Noor Bakhsh hails from Pakistan’s Balochistan region at the shores of the Indian Ocean, tucked away on the borders of Iran and Afghanistan. He plays an unusual string instrument with the keys the locals call a “Benju”, originally a musical toy which has found its way from Japan to Pakistan.
After hearing rumours of this awe-inspiring master musician, ethnomusicologist Daniyal Ahmed embarked on an odyssey to find Noor. Together, they recorded the artist’s debut album in situ at sunset with only two microphones, to a stunning effect. Released digitally on Ahmed’s own honiunhoni imprint, “Jingul” is currently receiving rave reviews by the international press, with a physical release being in the works. At home, on the Indian subcontinent, Noor found himself in the unlikely position of becoming a viral star, a perspective most unusual for somebody who doesn’t own a cell phone or has access to the internet.
In June 2023, we are excited about the unique chance to present this spectacular performer of heavy traditional sounds for the first time live in Europe. The show @ Jugend[widerstands]museum marks the Berlin debut of this legendary musician, who will otherwise perform at large outdoor festivals like Roskilde, Rudolstadt and Amsterdam Roots on this trip.
Ustad Noor Bakhsh (honiunhoni, Balochistan)
22.6.2023 | Doors 19:30 CET | Starts 20:00 CET
Jugend[widerstands]museum | Rigaer Str. 9/10 | 10247 Berlin
instagram.com/noorbenju/ | Event @ Facebook
