AMARRASS RECORDS 

NEWS!

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LAKHA KHAN AWARDED THE PADMA SHRI 2021

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Khamangani! Spectacular news! Ustad Lakha Khan has been bestowed with the Padma Shri (or Padma Shree) - India's fourth highest civilian award for the arts. He is a living legend, and perhaps the greatest sindhi sarangi maestro, and a keeper of India's songbook, a voice of unity and secularism. Amarrass Records is proud and honoured to work with, and represent Padma Shri Lakha Khan. Our heartiest congratulations and best wishes to the maestro for the long overdue recognition he deserves, and a big thank you to all the presenters, bookers, festivals, friends and well-wishers who have been part of this decade-long journey. Shukriya, Dhanyavad!

UPCOMING/RECENT CONCERTS & TOURS

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25 JUN 2022 - AMARRASS NIGHTS - NEW DELHI

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30 JUN 2022 - ROSKILDE FESTIVAL - MORNING RAGAS

ROSKILDE, DENMARK

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8-9 JUl 2022 - RUDOLSTADT FESTIVAL

RUDOLSTADT, GERMANY

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12 DEC 2020 - SAMA: SEATTLE SACRED MUSIC & ART - LIVESTREAM FROM RAJASTHAN & NEW DELHI 

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20 MAY 2020 - Live 'At Home' from Raneri, RAJASTHAN

(facebook live video)

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21 JUNE 2020 - SUMMER SOLSTICE CONCERT FOR IN2WILD FESTIVAL - Live 'At Home' from Raneri, RAJASTHAN

(facebook live video)

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23 OCT - 24 NOV 2019 || WOMEX SHOWCASE + EUROPE TOUR

FINLAND, THE NETHERLANDS, CZECH REP. DENMARK, SWEDEN

"No frills needed; just great playing from an Indian master" - Simon Broughton, Songlines

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Lakha Khan, a living legend and the undisputed master of the sindhi sarangi, is a national treasure, and a National award winner for his contribution to Rajasthani folk music, and perhaps the greatest exponent of the 27-string sindhi sarangi.

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His music is truly secular and straddles both the classical and folk domains, with a vast songbook that incorporates Hindu bhajans (devotional songs), Sufi kalaams, popular Hindi tunes, and the ancient stories and oral histories of the region, spanning the western Indian sub-continent. He sings in over six languages including Hindi, Marwari, Sindhi, Punjabi and Multani. Bestowed with a powerful and melodious voice that perfectly compliments his instrument, Lakha Khan's music transcends boundaries and invokes a spiritual oneness in the listener. He is accompanied by his son Dane Khan on the dholak - the double headed Indian folk drum.

 

Born in the village of Raneri in Jodhpur district, Rajasthan, India into a family of traditional musicians from the Manganiyar community, he was trained at an early age in rendering the compositions of the Multan school of Manganiyars. His first public performances were in the late 60's and 70's in India, and under the guidance of the late ethnomusicologist Komal Kothari, toured Europe, UK, Russia and Japan through the 90's. He resumed international touring in 2013 with Amarrass organizing his first US tour, and has since made six international tours, and performed at notable festivals in India including Jodhpur RIFF, Mahindra Kabira Festival and more. 

 

Lakha Khan is one of the last remaining masters of this complex instrument and to carry forward the centuries-old musical tradition of Rajasthani and Multani folk and Sufi music.
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• Padma Shri awarded by the President of India in 2021 (India's fourth highest civilian award for the arts), Sangeet Natak Akademi award for his contribution to Rajasthani folk music, Marudhara Foundation (Kolkata) recognition

• Performed at the 2011 Edinburgh Folk Music Festival, The Amarrass Desert Music Festival (2011, 2014), Sensational India Festival at the Peabody Essex Museum (2013), Old and New Dreams Festival, Chicago (2014)

• Four European tours in 2016/17/18/19 to Denmark, Sweden, Finland (WOMEX 2019 showcase artist in Tampere, Finland), Czech Republic, The Netherlands (Le Guess Who?), Sweden, Belgium 

• Tour supported by Air India Denmark. Produced by Amarrass Records and Second to the Left. 

• Featured artist on ‘Mitha Bol’ (2011, Amarrass Records), nominated for 'Folk Album of the Year' at the Global Indian Music Awards 2012

• Three coast-to-coast US tours in 2013, 2014 and 2017 including sold out concerts in New York City (Elebash Hall), Pittsburgh, and performances at Indiana University, Bloomington, American University, Washington D.C., University of Iowa, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and more.

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PRESS

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Sindhi sarangi player and vocalist Lakha Khan on winning the Padma Shri and living alongside caste discrimination for years - The Indian Express, 30 Jan 2021

 

"a fresh look at the veteran master" - Simon Broughton 

Songlines, 22 Nov 2019

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"Lakha Khan: Meet the Indian musician fighting to save Rajasthan's traditional music" - Andrew Buncombe, Independent UK, Mar 2017

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"4 Stars - No frills needed; just great playing from an Indian master" - Simon Broughton reviews Lakha Khan: Live in Nashville - Songlines#106

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"In the master's hand, the Sufi-influenced melody he coaxes from it (the sarangi) is transformative" - Michael Sullivan, NPR Weekend Edition

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"His songbook contains the roots of India's national popular music" - Aaron Cohen, Chicago Tribune

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"At Home is a superb set of field recordings" - Peter Margasak, Chicago Reader

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"Lakha Khan’s At Home documents the master musician’s art with a series of field recordings." - Edd Hurt, Nashville Scene

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