Playlist: South Asian Sounds 2025
Sample the sounds of our series celebrating contemporary and classical music from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan
May 2025 saw the second edition of South Asian Sounds, four days of concerts and gigs here at the Southbank Centre featuring a mix of big names and emerging new voices.
South Asia is an undeniably big area, home to a huge number of people and a rich array of musical cultures and traditions. So to give you a clearer flavour of what to expect from the 2025 edition of this series, we put together this playlist of music from the artists who joined us.
This marvellous mixed bag features some huge names in their fields, artists such as sitar legend Baluji Shrivastav and the ‘Pride of Gujarat’ Osman Mir; popular performers, including Bhangra chart-topper Jay Dhami and Roopa Panesar; and rising British-Asian stars, such as singer Saloni and collective 916. So settle in for 150 minutes of musical magic.
Steel impact: the story of the first ever steelpan performance in Britain
Read the fascinating story behind the first ever steelpan performance on these shores, 75 years ago this summer.
5 things to know about Rough Trade
A look at the much-loved independent label as it celebrates its 50th year.
Artist on artist: Neil Hannon on the ‘aesthetically brilliant’ William Morris
The singer-songwriter and frontman of the Divine Comedy discusses his ever-growing admiration for the 19th century designer and polymath.