12.2.13

Saraswati Puja and United Nations of Indian Classical Music

Hi folks, 

The rescheduled United Nations of Indian Classical Music is coming up next Saturday night, with special guests Vinod Prasanna (bansuri) and Maharshi Raval (tabla) flying up from Melbourne and Sydney along with dynamic vocalist Tahir Qawwal from Mullumbimby and our own local stars Saikat Bhattacharya (sitar), Mathuja Bavan (Bharat Natyam dance), Yuki (Dhrupad) and myself. Sitar Restaurant will be providing delicious veggie samosas and chai during the interval. This is an event not to be missed, and your attendance will help support its establishment as an annual Indian Classical Music festival. Please book at trybooking.com/39379. Check out some photos from our sold-out Mullumbimby concert here.

This Friday is Saraswati Puja, honouring the Hindu goddess of music and learning. We will be holding a small home concert in Oxley with my top students accompanying Saikat (sitar), Darshil (bansuri) and Anju (sitar). The concert will be happening simultaneously with the regular Saraswati Puja concert in my Guru-ji's home in Varanasi.  Then on Saturday night, Bengali Society of QLD will have their celebration in Aspley, in which Saikat and I will also be performing.

If the links above don't work please go direct to the EthnoSuperLounge Events page: http://ethnosuperlounge.com/news/events.htm, and also my personal blogs http://shenflindell.blogspot.com/ and http://shenweb.blogspot.com/

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The Inaugural Event In BEMAC’s New ‘Crossings’ Series

Presenting on Saturday February 23rd (rescheduled after Cyclone Oswald), UnitedNations of Indian Classical Music brings together 7 accomplished Indian classical artists from around the world in a celebration of Indian classical culture.  This world class concert will be the first in BEMAC’s new Crossings series.  Join us this year at the Queensland Multicultural Arts Centre as we criss-cross the globe on a musical odyssey featuring artists from India to Sudan,  Iran to Japan, Vanuatu to the Northern Territory and who knows where else!

Experience the calm of ancient Dhrupad vocals by Yuki Taniguchi Flindell (Japan), the beauty of Bharat Natyam dance by Mathuja Bavan (Sri Lanka) and the exhilaration of high energy khayals and geets by Tahir Qawwal (Canada). The programme will culminate in a dynamic jugalbandi (duet) between Saikat Bhattacharya (India) on sitar and Vinod Prasanna (India/Melbourne) on bansuri (bamboo flute). Accompaniment will be provided by special guest tabla maestro from Sydney, Maharshi Raval (India) and Brisbane’s own Shen Flindell (Australia).  Event sponsors Sitar Restaurant will be providing delicious veggie samosas and chai during the interval.

Featured Artists

Vinod Prasanna - Bansuri (India/Melbourne)
Born into one of India’s greatest flute-playing families, award-winning bansuri (flute) virtuoso Vinod Prasanna shines as an outstanding performer of authentic traditional and contemporary Indian music. Vinod’s emotive melodies, exquisite improvisations and divine flute song distinguish his performance of Indian classical, world and meditation music. Simply, Indian music at its finest. Currently residing in Australia, Vinod is a performing and recording artist, teacher, craftsman and ambassador of the Bansuri. Vinod has more than 17 years of performing and teaching experience and continues a family legacy that celebrates more than two-and-a-half centuries of Indian music.

Saikat Bhattacharya - Sitar (India)
Having regularly performed in the Queensland Multicultural Music Festival, the Woodford Folk Festival and several other public and private programs around Brisbane, Saikat Bhattacharya has been playing the Sitar for over twenty years citing it as his passion and devotion.

Tahir Qawwal - Vocal  (Canada)

A passionate and highly skilled performer, Tahir Qawwal has trained with the highest masters of Indian Classical music and Sufi Qawwali music; performing and teaching vocal styles such as Geet, Ghazal, Bhajan, Thumri, classical and folk himself around the world for 12 years.

Mathuja Bavan - Bharat Natyam (Sri Lanka)
From an early age Mathuja was interested in music and various art forms – she is a keen student of piano and carnatic violin - but Bharatha Natyam occupies a very special place in her heart and has seen her perform solo, and in groups across New Zealand, Townsville, Gold Coast and Brisbane.

Yuki Taniguchi Flindell - Dhrupad vocal (Japan)
Through Mantra, Kirtan and Indian Classical Music, Yuki became interested in the power of sound. After several years studying yoga, kirtan and mantra in USA and Japan, Yuki now spends half the year in India studying Dhrupad vocal under Pt. Ritwik Sanyal, Sanskrit, and Mantra Yoga, giving concerts and teaching in Japan and Australia.

