Sultans of String are bringing their brand of world music to The Gog Nov. 13.
The Toronto-based group is currently on a North American tour in support of their latest album Subcontinental Drift, which was released in 2015 and features Anwar Khurshid on sitar. 2015 was an eventful year for the group as they were also nominated for Instrumental Album of the Year at the JUNO Awards for their previous album, Symphony!
The group has never played in North Battleford before, but violinist Chris McKhool says he was intrigued by stories he'd heard about The Gog.
"The thing is with a place that seats 70 people, there's no bad seats in the house and you really form a connection with the audience," says McKhool.
Making that connection is important for the band, McKhool says, as the world advances technologically.
"It's almost harder to really move people with music in some ways than it used to be because of the commercialization of music and (the change) to streaming (platforms)."
While listening to their music online is welcomed, McKhool says he thinks their music lends itself to smaller, intimate spaces because it has "heart and soul" and a storytelling element which invites listeners to connect with it.
As for the music they play at these venues, Sultans of String's music isn't easy to pin down; they aren't your typical Spanish flamenco band or Arabic folk band or even South Asian rhythm band, for that matter. That's because they describe their sound as a combination of these styles along with Celtic reels and Gypsy-jazz. Sultan of String's string-based ensemble is a fusion of world music that becomes something distinctly theirs.
Along with violinist Chris McKhool, the group is rounded out with Kevin Laliberté and Eddie Paton on flamenco guitar, Drew Birston on bass and Chendy Leon filling the role of percussionist.
If you want to hear what a Spanish flamenco, Arabic folk, South Asian rhythm, Celtic reel, Gypsy-jazz fusion sounds like in person you can RSVP at 306-445-6766 or waterskelly@hotmail.com. The show starts at 7 p.m. and costs $20, which goes directly to the musicians. There will also be a donation jar to help cover the cost of refreshments and hors d'oeuvres.
