Khiyo mix powerful and expressive interpretations of Bengali classics with dynamic and original arrangements

PLEASE NOTE: THIS EVENT REPLACES THE POSTPONED 30 NOVEMBER 2021 DATE

London-based Khiyo brings together British-Bangladeshi vocalist Sohini Alam, with composer Oliver Weeks and bassist Ben Heartland to give Bengali music a modern, fresh sound. Drawing on South Asian and Western folk and classical traditions, rock, blues and jazz, Khiyo is fast developing a reputation as a formidable live band, first headlining at the Purcell Room as part of the South Bank’s 2013 Alchemy Festival.

Khiyo is named after a letter in the Bengali alphabet; a combination of two letters, it also has an identity of its own. Similarly, though the band’s members draw on many different musical backgrounds, the amalgamation of the whole has a singularly identifiable sound.

Presented by SAMA Arts Network. Supported by Arts Council England.

About SAMA

Sama Arts Network is one of the UK’s oldest and most influential arts organisations in the genre of traditional and contemporary South Asian arts. It also presents Orchestral, Jazz and World Music. http://sama.co.uk/

About Khiyo

Khiyo was formed in 2007 as a collaboration between British-Bangladeshi vocalist Sohini Alam and composer/multi-instrumentalist Oliver Weeks. They are joined by bassist Ben Heartland, and guests Aniruddha Mukherjee on tabla and David Ingamells on drums. The band released its debut album in summer 2014.

Sohini Alam: Vocals

Sohini Alam is a British vocalist of Bangladeshi descent whose musical repertoire includes folk, patriotic, modern and traditional Bengali songs with a specialisation in Nazrul Sangeet. She has branched out into multi-lingual music in bands, for dance, and for theatre. A third generation vocalist, Sohini trained in music with her mother, Hiron Alam and her aunts, Jannat Ara and Ferdous Ara. Sohini is the lead vocalist for Khiyo and for Kishon Khan’s Afro-Cuban-Bengali jazz band, Lokkhi Terra. She is a founding member of Komola Collective.

Oliver Week: Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Piano

Oliver Weeks works have been performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Philharmonia Orchestra, the BBC Singers and the Mercury Quartet, amongst others. His interest in South Asian music has led to the forming of Khiyo, British Council-funded tours of India and Bangladesh with Parapar (a collaboration with Moushumi Bhowmik) and music for the Mumbai and Kolkata theatres.

Ben Heartland: Upright & Electric Bass

Ben Heartland is an upright and electric bassist whose musical repertoire spans western classical, jazz, rock, blues, folk and funk. This has seen him perform across the UK, Europe and Australia with acts including The James Taylor Quartet and the Dennis Greaves Band; and in India and Bangladesh with Moushumi Bhowmik’s Parapar. He also writes music for theatre, video and radio.