Maharshi Raval - Tabla (India/Sydney)
Having performed on television programs including X-Factor and Good News Week, Maharshi has been a student of Tabla -  winning first prize for National Youth Festival Tabla Competition in 1994 – for over 25 years. He has travelled extensively to various parts of the world as an accompanist to Indian Classical Vocalists, Instrumentalists and Kathak Dancers and runs a music institute: Shree Gajanan Cultural Mission - The Institute of Indian Classical Music and Dance.

Shen Flindell - Tabla (Australia)
Now an established performer in the Indian classical music circles of Australia and Japan, Shen Flindell has also had successful concerts in India. Not only is he capable in the 4 fields of vocal accompaniment, instrumental accompaniment, Kathak dance accompaniment and tabla solo, but has also given successful accompaniment in Carnatic vocal, Odissi and Bharat Natyam dance performances.

BEMAC’s New ‘Crossings’ Series: Transcend boundaries and experience the musical odyssey of global sounds, as ‘Crossings’ encapsulates the beats, rhythms and flavours of life.

The Queensland Multicultural Arts Centre

The Queensland Multicultural Centre (QMC) is a brand new purpose-built facility that will allow for all Queenslanders to share their diversity through the arts. With an acknowledgement that diversity and understanding can be strengthened by sharing our cultural background it is intended that the Centre become a preferred venue for community-based arts and cultural organisations. Built through a partnership between the State Government and Australand, the Centre features a 224 seat capacity theatre and auditorium and state of the art boardroom & conference / meeting facilities, and is poised to be the jewel in the BEMAC crown as they, in partnership with the State Government, drive the vision collective vision for the Centre, through management of its venues and facilities.

25 YEARS OF BEMAC
BEMAC (Brisbane Multicultural Arts Centre) is Queensland’s lead agency dedicated to identifying, developing, presenting and promoting artists from migrant and refugee backgrounds and world music practitioners. BEMAC present an annual program of world music and multicultural arts in venues and galleries across the state by local, national and international artists.
In celebration of their 25th year BEMAC has rolled out a whole host of new programs and events as well as making some exciting additions and changes to their existing ones.  Visit www.bemac.org.au for more information.
All Media Enquiries:
Heapsaflash: Music Media Management

17.1.13

Jan 26/27 United Nations of Indian Classical Music

Hi folks,

The "United Nations of Indian Classical Music" concerts are rapidly approaching, featuring 7 great artists in Mullumbimby on Jan 26 and Brisbane on Jan 27. We're bringing brilliant tabla player Maharshi Raval up from Sydney especially to join all the other very talented musicians on the bill. Bookings are online and seats are going fast, so don't miss out. (Full press release for Brisbane show here...)

SHEN'S NEWS - COMING UP
FRIENDS' NEWS - COMING UP
SHEN'S RECENT BLOGS
If the links above don't work please go direct to the EthnoSuperLounge Events page: http://ethnosuperlounge.com/news/events.htm, and also my personal blogs http://shenflindell.blogspot.com/ and http://shenweb.blogspot.com/

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Sun Jan 27 Brisbane: United Nations of Indian Classical Music


BEMAC and EthnoSuperLounge
Present

United Nations of Indian Classical Music

The premiere event in BEMAC’s ‘Crossings’ series

Presenting on January 27th, United Nations of Indian Classical Music brings together 7 accomplished Indian classical artists from around the world in a celebration of Indian classical culture on the shared occasion of Indian Republic Day and Australia Day.  This world class concert will be the first in BEMAC’s new Crossings series.  Join us this year at the Queensland Multicultural Arts Centre as we criss-cross the globe on a musical odyssey featuring artists from India to Sudan,  Iran to Japan, Vanuatu to the Northern Territory and who knows where else!
Experience the calm of ancient Dhrupad vocals by Yuki Taniguchi Flindell (Japan), the beauty of Bharat Natyam dance by Mathuja Bavan (Sri Lanka) and the exhilaration of high energy khayals and geets by Tahir Qawwal (Canada). The programme will culminate in a dynamic East-Meets-Further-East jugalbandi (duet) between Saikat Bhattacharya (India) on sitar and Taro Terahara (Japan) on bansuri (bamboo flute). Accompaniment will be provided by special guest tabla maestro from Sydney, Maharshi Raval (India) and Brisbane’s own Shen Flindell (Australia).
The Queensland Multicultural Arts Centre
The Queensland Multicultural Centre (QMC) is a brand new purpose-built facility that will allow for all Queenslanders to share their diversity through the arts. With an acknowledgement that diversity and understanding can be strengthened by sharing our cultural background it is intended that the Centre become a preferred venue for community-based arts and cultural organisations. Built through a partnership between the State Government and Australand, the Centre features a 224 seat capacity theatre and auditorium and state of the art boardroom & conference / meeting facilities, and is poised to be the jewel in the BEMAC crown as they, in partnership with the State Government, drive the vision collective vision for the Centre, through management of its venues and facilities.

