Inside Liverpool’s Indika Festival: An Evening with the Rohan Roy Collective

This October, MILAP celebrated 40 years of bringing Indian arts and culture to the Liverpool region with the Indika festival. Yet again, the festival delivered bright and bold performances, showcasing talented musicians and dancers. On the 24^th of October, I was lucky enough to attend a performance by the Rohan Roy Collective, which proved to be a beautiful evening of music.

The evening began with an introduction to the ensemble: Rohan Roy on violin, Giuliano Modarelli on guitar, Domenico Angrano on bass, and Harkiret Singh Bahra on the tabla drums. What followed was an incredibly special performance that, for just a couple of hours, transported the audience to a whole other world. There were slow, mellow moments where Roy’s violin solos gave us all chills, as well as moments of unpredictability, creating a playful air of excitement and joy.

Fearlessly fusing together Indian ragas with jazz and groove, it’s fair to say the group kept the audience on their toes, as we were taken on a journey and told a story through music. Watching the stage burst with energy and emotion, you couldn’t help but get lost in the exchange between the different musical styles and instruments. Each member of the ensemble was paramount in the telling of the story, and each of them took the lead at various points. This ensured the audience could fully appreciate their remarkable talent both individually, and as part of the group.

Hearing the unique, experimental and innovative compositions of the Rohan Roy Collective was a magical experience. Together, Roy, Modarelli, Angrano, and Singh Bahra presented a work of art. They received a standing ovation from the audience, leaving no doubt about their level of artistry and skill.

To read the rest of our coverage of the INDKIA Festival, please click here:

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