Lian folk band from Bushehr in south Iran will hold concerts on July 29 and 31 in the UK.
The band will perform on July 29 in London as part of the WOMAD festival, an international world music event whose 2018 UK edition is to be held July 26-29 at Charlton Park, Mehr News Agency reported on its Persian website.
Bagpipe virtuoso and music researcher Mohsen Sharifian, 42, leads the band. One of the pieces Lian will present is named “Khayyami.” The energetic piece is 7 minutes long and incorporates a wide range of folk instruments.
Aklou Faramarzi and Mohammad Bahrani will sing at the London performance. Homayoun Nassiri and Hamid Akbari will play percussion and Hossein Taban will be on oud.
Sharifian and Lian are given an opportune introduction on the WOMAD website that says:
“Many academic experts on music are infinitely more interested in researching it than playing. Not so Mohsen Sharifian, who put his music postgraduate degree to the best possible use, becoming one of the premier performers of Iranian folk in the world today.
Lian band is an intriguing prospect. Sharifian’s stage-presence is dazzling, his energy and charisma providing an effective contrast to the hypnotic percussion and vocals provided by the group.
The troupe generates an impressive, layered wall of sound, but their set maintains a strong sense of playfulness, as the performers dabble in dance, solo, and improvisation throughout.
Sharifian’s commitment to playing and advocating for Iranian folk is important and inspiring. His work with Lian band is going some way to rejuvenating and amplifying this vital musical culture.”
After the WOMAD event, Lian will hold a concert in Manchester on July 31.
Secretary of WOMAD is singer, songwriter and record player Peter Gabriel, 67. “The best music you’ve never heard …,” he sums up about the festival.
