Pick Your Poison: Sarod & Vocal Recital, Bollywood Beat, or Avant-Garde

Spring has truly sprung and with it, a flurry of great concerts as part of Small World’s 16th Annual Asian Music Series sponsored by TD Bank.

On Saturday, our friends at Raag-Mala Toronto present a two-part evening combining sarod by Pandit Partho Sarothy, with a vocal recital by Vidushi Shruti Sadolikar. The renowned Sarothy trained under the guidance of Pt. Ravi Shankar. Sadolikar is an award-winning and admired vocalist.

Next week the series goes contemporary, starting with Globetrotter, presented in association with Architextures. Bollywood hits the dance floor with Besharam legend DJ Amita, a pioneering South Asian fusion DJ and host of Masala Mixx radio. The event also features the visual artistry of SEKS alongside resident ethnomixologist DJ medicineman.

Canadian Music Week is about to hit town and we’re pleased to partner with them and Wavelength Music for two nights of new sounds that push musical boundaries. Calgary-based Foonyap performs experimental-folk that CBC called “… as disconcerting as it is captivating,” where dark soundscapes meet powerful electronica. Holy Hum, project of multidisciplinary artist Andrew Lee, delves into ambient post-rock to create gorgeous, atmospheric music. Watch “Flower in the Snow” featuring Kathryn Calder from New Pornographers on vocals. Directed by and starring Angela Seo of Xiu Xiu.

The following night, shifting gears to American folk revival, a unique concert in association with Martin Atkins and Jafri Music. Since Gaelynn Lea won NPR Music’s 2016 Tiny Desk, she has played over 200 shows and been featured at The Kennedy Center and on BBC World News. Performing from her electric wheelchair, she loops her classically trained melodies beneath deeply personal songwriting. Experience her captivating sound and be drawn in by Ali Jafri’s eclectic, big-hearted twist. Jafri sings and plays guitar, sitar, percussion and bass, heightened by electronic effects.