London Ragas: Shakir Khan & Shahbaz Hussain
- #London
- #In-Person
- JUL 19, 2026
- Sunday
- 5:00 PM
- 2 hours
- Royal Wharf Community Dock
- London, United Kingdom
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Event Summary
Performing Artists
Event Highlights
Etawah Gharana Lineage
Two Masters, One Stage
Intimate Baithak at Royal Dock
Music as Meditation
Performing Artists
-
Shakir Khan -
Shahbaz Hussain
Event Details
This July, London welcomes Shakir Khan, one of the most talented Sitar players of the younger generation, along with Tabla virtuoso Ustad Shahbaz Hussain, from Manchester, to bring the magic of Indian classical music to our London Ragas at the Royal Wharf community dock on 19th. We are starting this monthly concert, our Baithak, our Darbar, with these amazing artists.
Shakir Khan carries the generations of musical practice of the Etawah Gharana into his playing and follows in the footsteps of his father, Sitar maestro Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan. He is frequently featured at all the major festivals of this music genre in India and abroad. At KalaSudha, we are truly honoured to feature him in our concert. Alongside him is Shahbaz Hussain. A renowned tabla maestro, he is one of Europe's finest players, known for his dynamic, intricate performances in Indian classical music and fusion projects.
This evening is more than music; it is also an invitation to pause, reflect, and experience the healing resonance of sound (Shabd). For centuries, Indian classical traditions have regarded music as a form of meditation, a means of restoring balance within ourselves and within our communities. When we gather for intimate concerts with others and participate in musical experiences that carry ancient sound, we open a whole new world to ourselves. In today’s world, these timeless practices remind us of our profound connection between music, mental health, mindfulness, and emotional well-being. This evening offers renewal, a chance to feel uplifted, connected, and restored through the universal language of music.
If you are in London or around, do join. For any special needs, contact us.
Doors open at 4:30 PM, with music starting at 5:00 PM.
Audience Policy:
- Unauthorised filming or photography is not permitted.
- The use of mobile phones (including texting) is not allowed during the event. We kindly ask for your cooperation. Thank you!
Learning to play tabla with different gharanas and styles made me a more musically awakened soul, gave an immense depth and enriched my tabla playing.
Venue information
Royal Wharf Community Dock
Royal Wharf Community Dock, 2 John Harrison Sq, Royal Wharf, London, E16 2ZA
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I hear live Indian classical music in London, and which venues does KalaSudha use?
You can hear Hindustani (North Indian) classical music live in London at London Ragas, KalaSudha's concert series in London. Its evenings are baithaks: the audience sits close to the musicians. London Ragas can take place at different venues across London, and KalaSudha plans to add more baithaks in other parts of London. KalaSudha is based in London, so every concert tour it organises also plays London once.
See how to book tickets for a London concert and how to get to the venues.
Who is the sitar player Shakir Khan, and what is his lineage?
Shakir Khan is a sitar player of the Etawah gharana, and the son and disciple of Shahid Parvez. He plays in the gayaki ang, which asks a sitarist to produce from strings the ornaments, curves and sustain that a singer makes with breath. He gave his first public performance at 11. The Sangeet Natak Akademi gave him the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar for 2019, presented in 2023. Through SwarSetu, founded in memory of his grandfather Aziz Khan, he teaches students worldwide.
Who is the tabla player Ustad Shahbaz Hussain, and who were his teachers?
Ustad Shahbaz Hussain is a tabla player who teaches across the north of England. He first studied under his father, the vocalist Mumtaz Hussain, then learned from Faiyaz Khan of the Delhi gharana and from Shaukat Hussain Khan and Allah Rakha of the Punjab gharana. He leads the fusion group Indus and accompanies touring classical artists. He teaches at the University of Newcastle and the University of Huddersfield, and received the Son of Lahore Award from the Government of Pakistan in 2008.
What is a sitar?
A sitar is a long-necked lute with a gourd body, movable curved frets, and a set of sympathetic strings running beneath the playing strings.
The curved frets let a player pull a string sideways and bend one note into another. Players call that bend the meend, and the sympathetic strings keep ringing behind it.
What is the Etawah (Imdadkhani) gharana of sitar, where does it come from, and who plays in it today?
The Etawah gharana, also called the Imdadkhani gharana, is a school of sitar and surbahar playing that formed in the 19th century around Imdad Khan. It takes its name from Etawah, a town near Agra. Family accounts begin with his father, Sahabdad Khan. Imdad Khan based his style on khayal singing, which grew into the gayaki ang, a way of playing that follows the voice. Vilayat Khan and Shahid Parvez carried it on, and Shahid Parvez trained his son Shakir Khan.
Have more questions? Contact our support team and we'll be happy to help!