Direct from Rajasthan to play at the Tusk Festival in Newcastle Upon Tyne, this is a one-off London appearance for Irshad Ali Qawwali Party – four young exponents of this ancient Sufi musical form.
Qawwali can be traced back to the 13th Century migration south of people from Persia into India and the resultant melding of their musical traditions. The form continues evolve, carried through the centuries by faith and fervour, evident in the gloriously impassioned group choruses typical of Qawwali music. The youth and energy that Irshad and his brothers inject into their performances suggest the lifespan of this music is truly timeless. Their tools (voice, tablas, harmonium) are unaffected by technological advances and yet, the power they produce is nothing short of breathtaking.