Three-time Grammy Award winner and Padma Shri recipient Ricky Kej has announced the ensemble of musicians who will join him for DAMROOH — Dance To The Cosmic Spirit , an upcoming India tour that will bring together performers from Indian classical, contemporary and global music traditions.
The international line-up will feature Keith Middleton, who spent more than 18 years as a lead performer with the percussion theatre group STOMP and also appeared in the IMAX film Pulse: A Stomp Odyssey . The vocal line-up will include playback singers Sudhir Yaduvanshi, Siddharth Basrur, Anjana Padmanabhan and Abi K Safa, alongside classical vocalist Siddhartha Belmannu. The ensemble will also feature percussionists Karthik Mani and Arun Kumar, sitarists Mayank Raina and Arjun Anand, sarangi player Manonmani and electric guitarist Shashank Akella. The tour will see Kej move away from the festival format associated with many of his live performances, instead presenting a fully seated, immersive orchestral show. The production will combine a cinematic symphonic sound with immersive staging and instruments from different musical traditions, including the kora, hang drum, sarod and didgeridoo. At the heart of the project is the damaru , whose rhythm is presented as a symbol of cosmic energy and the living planet. The performances will also support UNICEF, continuing Kej’s association with environmental and humanitarian causes. Looking for trusted parenting advice? Follow TOI Parenting Circle on Instagram for expert guidance, relatable stories, and practical tips delivered every day. Get the latest Lifestyle News and more. Download the TOI app.