My yearly collaboration with the stellar Kirtan singer and spiritual guide Radhika Das. The Union Chapel gigs are soulful and vibrant and not to be missed for an immersive and connected experience!
https://unionchapel.org.uk/whats-on/radhika-das-heartland-live-in-london
Joining the Third Culture collective to support Osman Mir, Gujurati folk singer, as a part of the South Asian Sounds festival @ Southbank.
https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/osman-mir-third-culture-collective/
The third edition of the house gig version of my event series Travelling the face of the Globe is on 25th May at 5 pm, featuring Palestinian oud maestro Saied Silbak & The Gambian kora master Sura Susso.
Come join us on this wonderful bank holiday Sunday evening:)
By popular demand, Aradhana is re-touring its hit production, “Sangeet Yatra” which translates as “Journey of Music”.
This high energy show brings together an ensemble of incredible artists, presenting a rich mix of live music from across the globe ranging from India to the Middle East and anything in between!
The ensemble is led by the critically acclaimed Tabla Maestro Sanju Sahai and features Danny Keane on Piano/Cello, Preetha Narayanan on Violin, Jason Carter on the Harp Guitar, Kirpal Singh Panesar on the Esraj. Jaymini Sahai completes the lineup presenting North Indian classical dance, Kathak.
The culmination of a two month project working with primary school classes to write new songs.
Hear foot-stomping traditional songs from around the world, as well as original songs in over 30 languages written by the children and inspired by refugee stories, and join in with interactive singing, beatboxing and body percussion!
https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2025/event/music-action-international-harmonise-london
A project by percussionist and composer Denis Kucherov, blending the rich musical traditions of the Middle East, India, and Africa. Joining him is Giuliano Modarelli, an Italian guitarist known for merging jazz, flamenco, and classical styles with Indian and Middle Eastern rhythms and Preetha Narayanan - violinist, composer, and educator with a unique musical story that crosses countries, cultures, and genres.
Tara and I of Balladeste are happy to invite Tullis Rennie, electronics, as our guest collaborator on the third installation of our SJQ residency in Dalston. Come join us for another beautiful evening of new music.
More info soon
Performing indian classical violin alongside choir and orchestra in Indian-American composer Shruthi Rajashekar’s piece Sarojini.
https://www.warwickartscentre.co.uk/whats-on/nkZ-sarojini-university-of-warwick-symphony-orchestra-chorus/
Happy to join Identidades and El Chuli as a guest artist for this fabulous evening of flamenco. Come join us!!
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/identidades-el-chuli-tickets-1235127632999?aff=oddtdtcreator
Thrilled to be invited to play on George Nelson’s captivating series, Moment’s Notice.
Moment's Notice showcases five leading lights in the art of spontaneous composition. Each episode consists of one duo and one trio playing fully-improvised, 40-minute sets. The evening culminates with a combo quintet set. Line-ups are curated by the event creator, George Nelson.
The event takes place @ Amp Studios, Old Kent Road.
Info link soon.
We - Balladeste - continue our residency at Servant Jazz Quarters with the second in the series, featuring the wonderful lyricist and singer-songwriter-multi-instrumentalist Ana Silvera. We have been writing a new EP with Ana and we will be debuting our new collection.
https://billetto.co.uk/e/balladeste-ana-silvera-servant-jazz-quarters-tickets-1097018
Balladeste is looking forward to joining our dear friend and soulful musician Wilderthorn in his Immerse Series: a candle-lit, meditative live music experience of improvised, ethereal sounds and atmospheric textures at St Katherine’s Chapel. Come join us for this special evening.
We bring our music to the university setting!
More info soon.
Teaming up with DJ Ritu’s curated stage to celebrate the Diwalifestivities, thrilled to be performing a short set with this new Indian Classical-inspired project with Giuliano Modarelli- guitar, Harkiret Singh- tabla, and me on Indian violin.
https://wembleypark.com/whats-on/wembley-park-diwali-weekend-2024/
Tara & I are thrilled to be a support act to our dear friends from Alvorada for their album launch. Expect a vibrant and joyous evening with catchy melodies and rhythms.
https://tickets.thecockpit.org.uk/sales/shows/alvorada-album-launch---faz-te/tickets
Looking forward to playing an Indian Classical set with my dear friends Giuliano Modarelli, guitar & Harkiret Singh, tabla. Come join us!
We are making our debut at the vibrant Colourscape Festival! Expect a unique and immersive experience.
We will be playing alongside OTTER on the 14th, multiple sets between 11:30-3:30 PM.
For more info, check here:
https://www.eyemusic.org.uk/whatsonevents/events/event14.html
A beautiful experience held at the Hastings event with new music, including composer Judith Weir and more. More info soon
Connecting back with my dear friends from the Green Room Collective to play at the Summer Sounds Music Festival in King’s Cross- Coal Drops Yard. Come out and enjoy the summer with us!!
https://www.kingscross.co.uk/event/summer-sounds-music-festival
A long awaited collaboration and double bill between Balladeste and the fantastic duo, Trina Basu & Arun Ramamurthy, from New York City. Expect a crossover of many influences that blend seamlessly and soulful music.
http://servantjazzquarters.com/events/balladeste-trina-arun/
Tara and I are excited to be playing to this lovely audience at Medicine Festival on the Nest Stage. If you are attending, please check us out here!
