Milap brings world-class Indo-Jazz and South Asian arts to the North West for spring 2026

Milap has unveiled its Spring 2026 programme, bringing some of the biggest names in contemporary Indian music and Indo-jazz to the North West.

Fresh off the success of this year’s Indika Festival, the organisation is teaming up with Liverpool International Jazz Festival to showcase leading UK artists who are shaping the future of Indo-jazz. The season opens on saturday 28 february with a special double bill from Zoe Rahman and Arun Ghosh.

Zoe Rahman is known as one of the most distinctive and imaginative pianists in UK jazz. Her work blends classical influences with vibrant jazz composition, earning collaborations with major artists and top industry awards including the ivor novello impact award.

Joining her is clarinettist and composer Arun Ghosh, twice named jazz instrumentalist of the year at the parliamentary jazz awards. His sound brings together jazz, indian classical and global influences, creating a style that has made him one of the most exciting innovators in the genre. Their performance will explore their shared british-bengali heritage in a unique musical conversation.

On saturday 28 march, Sarathy Korwar brings his latest album, there is beauty, there already, to Future Yard in Birkenhead as part of his uk tour. Korwar has become one of the most talked-about names in modern jazz, blending percussion, voice, electronics and south asian rhythmic traditions into a bold contemporary sound. His albums have picked up major accolades from mojo, the guardian, songlines and jazz fm.

Milap will also present a special lunchtime concert at the tung auditorium on wednesday 18 february featuring sarangi player Satwinder Pal Singh, joined by Milap artist in residence Kousic Sen. Pal Singh’s rich musical background and mastery of bowed instruments from northern india promise a tranquil and restorative midweek performance.

The programme continues at the lowry on tuesday 31 march with just enough madness & caught in the net of rebirth, a powerful new dance-theatre work by payal ramchandani and chandenie gobardhan.

The show explores themes of creation, preservation and destruction through kuchipudi, bharatanatyam, street dance, contemporary movement and spoken word, accompanied by live music.

Check out the full line up here.

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