Village India & Experience Gujarat 2009 10th to 13th September 2009 Village India & Experience Gujarat is the biggest and most exciting festival of its type in the whole of Europe and it's at De Montfort Hall and Gardens, Leicester, UK! This festival has two distinct parts:- Village India will be held in DMH gardens. It is a vibrant World Music and Dance festival with a spicy Indian flavour and is suitable for people across the whole community. The gardens will be transformed into a great place to relax, and enjoy a colourful festival environment. Village India is based around a traditional Indian village complete with huts, props and artisans in traditional costume. There will be loads of Delicious Food, Arts and Crafts, Chai tents, Chillout Zones and 42 music and dance concerts across 2 stages throughout the weekend!! The line up for Village India has something for everyone:- Excellent folk and Indian classical music, the best in Classical and Indo Jazz Fusion, Indian Electronica, Hottest DJs from the scene and BBC Radio 1, Bollywood, the best in Bhangra and much more! Village India will also stage exciting Traditional and Contemporary Indian dance, including vibrant folk dances from Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Assam,Bengal, Punjab and Gujarat. This will make a fantastic, entertaining and educational day out for the whole family so check out the website now at Sense Experience Experience Gujarat takes place in the DMH auditorium and is a real feast of entertainment for the Gujarati community. Some of the finest entertainers from the Indian region line up for nine specially produced, themed concerts so check out the website for more information on what's on offer and to book tickets. There will be high demand for the limited seating for this part of the event so book early! For More Information on Village India & Experience Gujarat See News Page! Buy Your Tickets at : www.demontforthall.co.uk Available Shortly.... Kamala - Pt Ajoy Chakrabarty Ajoy Chakrabarty can be considered one of India's most inspirational vocalists of the age and he has influenced countless vocalists across the globe. Here we find him at his best in concert at the famous Saptak Festival, Ahmedabad, India. Shehnai 2 - Ali Ahmad Hussain Khan The playing style of Ali Ahmad Hussain Khan derives from Benares, a city that evokes the divine romance and enigmatic mystery of this unique instrument. This eloquent performance was recorded at the world renowned Saptak festival in Ahmedabad, Gujarat whose listeners were transported back to Benares by the majestic sound of Shehnai. Sacred Breath - Kalapini Komkali The daughter of the legendary Kumar Gandharva continues the lineage of his animated and trail blazing approach to Indian classical singing which drew heavily on folk music to inspire the composition of new ragas. Kalapini Komkali also adds her own unique style with a voice which is rich, husky and deep. Devatha - Pt Jasraj Once again the living legend graces the Saptak stage and performs with characteristic devotion to his art and guiding influences. Benaras -Rajan & Sajan Misra This special morning concert is performed by two seemingly inseparable brothers who have taken duet singing to a whole new level in North Indian music in a hugely successful career spanning a period of over thirty years. Available Now.. Sparsh - Pt Ulhas Kashalkar Ulhas Kashalkar could be described as a singer's singer who seamlessly combines creativity and tradition. He is renowned for his authentic and highly aesthetic presentations of rarer traditional raags and possesses the rare ability to switch between the three distinct styles of Jaipur, Gwalior and Agra gharanas even in the course of a single performance. Virasat - Shujaat Khan The music of this sitar maestro possesses an exquisite lyrical quality which reminds us of the vast depth of melodic riches to be discovered within the Indian sub-continent. He comes from a remarkable family who have carried the torch of musical excellence for generations. This live recording captures Shujaat Khan at his best with sensitive tabla accompaniment from Sandeep Das. Kaushiki Chakrabarty - Live at Saptak Festival Kaushiki is arguably the leading light of Indian classical vocalists of the younger generation. She has the ability to captivate and mesmerize audiences with her incredible virtuosity, soulful presentation and humble charm. This fantastic live performance captures her at her best at the prestigious Saptak Festival in India Santoor - Rahul Sharma Rahul Sharma is leading the way in exploring and expanding the possibilities of the Santoor in North Indian classical music. This articulate performance marks a new level of maturity in his playing suggesting that he has comfortably overcome the challenge of inheriting a huge musical legacy. He is accompanied on tabla by Aditya Kalyanpur who is one of a new young generation of leading players on the instrument. Tribute to Pandit Kishan Maharaj Pandit Kishan Maharaj is widely recognized as one of the greatest Indian tabla players of the modern era.This CD captures some of the best performances of his later years and is a fitting tribute and remembrance of the master who has passed from this life. Mudra - Pandit D. K. Datar & Ratnakar Gokhle D K Datar is one of the few leading senior north Indian violinists playing today. Here we find him in a vibrant duet with Shri Ratnakar Gokhle at the famous Saptak festival India. Suresh Talwalkar and Satyajit Talwalkar - Tabla Duet Live from Saptak This CD is a unique recording of Suresh Talwalker released to mark his 60th birthday. He is a musician who has had a profound influence on the world of tabla. Here he plays with his son Satyajit in a rare presentation which includes the 14 beat Deepchandi with an accompanying vocal lehera which enhances the beauty of the recital. Samaya - Kala Ramnath & Ganesh Iyer A rare collaborative project between two great violinists exploring the richness of raga and tala lying at the heart of both the Hindustani music of the North Indian sub-continent and the Carnatic music of the South with fantastic percussive accompaniment. Tappa Journey - Sasha This superb CD marks a new development for the tradition of Tappa, featuring the immense vocal talent of Sasha and the sensitive production of Derek Roberts. It is vibrant, passionate and inspired by the romance and journeys of the ancient Silk Route. The richly crafted arrangements also feature orchestral strings and fantastic percussion. Temple Voices - Gundecha Brothers A very rare and inspiring Dhrupad masterclass with the Gundecha Brothers in a trio with the baritone sitar the Surbahar. This fantastic recording is a must for lovers of deeply spiritual music. Umeed - Ustad Sultan Khan & Manju Mehta This recording features a duet of two of India 's most esteemed players of string instruments, bringing together the rare combination of Sitar and Sarangi. The pairing of Manju Mehta and Sultan Khan is an example of a musical partnership which has proved a popular feature of the Saptak Festival over the years. Evolution - Kadri Gopalnath & Ronu Majumdar An exciting and rare collaboration between the traditions of South Indian Sax Maestro Kadri Gopalnath and North Indian Bansuri master Ronu Majumdar with a red hot percussion section. Experience the energy of this great concert at the world renowned Saptak festival India. The Divine Wheel - Kala Ramnath,Rupak Kulkarni & Vijay Ghate Music is a constant cycle of creative rebirth and death. This new collaboration between the world renowned talent of Kala Ramnath and supremely gifted Rupak Kulkarni is a beautiful example of this endless process of divine creative exploration. The Shastriya Syndicate... If you want to experience a great collaboration of Indian creativity steeped in a rich heritage which is emotionally expressive, vibrant and delightfully exciting look no further than the Shastriya Syndicate. Surbahar - Pushparaj Koshti A truly authentic rendition of Dhrupad on the rarely heard Surbahar by a master exponent of the instrument with fine accompaniment on the Pakhawaj 'the king of Indian drums'.