KHIYO

Sat 26 March, 20:00
£17.50/£15 Conc + BF

Khiyo mix powerful and expressive interpretations of Bengali classics with dynamic and original arrangements

PLEASE NOTE: THIS EVENT REPLACES THE POSTPONED 30 NOVEMBER 2021 DATE

London-based Khiyo brings together British-Bangladeshi vocalist Sohini Alam, with composer Oliver Weeks and bassist Ben Heartland to give Bengali music a modern, fresh sound. Drawing on South Asian and Western folk and classical traditions, rock, blues and jazz, Khiyo is fast developing a reputation as a formidable live band, first headlining at the Purcell Room as part of the South Bank’s 2013 Alchemy Festival.

Khiyo is named after a letter in the Bengali alphabet; a combination of two letters, it also has an identity of its own. Similarly, though the band’s members draw on many different musical backgrounds, the amalgamation of the whole has a singularly identifiable sound.

Presented by SAMA Arts Network. Supported by Arts Council England.

BOOK TICKET

“A band who veer extraordinarily from raw folk rock into delicious classical gloom, tender romanticism into 21st Century Baul tradition and several uncategorised points in between.”

Tim Chipping, fRoots

“Khiyo's self-titled debut is a refreshing, original collection and is a fitting testament of Bengali identity”

Songlines

“A refreshing, original collection.”

Amardeep Dhillon, Songlines, ****

About SAMA

Sama Arts Network is one of the UK’s oldest and most influential arts organisations in the genre of traditional and contemporary South Asian arts. It also presents Orchestral, Jazz and World Music. http://sama.co.uk/

About Khiyo

Khiyo was formed in 2007 as a collaboration between British-Bangladeshi vocalist Sohini Alam and composer/multi-instrumentalist Oliver Weeks. They are joined by bassist Ben Heartland, and guests Aniruddha Mukherjee on tabla and David Ingamells on drums. The band released its debut album in summer 2014.

Sohini Alam: Vocals

Sohini Alam is a British vocalist of Bangladeshi descent whose musical repertoire includes folk, patriotic, modern and traditional Bengali songs with a specialisation in Nazrul Sangeet. She has branched out into multi-lingual music in bands, for dance, and for theatre. A third generation vocalist, Sohini trained in music with her mother, Hiron Alam and her aunts, Jannat Ara and Ferdous Ara. Sohini is the lead vocalist for Khiyo and for Kishon Khan’s Afro-Cuban-Bengali jazz band, Lokkhi Terra. She is a founding member of Komola Collective.

Oliver Week: Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Piano

Oliver Weeks works have been performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Philharmonia Orchestra, the BBC Singers and the Mercury Quartet, amongst others. His interest in South Asian music has led to the forming of Khiyo, British Council-funded tours of India and Bangladesh with Parapar (a collaboration with Moushumi Bhowmik) and music for the Mumbai and Kolkata theatres.

Ben Heartland: Upright & Electric Bass

Ben Heartland is an upright and electric bassist whose musical repertoire spans western classical, jazz, rock, blues, folk and funk. This has seen him perform across the UK, Europe and Australia with acts including The James Taylor Quartet and the Dennis Greaves Band; and in India and Bangladesh with Moushumi Bhowmik’s Parapar. He also writes music for theatre, video and radio.

Covid-19 Policy 

As of 24 February the government is removing all remaining Covid-19 restrictions.

At Grand Junction we will continue to do a number of things to keep our staff and audiences as safe as possible.

While you are no longer legally required to self-isolate if you test positive for COVID-19, it is still advised that you stay at home to avoid contact with other people. Please bear this in mind before travelling to an event at Grand Junction if you have tested positive for COVID-19.

We welcome audience members and staff wearing face coverings if they wish to do so.

Hand sanitiser stations are positioned around the building.

Careful consideration of entry and exit points to avoid crowding. We will check your ticket at the entrance to the venue to avoid queuing and crowds forming indoors.

Regular cleaning and regular ventilation of the space, to ensure a flow of clean air.

Click here to view Grand Junction’s full Covid-safety information. Please feel free to contact us at info@grandjunction.org.uk if you have any further questions.

READ MORE

Date: 26 March 2022

Start Time: 20:00

Doors: 19:00

Length: TBC

Tickets: £17.50/£15 Concession (+ booking fee)

Venue: Grand Junction is a new venue for the community, arts and culture based at St Mary Magdalene Church. Our mission is to create and present an eclectic, collaborative programme of music, arts and performance for young people, families and adults. We also have a café serving delicious food overlooking the canal.