The Georgia Straight proudly sponsors Zakir Hussain’s Celtic Connections

Renowned Indian percussionist Zakir Hussain performs in Celtic Connections at UBC’s Chan Centre for the Performing Arts (6265 Crescent Road) on March 21 at 8 p.m.

Celtic Connections brings together works inspired by both Celtic and Indian traditions. Hussain’s skills on tabla—a set of small hand drums—will be accompanied by Ireland’s John Joe Kelly on bodhrán, a shallow-one-sided Irish drum.

Other featured musicians include fiddle player Charlie McKerron of Scotland’s Capercaillie, award-winning bansuri player Rakesh Chaurasia, Scottish piper Fraser Fifield, Dublin-based guitarist Tony Byrne, fiddle player Patsy Reid, violinist Ganesh Rajagopalan, and flautist Jean-Michel Veillon.

“Celtic music has a beautiful spirituality to it that resonates very strongly with audiences, and Hussain has an impressive ability to seamlessly blend together Indian sounds conveyed through the tabla’s deep and methodical beats with many different styles,” Joyce Hinton, co-managing director of the Chan Centre, stated in an news release. “We last welcomed Hussain to our stage in 2012 and are thrilled to have him once again join us to demonstrate his fearless, innovative spirit that truly knows no bounds.”

Tickets to Celtic Connections start at $36 and can be purchased online in advance.