May 23 – 25 :: South Asian Rock Legend to Perform at Masala! Mehndi! Masti!

 

Known to many as a rockstar and founder of Asian rock legends “Junoon”, Salman has popularized a blend of Eastern Islamic and Western music called “Sufi Rock” creating a cultural bridge with music of the East and West. He has sold over 25 million albums successfully in joining populations of peace together through music raising awareness with some of the most important social and political issues of our time. With the band facing threats and harassment in the early years from the government and religious extremists, their music continued to empower and move forward producing sweeping melodies and bhangra rock rhythms becoming known as the “U2 of South Asia”.

 

Sharing his passion for music on stage with world-renowned musicians such as Alicia Keys, Sting, Earth, Wind and Fire, and Wyclef Jean has lead to co-writing and recording “Ring the Bells” with academy award winning artist Melissa Etheridge. This call for peace was performed at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo in 2007. Ahmed has also led Junoon in one of the first rock performances at the U.N General Assembly Hall in 2001.

 

With a commitment to increasing cultural enrichment around the world, Salman and his wife Samina launched “The Salman and Samina Global Wellness Institute” an NGO dedicated to interfaith, cross-cultural dialogue, global health and wellness, and music education.

 

Continuing his journey this summer, Salman Ahmed will be performing in concert and taking part in an interactive ‘In Conversation With’ session featuring the Canadian release of book 7 CD launch of Rock & Roll Jehad at Masala! Mehndi! Masti! The concert will take place on Saturday, July 24, 2010 at 8:45PM-9:30PM on the Bandshell Stage and will be accompanied by guest artists from New York.

 

For further festival information and programming, go to:
http://www.masalamehndimasti.com/2010/festival-calendar/

Mussarat discovered his passion for singing at the young age of 10 where he was inspired by Pakistani Ghazal singer Ghulam Ali. With no formal training, Mussarat was able to train his voice by practicing at home. His practice and perseverance to pursue his passion for music, he entered himself in several local singing competitions in his hometown of Lahore and won over many supporters of his talent.

Mussarat’s craft proved to be well suited in the sufi genre after he performed several Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan songs on the competition show. He received praise and high marks from judges when he performed in that genre. Mussarat’s most memorable performances from the show included his singing of "Sanwre" and "Tere Bin Nahin Lagda".

Canadian audiences will be able to enjoy Mussarat’s compelling performances when he comes to the Masala! Mehndi! Masti! festival this weekend on Sunday July 25^th at the Exhibition Place Bandshell Stage.

For further festival information and programming, go to:
http://www.masalamehndimasti.com/2010/festival-calendar/

 

Coming direct from India and known best as leaders of the next generation of classical Indian music, Amaan and Ayaan Ali Khan are set to hit Toronto’s Exhibition Place this Friday July 23rd . With notable performances at such places as Carnegie Hall and Prince Charles’s Highgrove estate, the brothers are sure to blow audiences away. The youngest generation from an unbroken chain of the Senia Bangash School, Amaan and Ayaan began their musical careers at very young ages. The Khan family kidsstepped into the world of music and the Sarod with confidence, clarity, consistency and technical mastery that were learnt directly from their family of master musicians.

To share the generational heritage that they learned from being in a successful and talented family Amaan and Ali published a book to celebrate their family’s legacy. In November 2002, the brothers co-authored the book titled Abba-God’s greatest gift to us on their father’s life. The remarkable journey that his father took to be such a legend, no doubt played as an influence in Ayaan and Amaan’s life. Early this year, Amaan and Ayaan co-authored their second book called 50 Maestros 50 Recordings for Harper Collins

Performances with precision in tunefulness and bold and resonant strokes are all pointers to the importance of tradition and continuity in Indian Classical Music that the brothers developed. Showing that their family name is not the basis to their talent, the brothers have proved for years that their talent can speak for itself. The brothers have won many accolades for both music and style including in October 2002, Amaan received Provogue Society’s Young Acheivers Award for performing Arts. Ayaan received MTV’s Lycra Award for the Most Stylish person in Music in 2006, and was honored recently by the Mayor of the City of Tulsa, Oklahoma with the Keys to the City along with an Honorary Citizenship and the Bharat Shiromani Award for Instrumental music in 2007. 

Their explosive M!M!M! performance will feature Canadian tablas musician Vineet Vyas co-presented by The Raag Mala Society of Toronto.
 

For further festival information and programming, go to:
http://www.masalamehndimasti.com/2010/festival-calendar/