Athirukal

What it's all about

The South Asian diaspora in Germany is as diverse as its music. In a program that bridges generations and styles, musicians and artists redefine the boundaries of what’s possible and what can be said. In the context of (post-)migrant narratives, they celebrate the diversity between traditional Indian raga and pop, between tabla and electronic beats.

Why should you come? 

You’re invited to enjoy a compilation of the truly exciting artists: Traditional Indian dance and Basuri meet loops, beats and experimental pop. Among others, you can look forward to:

Zainab Lax: the multi-instrumentalist who creates dreamy, atmospheric soundscapes on the harp with looped melodies and beats.

Washed-out synth-pop, hip-hop, krautrock and elements of classical Indian music are shaken up wildly by Keshav Purushotham, founder of the band “Keshavara”.

With VAVUNETTHA, pop melodies meet hip-hop beats, paired with cheeky, profound lyrics.

Dancer and choreographer Reena Pathrose and students from the dance school Agni bridge the gap between traditional Indian dances such as the South Indian Bharatanatyam and modern, contemporary dance styles.

Moonlit Brooks is a spoken word project led by Indian nature poet Tanya Gautam and jazz pianist Denny Seidel. At the Sommerblut Festival, they will present pieces that tell of rivers, migration and the experiences and stories associated with them.

After-show hang-out with “Rubimental”.

Pssst! 

The project is organized by Abhilash Arackal. Abhilash is a musician and cultural manager from Cologne. He works between pop and traditional Indian music and advocates for more representation of Indian and South Asian artists and stories in art and culture.