This autumn, the sounds of India will fill the Royal Albert Hall, as Bollywood music royalty Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy appear in the UK for the very first time.

India’s most celebrated film music trio have provided countless soundtracks for many highly-acclaimed Bollywood films, from 'Kal Ho Naa Ho' and 'Dil Chahta Hai' to 'My Name is Khan' and 'Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna'. Their most recent film, 'Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara', is currently showing in cinemas and has entered the top ten biggest Bollywood films of all time.

They appear in London's Royal Albert Hall on Sunday 18th September. The evening will begin with Karan Pangali & the KSPARK Dancers kicking off the show. Having already taken the UK’s Asian dance scene by storm, Karan & the KPSARK Dancers are renowned for their culturally enriching, unforgettable, one-of-a-kind performances. Audiences can expect spectacular choreography, explosive energy and stunning costumes as seen before at the Indian International Film Awards, Sadler’s Wells, Wembley Arena, and most recently on Hrithik Roshan’s international Star TV dance competition, 'Just Dance'.

Captivating audiences of all ages, perhaps the secret of Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy’s success lies in their ability to simultaneously create interest among younger audiences (who tend to be more interested in western music and international influences) while incorporating the best of traditional Indian music. They compose for exotic instrumental palettes, invite up-and-coming vocalists from India’s immensely popular TV talent shows to perform on their soundtracks, and base many of their songs on classical rāgas (melodic patterns), thus bringing together the best of old and new, east and west.

Adding further variety to the evening, a specially-commissioned audio-visual interpretation of Rabindranath Tagore’s 'Gitanjali' will be presented after the interval. Tagore, who was a groundbreaking writer, artist and thinker, was awarded the Nobel Prize for Gitanjali, a collection of poems drawing on and inspired by nature and the seasons. This modern day interpretation, consisting of music, dance and poetry, celebrates the 150th anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore in 2011 and will set the scene perfectly for headliners Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy to return to the world-famous stage with their fantastic magic, bringing ASIA ROCKS! to a magnificent close.

Celebrating its twentieth year, the Asian Music Circuit has established itself as the leading promoter of Asian music in the UK. The AMC champions the wonderful variety of music in Asia, by producing both high-calibre concerts and tours and organising education and outreach projects for adults and young people. ‘We’ve put together a really diverse programme to celebrate our twentieth birthday in style’, said CEO of the Asian Music Circuit, Viram Jasani. ‘There’s something which everyone can enjoy – fans of South Asian culture, Bollywood film buffs, Indians living in the UK, and of course anybody looking for something a little different this autumn in London. Whichever part of India you come from or are interested in, there is an element in ASIA ROCKS! that everyone will enjoy - young and not-so-young!’.

Event details

• UK premiere: Indian film music phenomenon SHANKAR-EHSAAN-LOY

• Sangeeta Datta’s audiovisual production of Tagore’s GITANJALI

• Bollywood dance from Star TV’s Just Dance: KARAN & THE KSPARK DANCERS

Sunday 18th September 2011, 7.30pm Royal Albert Hall, London Tickets on www.royalalberthall.com or 0845 401 5045.

Booking now open!

This event is supported by Arts Council England and the Anjool Malde Memorial Trust. Media Partner: B4U Music. Programme subject to change without notice.