Will be joining my flamenco friends for a night at the Jamboree, dance, guitar, vioice and violin! Come down and check it out for this lovely evening with guest dancer from Spain.
https://www.jamboreevenue.co.uk/events/flamenco-with-lourdes-fernandes-and-her-band-6/
So thrilled to perform in Newcastle for the first time as a part of GemArts Masala Festival.
Come join us on a lovely Saturday afternoon.
https://gemarts.org/whatson/events/640/gemarts-masala-festival-balladeste
Excited to be performing an Indian Classical set (Indian violin!) with brilliant musicians Giuliano Modarelli, guitar, and Harkiret Singh, tabla with Common Cause, a new four-piece London-based band closing the night.
https://www.jamboreevenue.co.uk/events/travelling-the-face-of-the-globe-part-ii/
Another chance to catch this new production, alongside Soumik Datta’s set Borderlands
Joining Emily Levy’s new work ‘Me Without You’ in a creation period over the months of May and June that will be presented across the UK.
Composer Emily Levy and Writer-Director Mella Faye present an unflinching, heartfelt and uplifting exploration of love, loss and survival.
Music, dance and recorded interviews from conversations across the UK are richly layered by a world class ensemble of musicians, dancers and actors to create an extraordinary elegy to the power of story and human connection. Me Without You celebrates those we’ve lost and those of us who are still here.
Joining Emily Levy’s new work ‘Me Without You’ in a creation period over the months of May and June that will be presented across the UK.
Composer Emily Levy and Writer-Director Mella Faye present an unflinching, heartfelt and uplifting exploration of love, loss and survival.
Music, dance and recorded interviews from conversations across the UK are richly layered by a world class ensemble of musicians, dancers and actors to create an extraordinary elegy to the power of story and human connection. Me Without You celebrates those we’ve lost and those of us who are still here.
Happy to join my dear friends of the London-based up and coming flamenco group, Identidades (Bryan Rodrigues Reyes, Carlos Loba, Ago Hernandes) plus dancers and Tito Heredia, a skilled guitarist in the Stour Music Festival in Kent.
Info here: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/stour-music/fiesta-flamenco/e-vqkoey
We are bringing our recently created multi-disciplinary show, premiered at Rich Mix in February and created over 3 small residencies at Hawkwood College over the winter, to Migration Matters Festival.
If you’re Sheffield or midlands based, totally worth coming down.
More info here: https://www.migrationmattersfestival.co.uk/programme/greenroom
An extraordinary elegy to the power of story and human connection created by composer Emily Levy and Writer-Director Mella Faye. Me Without You celebrates those we’ve lost and those of us who are still here, through music, dance and recorded intervews, richly layered by an ensemble of musicians, dancers and actors.
Come spend an afternoon with us @ Wardown Museum in the stunning Drawing Room, surrounded by the museum's unique art collection and with spectacular views overlooking Wardown Park. 2 -4 PM
https://www.culturetrust.com/whats-on/music-museum-balladeste
May 24th - crown house
A Hastings local, Ruby Colley is a violinist, composer & sound artist creating instrumental soundscapes that are far beyond the realm of traditional playing, weaving in environmental sound & electronics.
Balladeste is a collaboration between cellist Tara Franks and violinist Preetha Narayanan. Writing all new music collaboratively, this unique string duo interweave contemporary minimalism, Indian classical and folk to create all original compositions that are vibrant and experimental yet melodic and filmic in quality ‘songs with out words with an alt-folk experimental twist’. Having released 3 acclaimed albums of all original music to date, the duo have performed live and been interview on BBC Radio 3 In Tune, Radio 4 Woman’s hour, Soho Radio and NTS.
Friday May 24th
The Crown House, Marina, St Leonards
Doors 7pm, Music 8pmhttps://www.sounds-stleonards.co.uk/
Joining rising Kirtan leader Radhika Das @ the stunning venue Union Chapel for a spiritual and soulful evening of kirtan and celebrating love and connection.
So thrilled to do a set of my compositions new and also from my two EPs ‘Rebirth’ and ‘Bleeding heart’ at Free Range Canterbury gig series, with a beautiful team of friends and stunning artists to execute these arrangements; Zac Gvi, multi-instrumentalist; Saied Silbak, oud; Nandita Shankardass & Mithun Gill, dance and choreography.
Glad to be back at this fabulous night started by Sam Sharpe and Jay Chakravorty to bring contemporary classical acts doing innovative music-making to the forefront.
Balladeste will bring some new tracks plus improvisation to headline this evening.
come down and join us:)
more info soon: https://www.instagram.com/counterchamber/
