Fans of Middle Eastern, especially Persian music have plenty to look forward to this autumn with an exciting line-up of concerts and collaborations from the SWANA (South-West Asia and North Africa) region. Thanks to a partnership between London-based Vaaz Records and Artstage, an eclectic array of musicians, largely of Iranian descent, will be performing in the capital, showcasing traditional and contemporary music in innovative new contexts. From up-and-coming artists, iconic names and some UK debuts, this series of concerts is a real treat for all music aficionados.
As a warm-up to events happening during the EFG London Jazz Festival, Arshid Azarine’s jazz trio is playing at the Elgar Room in the Royal Albert Hall (October 23). Azarine, an Iranian-born, Paris-based pianist, composer and also a practicing radiologist, leads a trio that includes Habib Meftah on percussion and Hervé de Ratuld on bass. The three will showcase music from their 2024 album Vorticity, a work shaped in part by Azarine’s scientific background.
During the LJF week, the Vaaz/Artstage programme continues with a much-anticipated UK debut performance of L’Antidote Trio: a powerhouse instrumental ensemble comprised of three world-class musicians: Iranian percussionist Bijan Chemirani, Albanian cellist Redi Hasa and Lebanese pianist Rami Khalifé. Known for their masterful musicianship and genre-blending approach, fusing Mediterranean and Persian traditions with classical and jazz, this performance is likely to be a major highlight of the festival (November 15).
Rich Mix will once again host a Persian Jazz Night (November 22), following on from the success of last year’s edition. This celebration of Iranian culture via contemporary jazz will feature a quartet led by Iranian-Armenian bassist Arin Keshishi (above) who will be performing music from his debut album Self-Reflection. Also on the bill are Kourosh Kanani, an Iranian-Azeri guitarist along with drummer Matt Davies, presenting music from their forthcoming release Gisu.
Other names on the programme include Faarjam Saidi and his band who have a distinct Iranian indie-pop vibe (November 16); Rotterdam-based duo Oh Voyage who combine psychedelic Anatolian folk music with synths (November 20); Iranian setar player Behdad Babayi along with percussionist Navid Afghah and multi-instrumentalist Vahid Taremi (November 21) and acclaimed Iranian pianist and composer Peyman Yazdanian (November 23).
Undoubtedly the most eagerly anticipated performance of the season is that of Kayhan Kalhor (*) A player of the (bowed) kamancheh and the (plucked) setar, Kalhor’s work in Iran and North America has made him one of the leading advocates and representatives of Persian music worldwide. “Emotional depth which far outstrips most music we’re used to hearing,” wrote one Canadian critic. Recent albums have included much-praised collaborations with Toumani Diabate and the Brooklyn Rider quartet.
For this special London concert, Kalhor will perform with the Rembrandt Trio, a Dutch ensemble led by pianist Rembrandt Frerichs, known for their innate sense of curiously and adventure that has resulted in numerous high-profile, cross-cultural collaborations. Any appearance by Alizadeh is guaranteed to attract devoted fans from across the Iranian diaspora and this concert with the Rembrandt Trio is bound to be a compelling and memorable encounter of tradition and innovation (November 14).
Another enticing collaboration is the one between cousins Mehdi and Adib Rostami with Arsen Petrosyan. This Iranian-Armenian partnership between kamancheh, setar and duduk players is principally founded on their strong friendship – essential for any meaningful musical collaboration, say the Rostamis who have been in discussion with Petrosyan for some years about working together. Besides their mutual respect and the clear enjoyment they gain from working together, their shared goal is to create new music and soundscapes very much rooted in Iranian and Armenian traditions, but expressed through their unique contemporary improvisations. The driving force for everything they do, explain the Rostamis, is to create new music every time they perform together. In addition to their London concert, the trio will also play at the National Centre for Early Music in York (November 17 & 18). This series of concerts co-curated by Vaaz Records and Artstage promises to be a true celebration of Middle Eastern musicianship.
FULL LISTINGS
ARSHID AZARINE TRIO
Thursday 23 October – Elgar Room Royal Albert Hall, London – BOOKINGS
KAYHAN KALHOR AND THE REMBRANDT TRIO – BOOKINGS
Friday 14 November – Cadogan Hall, London
(*) A change from the originally advertised programme.
L’ANTIDOTE TRIO
Saturday 15 November – Kings Place, London – BOOKINGS
FAARJAM SAIDI
Sunday 16th November – Kings Place, London – BOOKINGS
ARSEN PETROSYAN, MEHDI ROSTAMI AND ADIB ROSTAMI
Monday 17 November – National Centre for Early Music, York – BOOKINGS
Tuesday 18 November – Rich Mix, London – BOOKINGS
OH VOYAGE
Thursday 20 November – Rich Mix, London – BOOKINGS
BEHDAD BABAEI & NAVID AFGHAH
Friday 21 November – Rich Mix, London – BOOKINGS
PERSIAN JAZZ NIGHT: ARIN KESHISHI QUINTET & KOUROSH KANANI DUO
Saturday 22 November 2025 – Rich Mix, London – BOOKINGS
PEYMAN YAZDANIAN
Sunday 23 November 2025 – World Heart Beat Embassy Gardens, London – BOOKINGS
These concerts are presented by ArtStage – one of the world’s leading promoters of Persian and Middle Eastern music. The EFG London Jazz Festival is produced by Serious.