United Nations of Indian Classical Music

Featured Artists

Saikat Bhattacharya - Sitar (India)
Having regularly performed in the Queensland Multicultural Music Festival, the Woodford Folk Festival and several other public and private programs around Brisbane, Saikat Bhattacharya has been playing the Sitar for over twenty years citing it as his passion and devotion.

Tahir Qawwal - Vocal  (Canada)
A passionate and highly skilled performer, Tahir Qawwal has trained with the highest masters of Indian Classical music and Sufi Qawwali music; performing and teaching vocal styles such as Geet, Ghazal, Bhajan, Thumri, classical and folk himself around the world for 12 years.

Taro Terahara - Bansuri (Japan)
One of the leading musicians in the Indian classical music scene in Japan Taro quit graduate school 20 years ago to devote himself entirely to the practice of Indian classical music. Studying under Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia, and later Mr. Amit Roy (who is generally seen as the father of Indian classical music in Japan), Taro music both engages the mind and touches the heart.

Mathuja Bavan - Bharat Natyam (Sri Lanka)
From an early age Mathuja was interested in music and various art forms – she is a keen student of piano and carnatic violin - but Bharatha Natyam occupies a very special place in her heart and has seen her perform solo, and in groups across New Zealand, Townsville, Gold Coast and Brisbane.

Yuki Taniguchi Flindell - Dhrupad vocal (Japan)
Through Mantra, Kirtan and Indian Classical Music, Yuki became interested in the power of sound. After several years studying yoga, kirtan and mantra in USA and Japan, Yuki now spends half the year in India studying Dhrupad vocal under Pt. Ritwik Sanyal, Sanskrit, and Mantra Yoga, giving concerts and teaching in Japan and Australia.





Maharshi Raval - Tabla (India/Sydney)
Having performed on television programs including X-Factor and Good News Week, Maharshi has been a student of Tabla -  winning first prize for National Youth Festival Tabla Competition in 1994 – for over 25 years. He has travelled extensively to various parts of the world as an accompanist to Indian Classical Vocalists, Instrumentalists and Kathak Dancers and runs a music institute: Shree Gajanan Cultural Mission - The Institute of Indian Classical Music and Dance.

Shen Flindell - Tabla (Australia)
Now an established performer in the Indian classical music circles of Australia and Japan, Shen Flindell has also had successful concerts in India. Not only is he capable in the 4 fields of vocal accompaniment, instrumental accompaniment, Kathak dance accompaniment and tabla solo, but has also given successful accompaniment in Carnatic vocal, Odissi and Bharat Natyam dance performances.
Sunday 27 January  
Queensland Multicultural Centre
102 Main Street, Kangaroo Point
Tickets:
Online/Concession/Bemac Members $20
Full price $25
25 YEARS OF BEMAC
BEMAC (Brisbane Multicultural Arts Centre) is Queensland’s lead agency dedicated to identifying, developing, presenting and promoting artists from migrant and refugee backgrounds and world music practitioners. BEMAC present an annual program of world music and multicultural arts in venues and galleries across the state by local, national and international artists.
In celebration of their 25th year BEMAC has rolled out a whole host of new programs and events as well as making some exciting additions and changes to their existing ones.  Visit www.bemac.org.au for more information.
All Media Enquiries:
Heapsaflash: Music Media Management

28.12.12

Sat Jan 5 Oxley: Pt Rabindra Narayan Goswami (sitar), Vinod Prasanna (bansuri), Shen Flindell (tabla)

Hi folks,
 

I hope you've been having a wonderful holidays. If you are up at Woodford, Taro and I will be performing in Folklorica Monday morning 1030am and Tuesday afternoon 1230pm, as well as participating in the New Year's Dawn Hilltop concert.

On Thursday I was fortunate to be invited to accompany two great musicians from my Indian hometown, Varanasi - Pt Rabindra Narayan Goswami (sitar) and Vinod Prasanna (bansuri) - who are performing at Woodford this week. If you missed Woodford, or enjoyed them and would like to hear them playing in a more focused intimate setting, please come to our concert at The Light House on Sat Jan 5 (they're also performing Jan 4 in Ocean Shores). 

Coming up on Jan 26/27 (Indian Republic Day/Australia Day long weekend) we have "United Nations of Indian Classical Music" featuring 7 great artists in Mullumbimby and Brisbane. We're bringing brilliant tabla player Maharshi Raval up from Sydney especially to join all the other very talented musicians on the bill. Please help spread the word!!!


