Sambangra offer crowd-stopping street sets and dance-floor filling stage shows, collaborations and workshops. Their unique new fusion of Asian, Brazilian and other styles uses percussion from Africa, India and South America in a range of formats from street band to stage band with bass, keyboards, strings, vocals and guests.
Formed in Manchester around a core of professional musicians in 1997 for the BBC 'Music Live' Festival, Sambangra released their hugely successful mini-CD, 'Charaag' in 2000, and their first full-length CD, ‘SAMBANGRA’ in 2003.
The line-up currently includes musicians who have worked with such diverse artists as Lee 'Scratch' Perry, Sir Elton John, Moby, Fun Lovin' Criminals, Bill Laswell, Lemn Sissay, Nitin Sawhney, and Jah Wobble.
SAMSALAMAT, Sambangra’s collaboration with BJS Qawwal from Pakistan, is proof that we can live in a multi-cultural world that celebrates the heart of our common humanity as well as the diversity of our culture.
Sambangra’s founder, Ian Holmes-Lewis moved north in 2009 and is currently developing Sambangra – Scotland.
Sambangra in Manchester are currently led by Leon Patel. Leon has been a key member of Sambangra since its foundation, has composed music for Sambangra and was its first deputy MD.
"Sambangra's fusion of disparate music from opposite sides of the world was far more than just a fascinating curiosity. a hypnotic, thundering performance."
"A great band!"
"Drumming for the new millennium."
Mailing List
Please add me to your mailing list / I would like to receive information about new CD releases, gigs and other events involving Sambangra.
email to - list@sambangra.com