Anoushka Shankar to Headline Solstice Festival 2025
This June, an unparalleled musical experience awaits you in the Wasing Woodland as Anoushka Shankar headlines the Fireside Sessions at Solstice Festival. Famed for her transformative sitar playing, genre-defying collaborations, and profound connection to both ancient and contemporary sounds, Anoushka’s performance promises to be one of the festival's most memorable moments.
A celebrated musician and composer, Anoushka Shankar brings a deep sense of spiritual grounding to her music. Her work weaves together the threads of her Indian classical heritage with elements of jazz, world music, and electronic genres, creating a sound that resonates with both the body and soul. For those who seek not only exceptional music but a sense of communion with the earth and each other, Anoushka’s performance at Solstice is a rare opportunity to experience the alchemy of sound and spirit.
A Life in Music: The Legacy of Anoushka Shankar
Anoushka Shankar’s journey is one of profound artistic achievement. As the daughter of the legendary sitar virtuoso Pandit Ravi Shankar, she was immersed in music from an early age, learning the intricacies of Indian classical music under his tutelage. But Anoushka’s path has always been about more than simply continuing her father’s legacy, she’s made her own indelible mark on the global music scene.
Her exceptional career includes thirteen solo albums, collaborations with musical giants such as Herbie Hancock, Sting, and Joshua Bell, and a series of ground breaking performances that have taken her from intimate jazz cafes to grand symphony halls. She is also an activist, using her platform to speak out on important social issues, with a passion for bringing communities together through the universal language of music.
Her accomplishments are numerous, with highlights such as being the first Indian woman to perform at the Grammy Awards, an Ivor Novello nomination for her A Suitable Boy soundtrack, and being named an Honorary Member of the Royal Academy of Music. Most recently, in June 2024, Anoushka was awarded an Honorary Degree in Music from Oxford University, a recognition that underscores her enduring influence on both the music industry and cultural landscape.
THE FIRESIDE SESSIONS
The Fireside Sessions spark the Solstice celebration's shift from day into night & offer a magical and powerful experience around the fire and under the stars in Wasing’s Sacred Glade. Fire serves as a central and focal element, infusing our gatherings with prayer and ceremony and anchoring the energy we generate to offer back to the land.
A Moment of Connection
In today’s fast-paced world, Solstice offers a rare opportunity to slow down, tune in, and reconnect with ourselves and the world around us.
For those who attend Solstice seeking not just music, but a holistic and transformative experience, Anoushka’s fireside performance promises to be one of the highlights of the festival. It’s a chance to experience the beauty of live music in a setting that nurtures both the soul and the body - a place where the sounds of the sitar, the forest, and the sky come together in perfect harmony.
Join Anoushka Shankar this June at Solstice Festival and immerse yourself in a celebration of life, sound, and spirit. It’s a musical journey you won’t want to miss.
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