Various events Jan to May 2017

Continuing my walk down memory lane reviewing the various events of the last year, here are various events from the first part of 2017...

JANUARY 2017

• Fri 13 Jan Mullumbimby: Tenzin Choegyal and Tashi Lhunpo Monks of Tibet - I had quite a few concerts with Tenzin in January - always lovely. This was part of his annual "For Tibet With Love" series of concerts raising funds for Tibetan Children's Village. This particular concert included a collaboration with devotional singer Amir Paiss to conclude the concert.
    
• Sat 14 Jan Gold Coast: Tenzin Choegyal and Tashi Lhunpo Monks of Tibet - Thanks to Cameron and Lyza of The Infinite Connection.
  
  
  
• Sat 21 Jan Boonah: Tenzin Choegyal and Tashi Lhunpo Monks with special guests Shen Flindell (tabla) and Richard Grantham (viola)
  
  
   
• Fri 27 Jan New Farm: Prayer for Peace - Deva Premal, Tenzin Choegyal, Tashi Lhunpo Monks
  
  
  Soundchecking at Brisbane Powerhouse before Deva Premal...
   
  
  
  
  After show with Manose
  
• Sat 28 Jan Brisbane: Tibet2Timbuk2 in Queen St Mall
  
  
   Tibet2Timbuk2: Shen, Tenzin, Marcello, Richard Grantham
   
• Sun 29 Jan Oxley: Ashu Babu Memorial Tabla School Saraswati Puja concert - My guru-ji's house in Varanasi has hosted home concerts for Saraswati Puja almost every year for more than 50 years. I try to continue the tradition here in Australia when possible - the last time I was home for Saraswati Puja was in 2013. I invited a few musicians and music teachers' senior students to come and offer music at our altar, with tabla accompaniment by my senior students.
  
  

FEBRUARY 2017

• Sat 4 Feb Myocum: Soul Sangeet Vol 3 workshop and concert - Shivam and Shen - I was down in Byron for a rehearsal and so Shivam kindly pulled together this little event for us to share some music at. Good times.
   
• Sat 11 Feb Roma St: Yuki-Onna @ Kisaragi Sai - My main role was as a babysitter but I'm so proud of Yuki in putting this Butoh dance performance together at a Japanese festival in Roma St Parklands.
  
  
  Yuki-Onna promotional shot
  
  
  Yuki-Onna at Kisaragi Sai Japanese Festival

Mon 20 Feb - Thu 23 Mar - India Trip 2017 - see previous post.

MARCH 2017

• Sat 25 Mar Wynnum: Spirit of Bhakti - at the beautiful Inna Bliss Wynnum studio overlooking Moreton Bay. Lovely as always to play with Rebecca and Menaka in Spirit of Bhakti. 

APRIL 2017

• Sun 9 Apr Oxley: Tabla Workshop with Surojato Roy - Jazz guitarist Bart Stenhouse had brought Surojato to Australia for their tour, and I was really happy for the chance for my students (others welcome of course) to learn something from a visiting tabla master. We learnt a chalan of Lucknow gharana and worked quite a bit on clear vocalisation of compositions.
  
  
  
• Fri 14 - Sun 16 Apr Byron Bay Blues Fest: Tenzin and Shen - A new experience for me, witnessing the music industry in full force, as Bluesfest plays host to a huge array of international stars and the backstage crews and equipment are just phenomenal. The artists' catering is the best I've ever seen at any festival. It was a bit strange playing to an audience who were standing on gravel rather than sitting down, but we rocked the house. And I got to see Santana and his amazing band from the backstage viewing platform. Thanks to Tenzin Choegyal for inviting me to accompany him as part of the Boomerang Festival of indigenous performers, hosted by Bluesfest.
  
  
  
  
• Sat 22 Apr Oxley: Introduction to Dhrupad ~Ancient Indian Vocal Workshop~ with Yuki
   
• Fri 28 Apr New Farm: Festival of Tibet - Lotus Born Concert - Another memorable collaboration with Tenzin Choegyal and artist Karma Phuntsok, evolving from Festivals of Tibet in 2015 and 2016. This year's show had a really nice flow and variety of styles, with pieces by Peter Hunt (jazz guitar/vocal), Richard Grantham (looped viola), Marcello Milani (vocals/guitar) and of course Tenzin Choegyal, interspersed with traditional Tibetan song and dance by Tenzing Yeshi.
  
  

MAY 2017

• Sat 6 May Gold Coast: Spirit of Bhakti - Thanks to Cameron and Lyza of Infinite Connection for hosting us.
  
  
   
• Sun 7 May Redlands and Bay Islands Cultural Festival - with Tabla Tarrango! - Thanks to my students Bipro and Jesinthan for coming and putting on a tabla show with me. Next time I'll ask to be on the main stage. It was a beautiful day and a good incentive for the boys to do some performance-focused practice.