
Artstage Announces 2025 London Concert Series
ArtStage – promoters of Persian and Middle Eastern music – have recently announced a series of live performances across London featuring some of the most celebrated artists from the region.
Full details of all upcoming concerts over the next few months are below. Highlights include legendary Iranian vocalist Sima Bina (who turned 80 earlier this year), Lebanese oud virtuoso Marcel Khalife with his Legacy Tour, Iranian contemporary folk group Rastak Ensemble, Middle Eastern fusion group Niyaz, and a double bill featuring master Afghan rabab player Daud Khan Sadozai and sarod maestro Arnab Chakrabarty.
Music for Rabab & Sarod (Thursday July 3rd 2025 – King’s Place, London)
A double bill featuring a performance of traditional Afghan classical and folk music by the eminent rabab master Daud Khan Sadozai, accompanied by tabla maestro Sanju Sahai, followed by an immersive journey through Hindustani classical ragas by acclaimed sarod maestro Arnab Chakrabarty.
Widely regarded as one of the foremost exponents of the Afghan rabab—considered the direct forerunner of the Indian sarod—Daud Khan brings a rare depth of expression to his instrument. A disciple of the legendary Ustad Mohammed Omar and later a student of sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, he bridges Afghan and Indian musical lineages with nuanced artistry. Now based in Germany, he continues to perform and teach internationally.
Sarod maestro Arnab Chakrabarty is a disciple of three towering figures of the instrument —Pandit Buddhadev Dasgupta, Dr. Kalyan Mukherjea, and Ustad Irfan Muhammad Khan. Chakrabarty brings to the stage a deeply informed and highly individual voice within the Shahjahanpur Gharana. Renowned for his deeply expressive improvisation and lyrical command of the sarod – a fretless, plucked lute integral to Hindustani art music – Chakrabarty will render a traditional solo performance comprising alaap (melodic elaboration) and gats (fixed compositions), accompanied on tabla by the virtuoso Pandit Sanju Sahai of the Benares Gharana. Often described as a raga storyteller of uncommon depth, Chakrabarty’s performances unfold like cinematic narratives—rich in detail, subtle in development, and alive with unexpected turns. In his hands, the sarod becomes a medium through which raga becomes not merely heard but deeply experienced.
https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/contemporary/music-for-rabab-and-sarod
Marcel Khalife, Legacy Tour (Saturday July 5th – Barbican, London)
Join legendary composer and oud virtuoso Marcel Khalife, his son Rami Khalife (pianist/composer), and nephew Sary Khalife (cellist/composer) for The Legacy Tour. Experience a cross-generational musical journey that celebrates their family’s extraordinary artistic heritage. Fusing traditional Arabic music with innovative contemporary compositions, this trio transcends borders and genres. Their powerful performance reflects a deep reverence for culture, poetry, and experimentation, offering audiences a profoundly moving and genre-defying concert experience.
https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2025/event/marcel-khalife-the-legacy-tour
Voices Unveiled: Featuring Maliheh Moradi and Mina Deris (Friday July 11th – Kings Place, London)
Voices Unveiled is a three-part original musical composition by Ehsan Matoori, blending Iranian traditional and folk music in a modern way, particularly from the South of Iran, with modern fusion elements. The work features the powerful voices of two Iranian female vocalists, Maliheh Moradi and Mina Deris, and gives space to stories that are often silenced.
Niyaz featuring Azam Ali (Saturday July 12th – Rich Mix)
The internationally acclaimed fusion group hit London. Founded in 2004 by award-winning vocalist and composer Azam Ali and Iranian multi-instrumentalist and composer Loga Ramin Torkian, Niyaz have pioneered a unique 21st-century global trance tradition. Seamlessly blending medieval Sufi poetry and ancient folk songs from Iran, Turkey, and the surrounding Persian Gulf region – they combine rich acoustic instrumentation with cutting-edge electronic production.
https://richmix.org.uk/music/niyaz-featuring-azam-ali/
Sima Bina (Saturday July 19th – Barbican, London)
Legendary vocalist Sima Bina returns to the stage with her timeless interpretations of Persian folk and regional music. A rare and unforgettable evening with one of Iran’s most treasured voices that has become a bridge between past and present – a voice of resilience, beauty, and belonging. Known for her deep knowledge of Iran’s diverse musical traditions, from Khorasan to Baluchistan and beyond, Bina’s artistry transcends borders, evoking the spirit and soul of a culture through haunting melodies and evocative rhythms. Joined by a handpicked ensemble of master instrumentalists on kamancheh, dotar, ney, and tombak, this concert promises a deeply moving musical journey through Iran’s folkloric landscape. With a career spanning over five decades, Sima Bina continues to inspire generations with her devotion to cultural preservation and artistic excellence.
https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2025/event/sima-bina-live-in-london
Feature Image Photo Credit: Supplied By Baxter PR
For more information visit ArtStage’s official website here: https://www.artstageventures.com/

Solomon Hicks To Release His New Album ‘How Did I Ever Get This Blue?’
New York blues hotshot Solomon Hicks has announced details of his new album How Did I Ever Get This Blue?, which will be released on Friday 23rd January 2026 via Artone/Provogue.

Philip Sayce Announces May/June 2026 UK Tour and Live Version of Anthemic Track “Peace Machine”
Following his electrifying and critically acclaimed November 2024 UK tour, guitar marvel and powerhouse vocalist Philip Sayce returns in May/June 2026 for a nationwide UK tour fueled with a brand-new live release and a forthcoming studio album that promises to raise the bar yet again.

Elles Bailey Announces New Album
After the release of her highest charting album to date last year Elles Bailey is back with brand new album ‘Can’t Take My Story Away’, which comes 16th January 2026 on Cooking Vinyl and Outlaw Music.

Then Jerico Acoustic To Perform September 2025 Headline London Show
On Saturday 20th September 2025, due to huge demand Then Jerico Acoustic return to the intimate PizzaExpress Live, Holborn, London for another of their legendary high-energy, stunningly entertaining, atmospheric shows that never fail to enthral the crowd.

Joe Bonamassa Announces B.B. King’s Blues Summit 100 – Celebrating The King of the Blues
Today – on what would have been B.B. King’s 100th birthday – Joe Bonamassa has announced the upcoming release of B.B. King’s Blues Summit 100, produced by Grammy-nominated duo Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith, an extraordinary collaborative tribute album celebrating the legacy of one of music’s most iconic figures.