Gig Description

Sheela Bringi & Qais Essar Live in Concert

An evening of music from the ancient Hindu Kush to the modern era. Ragas, songs and chants rooted in and inspired by Indian classical and Afghani traditions.

Featuring:
Qais Essar – rabab
Sheela Bringi – voice, bansuri, harp
Eric Zang – kaval, percussion
Brent Kuecker – harmonium, bass

Tickets: $15 advance / $20 at the door
Ticketing Link: https://tickets.brightstarevents.com/event/sheela-bringi-qais-essar

ABOUT THE ARTISTS:

Qais Essar is a composer, instrumentalist, and advocate with the dual mission of keeping Afghan music alive while also pushing it into the future so it does not survive merely as a cultural relic. Qais’ mastery of the Afghan rabab and diverse inspirations are on full display in his recordings, including two LPs,—one of which, The Green Language, was an Amazon bestseller in India and Pakistan— four EPs, and one live album. He tours extensively, having played in eight countries on four continents in the last three years. His original compositions can also be heard in the film The Bread Winner, produced by Angelina Jolie. In all of his work, Qais represents the history, beauty, and complexity of Afghanistan through his dramatic compositions and dynamic performances.

Indian American musician Sheela Bringi has been exploring the connections between her ancestral and actual homelands her entire life. The singer and instrumentalist plays the harp, harmonium and bansuri (Indian classical bamboo flute). As a young woman Bringi was influenced by M.I.A. and Dead Can Dance, studied with Cecil Taylor and Meredith Monk, while at the same time deepened her studies with Indian classical masters like Pandit G.S. Sachdev and Ustaad Aashish Khan. She has released two albums as a solo artist and recorded on 30+ albums including the 2016 Grammy-nominated Bhakti Without Borders. Bringi tours internationally and has collaborated with artists including Idan Raichel, Karsh Kale, DJ Drez, Dave Stringer and many others.