About this event

Immerse yourself in the rich landscapes of Indian classical music brought to you by the North East’s award-winning arts organisation GemArts.

Akash Parekar began his journey with the sitar at the age of 18 in 2011, and has since emerged as one of the most exciting talents among a new generation of British-born sitar players. With roots in Western classical and contemporary music, Akash brings a fresh, innovative voice to the instrument, blending tradition with modern musical sensibilities.

A dedicated disciple of renowned sitarist Roopa Panesar, Akash has also been guided by esteemed musicians including Ustad Dharambir Singh MBE, Ustad Harjinderpal Singh (disciple of Pandit Shivkumar Sharma), and Ustad Irshad Khan (disciple and son of Ustad Imrat Khan, and nephew of Ustad Vilayat Khan).

His collaborative work spans a wide creative spectrum, featuring projects with Zak Starkey (The Who, Oasis), Mayur Navekar (Bandish Projekt), and Michael Tedstone (ManikeMusic), among others. Akash has performed at major venues and festivals—including Glastonbury—and is currently working on his highly anticipated debut album.

Janan Sathiendran is a dynamic tabla player whose artistry is shaped by deep training in both Hindustani and Carnatic traditions. A student of Shri Sukhdeep Singh Dhanjal and Pandit Yogesh Samsi, Janan grew up in London in a home enriched by diverse musical influences, developing a refined instinct and adaptable style from a young age.

His versatility as a performer enables him to move effortlessly across genres: from accompanying Indian classical music and dance to performing Qawwali, collaborating with Western classical ensembles, and working in contemporary and urban music. This breadth has taken him around the world, sharing stages with celebrated artists including Abi Sampa, Nitin Sawhney, and A.R. Rahman.

Find out more about GemArts at www.gemarts.org.

About Classical Café
Classical Café is a series of Sunday afternoon performances at Middlesbrough Town Hall. Listen to classical music in a more informal and relaxed atmosphere, enjoying coffee and cake while you listen!

Access information
Toilets and facilities
For more details about our facilities and accessing the different spaces at Middlesbrough Town Hall please visit https://boxoffice.middlesbrough.gov.uk/middlesbrough-town-hall/your-visit-to-middlesbrough-town-hall/accessibility-at-middlesbrough-town-hall/

Pushchair policy
Due to Middlesbrough Town Hall’s fire regulation policies pushchairs, prams & car seats must be left in our dedicated ‘buggy parking’ zone on the carriageway and cannot be taken into any of the event spaces. Unfortunately, we cannot take responsibility for items left there, but we do our best to keep an eye on them.

Relaxed setting
All our family events take place in a relaxed environment, and have the following features:
– There’ll be lower volume levels throughout the event
– Our spaces have consistent lighting, with low level auditorium lights on throughout
– Our musicians and facilitators have relaxed attitude to noise and moving around the space
– A quiet, chill out space will be available should you need a break

Ear defenders
Our younger visitors can find a busy venue and loud musical activities quite overwhelming. A limited number of ear defenders are available from the Box Office – by the main entrance on Albert Road. See us as early as possible to secure a pair.