Press room

Qawwali Flamenco

Returning to the Barbican for the first time since 2015, Pakistani singer Faiz Ali Faiz joins forces with Flamenco guitarist Juan Gómez (a.k.a. “Chicuelo”) to bring their ground-breaking Qawwali-Flamenco project to London audiences.

Qawwali-Flamenco is a unique collaboration tracing the mystical roots of flamenco from Indo-Pakistani regions to the vibrant landscapes of Andalucía. In this performance, audiences will be transported to an emotional state of spiritual ecstasy by Faiz Ali Faiz and Chicuelo and their ensembles as the music moves back and forth between them building in intensity as they perform.

Hailing from Lahore, Faiz Ali Faiz belongs to a family of Qawwali singers that boasts an impressive lineage spanning seven generations. His fiery vocals and rich timbre are reminiscent of his predecessor Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, a pioneer and populariser of Qawwali - a form of Sufi devotional music. Drawing inspiration from the Punjabi Doaba style and the Sham-chaurasi school of light-classical Khyal singing, Faiz Ali Faiz has emerged as one of the foremost new voices of Qawwali today. His talent and deep-rooted connection to the art form have earned him accolades and recognition worldwide.

Spanish Flamenco musician Chicuelo is one of the most important guitarists on the Flamenco scene. He studied under modern Flamenco guitar pioneer Manolo Sanlúcar and is a prolific composer and director. Chicuelo worked closely with Faiz Ali Faiz on the Qawwali Flamenco album, and this is a rare opportunity to see the two perform this project together.

Faiz Ali Faiz - Lead vocal

Karamat Ali Asad - Harmonium + Vocal

Ali Shahbaz - Harmonium + Vocal

Nazar Abbas - Harmonium + Vocal

Shahid Fareed  - Tablas

Chicuelo - Guitar

Tomas de Perrate - Vocal

Melchora Ortega - Vocal

Isaac Vigueras - Percussions

Produced by the Barbican

Find out more

~

An Intimate Piano Performance from Lambchop

Lambchop, led by Kurt Wagner, will perform an intimate piano show accompanied by a choir in the Barbican Hall in June 2024 in a special one-off performance. Wagner will be joined by frequent-collaborator Minneapolis-based musician, producer and Fog frontman Andrew Broder (grand piano) as well as Cole Davis (acoustic bass) and the choir, which will be assembled and directed by Blake Morgan of Voces8.

Formed in Nashville in 1986, Lambchop has released over a dozen critically acclaimed albums on City Slang and Merge records. Over the years, their sound has evolved, incorporating soul, jazz and country elements into their music. Throughout, Kurt Wagner’s voice has remained the heart and soul of the band – a powerful instrument conveying a world of emotion with just a few well-chosen words.

For this unique performance, audiences at the Barbican will see Lambchop’s classic songs experienced in a new light, stripped down to their essence with Wagner and Broder pushing each other to new heights in a continuation of their fruitful collaboration.

Produced by the Barbican in association with Crosstown Concerts

Find out more