British Festival 2014 Presents 'Circle of Sound' in Doha

Doha, March 24 (QNA) - British Festival 2014 presents fusion music two-man band Circle of Sound for the first time at the Al Rayyan Theatre, Souq Waqif in Doha on March 30. Critically acclaimed trendsetters of British-Asian music, composer Soumik Datta, on 19-stringed sarod, and drummer Bernhard Schimpelsberger, create tunes based on Indian ragas, British Council Qatar said Monday. Their music also resonates urban beat, glockenspiels and captures the spirit of rock genre. Glockenspiel is a percussion instrument having a set of tuned metal pieces mounted on a frame and struck with small hammers. The duo's presentations include orchestral strings, live electronics and award-winning guest performers. They include singer-songwriter Fiona Bevan, Laura Stanford, Rosabella Gregory and Danial Keane. Circle of Sound will launch its second album, Anti Hero, here in Qatar. The album features collaborations with musicians Nitin Sawhney and Anoushka Shankar, daughter of sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar. The performance in Doha will be the first stop on the band's Anti Hero international tour. British Council Qatar Director Martin Hope said, "Music brings together people of all backgrounds. This performance will speak its own language to people in Qatar. Circle of Sound has toured the world representing the best of new British music." Composer Soumik Datta said, "This is such an exciting opportunity for us to support the British Festival 2014. Having collaborated with the British Council over the past few years, we have had the privilege of working closely with some incredible local talent." This musical event is as part of the British Festival 2014. It is a celebratory collaboration between the British Council, the British Embassy Doha and UK Trade and Investment. (QNA)