Video: Watch Sky Arts at The Darbar Festival 2010 >>

 

 

Described by World Music magazine Songlines as “surely Britain’s best festival of south Asian music,” Darbar Festival of Indian classical music brings together the best UK musicians alongside maestros from around the world.

It is the largest annual festival of Indian classical music in Europe and takes place every Easter weekend at the Kings Place, London. As well as performances there are TV-style interviews, mini-concerts, films and workshops for children.

The inaugural Darbar Festival in Leicester was a tribute to the late Bhai Gurmit Singh Virdee, a resident of Leicester. Gurmit Ji was a talented tabla player, an inspirational teacher, and a deeply spiritual person who made a selfless contribution to the music scene.

Sky Arts met up with his son Sandeep Virdee, the artistic director of the event, to learn about the philosophy behind the festival as well as what audiences can look forward to this year.