuries-old form of Sufi devotional music from the Indian subcontinent in which romantic love is a metaphor for spiritual adoration and mystical enlightenment.

The band perform traditional style - sitting on the ground which they believe brings them closer to God. The brothers sing in Farsi, Urdu and Punjabi, using vocal repetition to induce a state of ecstasy. Their soaring voices are backed by a Gharana - an ensemble of harmonium, tabla & handclaps. - taking Indian classical music to totally unexpected corners.

Having produced several acclaimed albums with Real World Records, Rizwan and Muazzam have also performed with fellow Pakistani musicians at the Coke Studio Pakistan and have collaborated with artists including Fun-da-mental, UK DJ/Producer Neil Sparks, Midival Punditz and Susheela Raman. They have performed at festivals and venues globally, including: Barbican London, numerous WOMAD festivals internationally, Korener Hall - Toronto, Luminat’eau Festival - Canada, Llangollen International Festival Eisteddfod, Voices Festival at the London Royal Opera House, Edinburgh Mela, Jaipur Festival - India, Grand Performances - Los Angeles and Printemps des Arts - Monte-Carlo and the Royal Festival Hall, London.

“One of the most exhilarating improvised vocal styles on the planet.” The Guardian

“Rizwan and Muazzam’s voices climb and swoop as if riding air currents” BBC

Audience Feedback

“… one of the best live Qawali shows I’ve ever been to …”

“One of the best nights of my life.”

Performers

Rizwan Ali Khan Lead Singer

Muazzam Ali Khan Lead Singer

+ Harmonium, Tabla and 5 accompanying singers

Presented by Asian Arts Agency