Kiran Ahluwalia

Two-time JUNO (Canadian Grammy) award winning singer-songwriter Kiran Ahluwalia infuses the rich musical styles of India and Pakistan with West African Blues and Jazz for a captivating sound that features her “open hearted vocals and transcends cultural boundaries.” Ahluwalia won the 'Newcomer' category in the inaugural Songlines Music Awards in May 2009 and has released seven albums. Her brand new release, Comfort Food, due out this April, is her first in six years and is "a powerful statement of protest with songs rejecting injustice, as well as songs embracing joy." Ahluwalia has collaborated with legendary Malian group Tinariwen, Celtic fiddler Natalie MacMaster and fado masters from Portugal and her own band is led by renowned jazz guitarist Rez Abbasi, whose accolades include the Guggenheim Fellowship and frequent appearances on the Top Ten Guitarists of Downbeat’s International Critics Poll. A couple in both music and life, Ahluwalia and Abassi “craft songs that are equal parts reflective and groovy and bring together the disparate traditions of Indian music, West African Blues and Jazz. Three continents come together in these songs so organically that they sound like nothing else - ethereal, raw, urgent and elegant at the same time.” Accompanying Kiran Ahluwalia is Rez Abbasi, guitar; Louis Simao, accordion and keys; Ravi Naimpally, tabla; and Dhaivat Jan, percussion.