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INDIKA FESTIVAL IS BACK: Line-up announced for this Autumn!

Published

3 years ago

September 20, 2023

Don Reed

Earlier this year, it was announced that the INDIKA Festival would return for 2023, taking place this Autumn from 1st – 12th November, featuring a 12-day celebration of Indian music, dance, arts and culture! And now, the festival is excited to reveal the artists set to perform this year!

Headlining the festival will be none other than legendary percussionist, producer and composer Talvin Singh OBE. A giant and pioneer of British-Asian music, Singh’s multi-decade spanning career has seen him collaborate with and write for the likes of Sun Ra, the late Ustad Sultan Khan, Madonna, Yoko Ono and more.

Having worked as Björk’s percussionist and artistic director in 1993, Singh garnered critical acclaim for himself in 1999, winning the Mercury Music Prize for his debut album OK. Singh’s unique synthesis of electronic music and Eastern aesthetic is often referred to as Asian Underground.

Talvin will be joined by an incredible ensemble of musicians, as he exclusively shares material from his highly anticipated and long-awaited new album at The Tung Auditorium on 5th November.

The city of Liverpool and its multitude of iconic venues will play host to the festival, with an expanded and eclectic programme of events, featuring contemporary Indian music, dance, visual arts, films, poetry, talks and participatory activities taking place across the city.

From seasoned professionals, to brand new collaborations formed especially for INDIKA 2023, the first wave of artists announced to perform at the festival in November include maestros of the Sitar and the Tabla, Shakir Khan & Shahbaz Hussain. Plus, making their UK debut, will be rising stars The Sarod Sisters, set to perform alongside Milap artist-in-residence Kousic Sen.

Returning to Liverpool after 15 years will be the illustrious vocalist and composer Swati Natekar in her performance of Raag Rang. Alsoon the lineup will be The MMR Trio – featuring Olivia Moore on violin, Giuliano Modarelli on guitar, and Gurdain Rayatt on Tabla. Created especially for Indika 2023, a performance from the Indika Collective will feature a brand new collaboration between an incredibly talented group of diverse Indian folk and classical artists.

For fans of Indian dance, world renowned artist Harinie Jeevitha will perform ‘VARADARĀJAM UPĀSMAHĒ’ at the Unity Theatre. A week later, Payal Ramchandani and an ensemble of artists will take to the stage of The Capstone Theatre for a mystical performance of ‘The Forest Dream’. Suitable for all the family, and just in time for half-term, there’ll also be a double billing of theatrical dance production Sita’s Magical Forest.

Whilst the music and dance of India will take centre-stage throughout the festival, The Reader at Calderstones Park will play host to a variety of literary and mindfulness events, with dedicated family-friendly activities suitable for all ages to enjoy. Throughout the festival, there’ll be ‘Shared Reading’ sessions, where participants are invited to discover and discuss Indian literature in group sittings.

There’ll also be an early-morning yoga session, with live Indian music followed by chai, in the beautiful surroundings of The Reader’s Mansion House, amidst the backdrop of the magnificent Calderstones Park. For younger audiences, ‘The Diwali Story’ will take place at The Storybarn on 11th November.

Providing festival-goers with a treat for the senses, Indian Street Food geniuses Bundobust will join as one of the official food and drink partners for Indika 2023. They’ll co-host two exclusive events; an extra-special Indian DJ night on 4th November, and a Diwali Celebration for all to enjoy on 12th November.

And, for the first time ever, the festival will extend its reach beyond the City Centre and expand into the wider City Region, giving an even bigger audience the opportunity to enjoy and be inspired by Indian arts and culture. There’s plenty more artists yet to be revealed, with more exciting announcements being made over the coming weeks. Find out more here: https://milap.co.uk/indika/

We Speak Events

Atlanta Screening of The Alabama Solution Brings Together Panel of Advocates, Leaders, and Community Voices

Published

1 month ago

March 9, 2026

Justiz Walker

Michael Walker/@UmeekImages

ATLANTA, GA — Community leaders, advocates, and residents gathered in Atlanta for a special screening of the Oscar-nominated HBO documentary The Alabama Solution, an evening centered on film, dialogue, and community engagement around issues of justice and incarceration.

Hosted at 2345 Cheshire Bridge Road NE, the event brought together organizations and community members for a formal evening of reflection and conversation following the powerful documentary. The film, co-directed by Andrew Jarecki and Charlotte Kaufman and co-produced by Alex Duran, offers an intimate and unfiltered look into Alabama’s prison system.

At the heart of the documentary are the voices of justice-impacted individuals Melvin “Bennu” Ray and Robert “Kinetik” Council, whose experiences shed light on the realities inside the prison system while challenging viewers to consider deeper questions about accountability, dignity, and reform.

Following the screening, a panel discussion brought together leaders and advocates working in justice reform and community outreach. The conversation was moderated by Bridgette Simpson of Barred Business, who guided the dialogue with panelists representing several organizations committed to addressing issues within the justice system.

Panelists included Gerald Griggs of the NAACP, Kimberly Jones of Fork the System, Octavious Holiday of the Positive Outreach Development Society, Kevin Marshall of The Marshall Law Group, LLC, Kathryn Hamoudah of the Southern Center for Human Rights, and Christopher Willars of The Life Unit Inc.

Each panelist offered insight shaped by their work in advocacy, legal reform, and community engagement. Their perspectives highlighted the far-reaching effects incarceration can have on families and communities, while also emphasizing the importance of awareness, accountability, and continued dialogue around the issues presented in the film.

The screening was supported by several organizations dedicated to justice and civic engagement, including One for Justice, Dream.org, Barred Business, the Southern Center for Human Rights, The Life Unit, the Center for Civic Innovation, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), and the Free Atlanta Abolition Movement.

The evening also served as a moment of connection for those in attendance, including family members and advocates whose lives have been impacted by the justice system. Through film and conversation, the gathering created space for reflection and for communities to engage with the realities highlighted in the documentary.

As conversations continued after the screening, the event underscored the power of storytelling to bring people together, raise awareness, and encourage deeper consideration of issues that often remain unseen by the public.

As momentum continues to grow around conversations sparked by the documentary, organizers are encouraging community members to take an additional step by supporting efforts aimed at protecting justice-impacted individuals from discrimination.

Advocates are currently inviting the public to sign a virtual petition card supporting the establishment of a statewide Protected Class Ordinance in Georgia, which would help ensure justice-impacted individuals are protected from discrimination in employment, housing, and opportunity.

You may find and share the virtual petition here:

Statewide Protected Class

https://www.theprotectedclassnetwork.org/sign-our-petition