Soundlands: Art Music in the Suburbs

Soundlands is a series of four concerts highlighting culturally diverse musicians and music forms from Bankstown and beyond. Soundlands is presented by Cultural Omnivore and Bankstown Arts Centre.

Concert #1
​Sunday 25 August

Zela Margossian Quintet

Variously described as “Armenian folk-jazz”, “ethno-jazz” or a “fusion of folk and jazz with traditional Armenian musical influences”, it’s hard to place the Zela Margossian Quintet neatly into one genre. Performing Zela’s original music as well as arrangements of contemporary works, the band is comprised of five versatile performers and brilliant improvisers. Together they play with an undeniable synergy, ease and joy. At times playfully competitive on stage, they are always impressive, both individually and collectively.

Concert #2
Sunday 29 September

Iraqi Folk Fusion Ensemble

Led by master violinist and former member of the Baghdad Symphony Orchestra, Imad Rahem, the Iraqi Folk Fusion Ensemble consists of acclaimed musicians of newly-established cultural group, The Australian Arab Music Centre (TAAMC), based at Yagoona. The ensemble brings the folkloric into the present with a repertoire that is both responsive to and reflective of the ever-evolving diasporic identities and experiences of its members. What can audiences expect? Arabic folk and classical forms interspersed with long improvisations where the inner workings of the ensemble are laid bare – hand cues, head nods, gestures to the audience to clap and sing along are all part of the experience.

Concert #3
Sunday 27 October

Satsuki Odamura Koto Ensemble

Well known for their dynamic stage presence—both powerful and elegant—the Satsuki Odamura Koto Ensemble is bringing their music to Bankstown for the very first time. Established in 2010, the ensemble are pioneers of the teaching and performing of the ancient Japanese instrument of the koto in Australia. They bridge the traditional with the contemporary effortlessly, working regularly with renowned Australian musicians across genres to commission new works.

Concert #4
Sunday 24 November

Ustad Sayd and Ali Sarshar Afghan – Indian Ensemble

Since migrating to Australia in the 1970’s, multi-instrumentalist and master musician, Ustad Sayd Sarshar has significantly contributed to the development and dissemination of Indian and Afghan music, performing both locally and internationally at venues and festivals with some of the greatest musicians of these genres. For this concert, Ustad Sayd will perform traditional Afghan songs and Classical Indian pieces on sitar accompanied by his son Ali Sarshar on harmonium as part of an extended ensemble of Western Sydney based musicians.