An explosive encounter between two stars of contemporary British Asian music.

Sarod star, Soumik Datta and percussion wizard Bernhard Schimpelsberger (aka Taalis) meet in a breathtaking audio-visual concert experience. Blending vibrant music, visuals, animation and a theatrical edge, this is an unmissable highlight of this year’s Alchemy Festival (Southbank centre).

Soumik Datta is a torchbearer of the fretless Indian lute: Sarod. Classically trained by legendary Pt. Buddhadev DasGupta. he later graduated from Trinity College of Music. A resident Alchemy artist at Southbank centre, the ‘British Sarod maestro’ (Time Out) has played internationally and collaborated with Talvin Singh, Akram Khan, Nitin Sawhney, Bill Bailey, Jay-Z and Beyonce Knowles. One of the most acclaimed Sarod exponents of his generation, he is also a versatile composer and has scored the soundtrack for award-winning film ‘Life Goes On’ (2011).

Austrian-born percussionist Bernhard Schimpelsberger (aka Taalis) plays the Western drum kit like a tabla virtuoso and seemlessly blends Indian and Western rhythms into a unique drumming style. Having studied with Tablamaster Pt. Suresh Talwalkar and Trilok Gurtu he is a rhythm visionary constantly pushing the boundaries between tradition and progress. He is currently working with artists like Nitin Sawhney, Talvin Singh, Akram Khan and Susheela Raman.

Special guests:

With over 2 million hits on Youtube, Hang phenomenon Manu Delago has been called the 'the master Hang drummer' (Modern Drummer). His pioneering compositions on this beautiful Swiss instrument have spellbound audiences worldwide. Pirashanna Thevarajah, one of the young lions of South Indian music, has toured and recorded with the likes of Pt. Ravi Shankar, Anoushka Shankar and U. Srinivas.

With a special Sound design by Camilo Tirado and Light design by Jonathan Goldstone.

Presented by Baithak Records.