KalaSudha in Leicester
KalaSudha brought Leicester Raga Rhythms, an evening of Indian classical music, to the Sue Townsend Theatre on Upper Brown Street. Register for Leicester updates.
Our reach in Leicester
A growing community built through live music, trusted partnerships and shared cultural experiences.
New concerts are being planned
Register for Leicester updates to hear first, or talk to us about bringing a KalaSudha concert to your venue.
The second half was mind-blowing. Ah. Extraordinary expertise.
I was expecting a regular performance, but it's turned out to be extraordinary.
About KalaSudha in Leicester
KalaSudha brought an evening of Indian classical music, Leicester Raga Rhythms, to the Sue Townsend Theatre on Upper Brown Street on Sunday 28 September 2025, as part of Kala Festival 2025. It ran in three sessions: Kathak, slide guitar and a tabla duet.
Pandit Debasis Chakroborty played Indian slide guitar in the Senia-Maihar lineage, letting steel strings sing with the inflexions of the human voice. Then Ustad Akram Khan, seventh generation of the Ajrada Gharana, known for deep bass resonance and intricate phrasing, joined another tabla player for a duet. The evening ended with the two of them trading phrases.
That September night put Kathak, an Indian slide guitar and a tabla duet on the same stage. Register for updates to hear about the next Leicester date. If the slide guitar set stayed with you, Pandit Debasis Chakroborty teaches it in the online course Indian Slide Guitar with Debasis Chakroborty.
Why Leicester
What sets KalaSudha apart in Leicester
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A day after Dartington
Ustad Akram Khan also played the Dartington Ragas Festival, near Totnes, on 27 September, the day before.
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Find the Sue Townsend Theatre
The Sue Townsend Theatre is at 16 Upper Brown Street, Leicester, LE1 5TE.
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A week after Cambridge
Kala Festival 2025 reached Lee Seng Tee Hall in Cambridge on 21 September, a week before the Leicester evening.
Milestones
Our Leicester story
The performances, partnerships and shared moments that continue to shape our work in the city.
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Concerts
1 concert presented
KalaSudha has built a stage for Indian classical music in Leicester.
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Artists
3 artists featured
Musicians from different lineages have met our Leicester audience through performances and conversations.
Past KalaSudha concerts in Leicester
Explore the performances, artists and venue partnerships that have grown our community across the city.
View all past concertsLeicester Raga Rhythms: Kathak, Indian Slide Guitar & Tabla Duet
FAQs about Leicester
Where can I hear live Indian classical music, including tabla and Kathak, in Leicester?
KalaSudha has presented live Indian classical music in Leicester at the Sue Townsend Theatre, 16 Upper Brown Street, Leicester LE1 5TE. KalaSudha's Leicester concert, Leicester Raga Rhythms, played there on Sunday 28 September 2025 as part of Kala Festival 2025, in three sessions: Kathak, Indian slide guitar and a tabla duet.
KalaSudha is also launching a streaming player on its own platform soon, with live concerts and edited recordings of past concerts in up to 4K. For future Leicester dates, see how to hear about new KalaSudha concerts in Leicester.
How can I find out when KalaSudha announces its next Indian classical music concert in Leicester?
Press Register for updates on the KalaSudha Leicester page to hear when KalaSudha sets a new Leicester concert date. KalaSudha lists every new Leicester concert on that page with its booking link.
In Leicester, KalaSudha presented Leicester Raga Rhythms at the Sue Townsend Theatre on Sunday 28 September 2025, as part of Kala Festival 2025.
What was Leicester Raga Rhythms, the KalaSudha concert of Kathak, Indian slide guitar and tabla at the Sue Townsend Theatre in Leicester in September 2025?
Leicester Raga Rhythms was a KalaSudha concert of Indian classical music and dance at the Sue Townsend Theatre, Leicester, on Sunday 28 September 2025, part of Kala Festival 2025. The evening ran in three sessions: Kathak, Indian slide guitar from Pandit Debasis Chakroborty, and a tabla duet with Ustad Akram Khan. See how to hear about new Leicester concerts.
Can I learn Indian classical music with KalaSudha in Leicester, online and in person?
Yes. KalaSudha's online academy offers classes in every discipline of Indian classical music, and keeps adding specialised courses and teachers. The courses are hybrid. When enough learners in Leicester sign up, KalaSudha brings physical workshops and summer camps to Leicester, so you can learn online and in person.
To catch new Leicester dates, see how to hear about new KalaSudha concerts in Leicester.
Where can I learn to play the sitar or the tabla in Leicester, online or in person, with KalaSudha?
KalaSudha's online academy teaches sitar and tabla, among every discipline of Indian classical music, and keeps adding specialised courses and teachers. The courses are hybrid. When enough learners in Leicester sign up, KalaSudha brings physical workshops and summer camps to Leicester, so you can learn online and in person. See learning with KalaSudha in Leicester.
Can I hire a sitar player or a tabla player through KalaSudha for an event in Leicester?
Yes. To book a sitar or tabla player in Leicester, email [email protected] with the date, the place and the type of event, and KalaSudha suggests musicians. To hear KalaSudha's musicians live first, see KalaSudha in Leicester.
I have never been to an Indian classical concert. What kind of music and musicians will I hear at a KalaSudha concert in Leicester?
A raga performance opens with the alap, a slow section with no pulse. In instrumental music the jor then brings in a steady pulse, and when the tabla enters with the composition, the rhythm takes hold. KalaSudha concerts run in two halves with a short interval, about 2 to 2½ hours. KalaSudha's Leicester Raga Rhythms brought Kathak dance, Indian slide guitar and a tabla duet with Ustad Akram Khan to the Sue Townsend Theatre. See the first-time listener guide and Leicester concerts.