Ustad Noor Bakhsh + Jaubi + Amrit Kaur

A night of boundary-defying music, where the electric Balochi Benju of Ustad Noor Bakhsh, the genre-blending spiritual jazz of Jaubi, and the soulful, Punjabi-infused storytelling of Amrit Kaur come together to celebrate the vibrant, cross-cultural sounds of South Asia and beyond.

Ustad Noor Bakhsh, from near Pasni, Balochistan, is a master of the Balochi Benju—a traditional instrument adapted from the Japanese taishōkoto—whose electric, experimental style draws from Balochi music, South Asian Raags, and folk tunes across Pakistan, including Sindhi and Bollywood songs. His playing, shaped by both local and African influences, gained international attention with his debut album ‘Jingul,’ released digitally in 2022 and on vinyl in 2023, highlighting the rich, cross-cultural heritage of his region.

Jaubi is an instrumental quartet from Lahore, Pakistan, whose name means “whatever/whoever” in Urdu, reflecting their improvisational, genre-blending approach that fuses spiritual jazz, psychedelic Hindustani classical, and golden-era hip hop. Their acclaimed debut album, Nafs at Peace (Astigmatic Records, 2021), resulted from spontaneous recording sessions with Tenderlonious (22a) and Latarnik (EABS/Bloto), earning global praise and recognition in outlets like The Guardian, Pitchfork, and Rolling Stone.

Amrit Kaur’s music has been described as ‘the place where Punjabi folk meets Aretha soul’ by OZY magazine. She is a singer-songwriter and Sarangi player, born and raised in London. Named a BBC Music Introducing artist and praised by Rick Rubin for her live performance, she has commanded the stages of Glastonbury Festival, Jaipur Literature Festival, the UN General Assembly with the Bob Marley family and a BBC Maida Vale session with Ali Sethi. Her music and storytelling brings the culture of Panjabi women together with the heart of jazz, blues and soul.