CELEBRATION OF USTAD NUSRAT FATEH ALI KHAN’S MUSIC

FOR the first time in Southampton, the sounds of one of the biggest names in Pakistani music will be celebrated in a tribute concert this weekend.

Described as the finest and most famous Pakistani artiste in the history of Pakistan with a career that spanned decades, the late Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan had a following across the globe, and in his time collaborated with some of the greats from the West to create a unique genre of music called Qawwali.

In 1985, Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan teamed with Peter Gabriel on the soundtrack to The Last Te mptation of Christ and in the pop world, his single Dam Mast Qalandar was remixed by electronic trip hop group Massive Attack in 1998.

After his death, the song Solemn Prayer, on which he provided vocals, was used on the Peter Gabriel song Signal to Noise and on the soundtrack to the Martin Scorsese film Gangs of New Yo rk. Indeed, Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s voice graced many movies as he also provided the soundtrack for several Pakistani films and two Bollywood movies.

The event has been organised by Unity 101 Community, Southampton’s Asian & ethnic radio station, and 3RD Faction, a collective of students from Pakistan Societies at London universities.

Promising to be a treat for world music lovers, the event will feature live performances by the number 1 British Pakistani Urban Sufi singer, songwriter and poet Ali Abbas, alongside the son of the legendary Punjabi folk singer Shaukat Ali Khan, Ameer Shaukat Ali and also Shahid Abbas Khan of a classical gharana.

Seven hundred guests are expected at the event, which takes place tomorrow night at New Central Hall in St Mary’s Street.

EDDIE AND THE HOT RODS

ROCKERS Eddie and the Hot Rods have enjoyed a career that has now spanned nearly 40 years.

Although considered the founding fathers of the punk era, they were simply interested in playing loud, fast, in your face rock ’n’ roll.

Their high energy style has never really dated and they still tour the world.

Eddie and the Hot Rods, who supported Status Quo on their 2012 arena tour and often appear with old friends like Nine Below Zero, Dr Feelgood and From The Jam, appear at the Talking Heads tomorrow night.

SKINDRED

BRITISH Ragga Metallers Skindred tour their latest album Kill the Power, with the help of special US guests, Chicago’s Soil and Viza, from Los Angeles. With over half a million albums sold, the four-piece Skindred are also a top live band, headlining festival stages from Bogota to Bosnia and beyond.

This year the band will play to audiences of over two million people. They made their Reading/Leeds festival debut on the mainstage in August 2013 with their unique blend of rock, metal, reggae, roots and dub.

They play the Mo Club in Southampton on Thursday.

CHARITY GIG

A HARDCORE Joiners show on Sunday in aid of very ill children will feature a host of south coast bands. Blind Mentality, No Excuse, Outsider, Coalition and Hornets are all on the bill at the gig, in aid of children’s hospice Naomi House.