A unique new collaboration of English and Kashmiri folk music, Touchstone brings together four of the very finest UK based musicians in a special project of musical sharing and friendship. Working together over the summer of 2022, they explore their musical heritage ahead of creating a first ever fusion of Kashmiri and English folk music which premieres at Manchester Folk Festival 2022.
Lala Qadeer is one of the most popular and versatile British Kashmiri artists. Hailing from a small village in Mirpur district of Pakistani Administered Jammu Kashmir, he started performing his vocal skills from school years by reciting Hamad (praising Allah) and Naats (praising Prophet PBUH). In College he took part in theatre and singing before setting up Saifulmuluk Academy and performing on the shrine of this most popular poet philosopher of the region. After migrating to Britain in early years of the 21st Century, Lala continued performing to audiences nationwide.
As a touring soloist, and with no less than 37 tours of the USA, 5 trips to Australia and countless European tours to his credit, Alistair Anderson is internationally acknowledged as a master of the English Concertina and a fine exponent of the Northumbrian Pipes. He delights audiences with the lyrical slow airs and lively dance tunes of Northumberland and with his own compositions, which have grown out of his love of traditional music.
BBC Folk Awards Best Musician nominee Dan Walsh combines ‘virtuoso playing and winning songwriting’ (MORNING STAR). Describing what Dan does is no easy task but at the heart of it is British, Irish and American folk music delivered with a healthy dose of funky grooves – all performed with his unique and dazzling take on clawhammer style banjo helping to challenge all preconceptions about the instrument.
Khalil Anjum studied tabla from an eminent tabla maestro Ustad Sarvar Sabri. Khalil is the leader of Dhanak Music Group. He arranges music performance for various requirements. He has over 30 years of experience, and has performed with different singers and musicians across the UK and internationally.