A genre-bending night of South Asian sounds takes over Band on the Wall

A boundary-defying night of music celebrating the vibrant, cross-cultural sounds of South Asia takes over Band on the Wall this October.

Happening on Wed 1 Oct, the night will see a rare meeting of experimental, sufi and classical sounds that blend the electric Balochi Benju (a traditional instrument adapted from the Japanese taishōkoto) of Ustad Noor Bakhsh, the spiritual jazz of Jaubi, and the soulful, Punjabi-infused storytelling of Amrit Kaur.

Ustad Noor Bakhsh, from near Pasni, Balochistan, gained international attention in his 70s with his debut album Jingul. His electric, experimental style draws from Balochi music, South Asian Raags, and folk tunes across Pakistan, including Sindhi and Bollywood songs.

Jaubi is an instrumental quartet from Lahore, Pakistan, whose name means “whatever/whoever” in Urdu, reflecting their improvisational, genre-blending approach that fuses spiritual jazz, psychedelic Hindustani classical, and golden-era hip hop to create a sound that is both timeless and fresh at the same time.

Their acclaimed debut album, Nafs at Peace, resulted from spontaneous recording sessions with Tenderlonious (22a) and Latarnik (EABS/Bloto), earning global praise and recognition in outlets like The Guardian, Pitchfork, and Rolling Stone. Their follow-up record, Jaubi, captures the different stages of love: Side A representing “Desire”, with one yearning and craving for passion, while Side B represents “Devotion”, becoming more contemplative and heartfelt, signifying when one is vulnerable.

Amrit Kaur’s music has been described as ‘the place where Punjabi folk meets Aretha soul’ by OZY magazine, with a voice that embodies the balance between honouring heritage and creating something new. She is a singer-songwriter and Sarangi player, born and raised in London. Named a BBC Music Introducing artist and praised by Rick Rubin for her live performance, she has commanded the stages of Glastonbury Festival, Jaipur Literature Festival, the UN General Assembly with the Bob Marley family and a BBC Maida Vale session with Ali Sethi.

Tickets for Ustad Noor Bakhsh, Jaubi & Amrit at Band on the Wall are on sale now and are limited. Nights like these don’t come around very often. Grab yours using the button below.