SHEN'S GIGS - THIS WEEK
FRIENDS' NEWS - THIS WEEK
SHEN'S NEWS - COMING UP
SHEN'S RECENT BLOGS
If the links above don't work please go direct to the EthnoSuperLounge Events page: http://ethnosuperlounge.com/news/events.htm, and also my personal blogs http://shenflindell.blogspot.com/ and http://shenweb.blogspot.com/

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12.12.12

Sun Dec 16 Sunnybank: Swara Mohini End of Year Concert 2012 - Saikat Bhattacharya (sitar), Taro Terahara (bansuri), Shen Flindell (tabla)

Hi folks,

Well the Tibet2Timbuk2 Music is Life tour was loads of fun and quite successful. Taro really does add a magical element to the band, and we really bonded over the last 8 concerts. As usual I'm late with blogging... Brisbane folks will get the chance to hear our magic at the Festival of Tibet on 1st Feb. In the meantime why not buy our CD as a Christmas gift for someone you love?

Meanwhile this Sunday Taro and I will join sitarist Saikat Bhattacharya for Swara Mohini's end of year concert in Sunnybank.


Please note some big dates in January for beautiful Indian music - Jan 5 we'll be hosting Pt Rabindra Narayan Goswami (sitar) and Vinod Prasanna (bansuri) at the Light House. Then on Jan 26/27 we have "United Nations of Indian Classical Music" featuring 7 great artists in Mullumbimby and Brisbane.


SHEN'S GIGS - THIS WEEK
SHEN'S NEWS - COMING UP
FRIENDS' NEWS - COMING UP

SHEN'S RECENT BLOGS
If the links above don't work please go direct to the EthnoSuperLounge Events page: http://ethnosuperlounge.com/news/events.htm, and also my personal blogs http://shenflindell.blogspot.com/ and http://shenweb.blogspot.com/

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4.12.12

This weekend Nerang, Nimbin, Ocean Shores - Tibet2Timbuk2 Music is Life Tour

Hi folks,

Tibet2Timbuk2 have been having a blast touring Sunshine Coast and central NSW the last two weeks. Our special guest Taro Terahara adds a magical final element to complete a delicious and heady brew of sounds from Tibet, India and further west. Our tour closes this weekend with shows in Gold Coast on Friday, Nimbin on Saturday, and Ocean Shores on Sunday. Hope to see all you NNSW and Gold Coast folks there!


I also want to encourage Brisbane folks to go see Jaadu with Taro Terahara at the Judith Wright Centre this Thursday. Our home concert last Sunday was really enjoyable, smooth and cruisy. 

SHEN'S GIGS - THIS WEEK
FRIENDS' NEWS - THIS WEEK
SHEN'S NEWS - COMING UP

SHEN'S RECENT BLOGS
If the links above don't work please go direct to the EthnoSuperLounge Events page: http://ethnosuperlounge.com/news/events.htm, and also my personal blogs http://shenflindell.blogspot.com/ and http://shenweb.blogspot.com/

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18.11.12

Sunshine Coast: Tibet2Timbuk2 "Music is Life" tour this Fri/Sat

Hi folks,
Whoopee, it's Tibet2Timbuk2 tour time! We're kicking off with shows on the Sunshine Coast this weekend - in Doonan (Noosa) on Friday and Chenrezig on Saturday.
Also this weekend on Sunday afternoon from 2pm Taro and I will be joining jazz group Jaadu for a chilled garden concert in Woolloongabba.  Robert Welsh's beautiful piano, his son Ravi's smooth guitar, in collaboration with Indian vocalist Ranjini, Taro on bansuri, Shen on tabla and Nathan on percussion. Yum. 
Further ahead for Tibet2Timbuk2 tour: Nerang, Nimbin and Ocean Shores (and further south in NSW) - details at tibet2timbuk2.com


If the links above don't work please go direct to the EthnoSuperLounge Events page: http://ethnosuperlounge.com/news/events.htm, and also my personal blogs http://shenflindell.blogspot.com/ and http://shenweb.blogspot.com/
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7.11.12

This weekend in Woombye, Oxley, Myocum: Bamboo Bliss - Indian classical flute home concerts with Taro and Shen

Hi folks,

Thanks to everyone who came and enjoyed the sublime sarod concert by Steve Oda and Ty Burhoe at The Light House last Saturday. This week we have another beautiful Indian classical home concert on in Oxley, with  bansuri master Taro Terahara here in Brisbane on Sat 10th. We are also performing in Sunshine Coast (Fri Nov 9) and Byron (Sun 11th). 

Later this month we'll be going on tour with Tibet2Timbuk2. Unfortunately there are no shows in Brisbane but you will be able to catch us in Doonan, Chenrezig, Nerang, Nimbin and Ocean Shores - details at tibet2timbuk2.com

Please note that contrary to prior announcements, Tenzin, Taro and I will not be performing with Ani Choying Drolma in her shows next week. The organisers have decided to bring two musicians from Melbourne on the whole tour, which will no doubt be divine.



If the links above don't work please go direct to the EthnoSuperLounge Events page: http://ethnosuperlounge.com/news/events.htm, and also my personal blogs http://shenflindell.blogspot.com/ and http://shenweb.blogspot.com/
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