Fri 4 Nov 7.30pm: Sheikh Habboush & the Al Kindî Ensemble
LSO St Luke’s
With their mix of Sufi trance and whirling dervishes that hail from the ancient Syrian city of Aleppo, the Al-Kindî Ensemble are the modern face of a 400 year old tradition of mystical music and dance. Underpinned by the deep pure voice of Sufi Sheikh Habboush and accompanied by the traditional sound of the oriental zither and Arab lute, the Ensemble present an exquisite live experience.
http://www.barbican.org.uk/contemporary/04nov05.htm

Sat 5 Nov 7.30pm: Khaled
Barbican
Khaled, the undisputed King of Rai, Algeria’s rocking take on the blues, is back. His latest CD Ya- Rayi (Wrasse Records) marks a major return to form—‘a rousing, exuberant expression of passion by one of the great singers in the world today, at the height of his powers’, says the Observer. A Khaled gig is a massive musical celebration of life and love expressed with a burning passion that fires the audience.
http://www.barbican.org.uk/contemporary/05nov05.htm

Sun 6 Nov 7.30pm: Sufi Soul - Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and musicians
With special guests Sain Zahoor and Goonga & Mithu Sain
Barbican
This event brings together three special groups brought from Pakistan by the Barbican for their only British concert.

Qawwali singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan has inherited the mantle of his uncle, the legendary Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, creating with his group an ecstatic blend of passionate singing and spectacular performance. They are joined by Sain Zahoor, a group of acoustic street singers, and the remarkable drum performance of Goonga & Mithu Sain.

All of these groups feature in ‘Sufi Soul’, a Channel 4 documentary broadcast to coincide with this concert.
http://www.barbican.org.uk/contemporary/06nov05.htm

Sun 6 Nov 2-7pm : FreeStage - Anatolia + Yusuf Mahmoud + many more
Barbican
A host of free performances during the afternoon - confirmed so far are Anatolia combining traditional Kurdish and Turkish roots and rhythms and Yusuf Mahmoud, Afghani virtuoso and tabla master. Also expect a heady mix of Sufi singers, dhol drummers and dervishes transporting themselves and the audience into states of ecstasy.