Part of Small World Music's 16th Annual Asian Music Series sponsored by TD Bank.

Access tickets at a special price through Small World's New Arrivals bundle. See Kiran Ahluwalia's LOVEfest, Zakir Hussain & Dave Holland (otherwise SOLD OUT) April 29th, and Nakatani's Gong Orchestra on May 26th for $163.

An eclectic celebration of love and diversity through music and dance.

Throughout the ages people have struggled to extend the love and respect offered those familiar to us to others who are different and unknown — to minorities, immigrants, refugees and other vulnerable members of society. Artists, musicians, and religious and civil leaders alike have all advocated variations of the theme “Love your neighbor” or “Welcome the Stranger.” This call to acknowledge the common humanity of all people — and by extension their individual human rights — is a founding principle of modern society.

Kiran Ahluwalia’s LOVEfest combines the talents of sacred and secular artists from both Muslim and Sikh traditions (two communities currently experiencing an alarming rise in hate crimes). Featuring the passionate vocals of Kiran Ahluwalia (from India), of inspired Arabic songwriting Souad Massi (Algeria), combined with traditional Sikh temple singers (here for the first time on the concert stage) and the colorful whirling of Egyptian Tanoura Sufi dancers, LOVEfest illuminates a diverse world of cultural artistic expression; offering performers and audiences alike an opportunity to “Welcome The Stranger.”

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