LAHORE: Acclaimed British Asian singer Susheela Raman and Mian Miri qawals will perform at a music fusion at Rafi Peer Cultural Complex on March 3.

Ms Raman is currently in Pakistan for a music evening and doing rehearsals with the Pakistani qawals. Guest appearance of Sher Miandad Qawal will be part of the music gala which will be a non-ticketed event.Born to Tamil parents in London, Raman has established herself as one of the most creative musicians to emerge from the Asian Diaspora. She has made five albums with her constantly evolving and original blend of folk, devotional, classical, blues, rock and world influences. She is also known as a compelling and intense live performer.

This show will also feature Susheela's husband, (producer/guitarist) Sam Mills, showcasing their new collaboration with Lahore's Mian Mir qawals. This is going to be the second performance by the singer at Rafi Peer Cultural Complex.

Two years ago, Raman performed at the complex on the launch of British writer William Dalrymple's book 'Nine Lives'. She sang the songs of the Bengali nomadic Sufis.

Along with a performance at Lahore in March, the participating singers would also travel to London in April, accompanied with some Indian musicians for a performance there. During her stay in Lahore, Susheela Raman is also taking lessons from Sher Miandad for an accomplished qawali singing. In the absence of World Performing Arts festival, one of the key features of Lahore's cultural life until some years ago, such music nights are positively good linkages to the series of festival held in Lahore in the past.

Susheela has made four classic albums, 'Salt Rain' (2001), 'Love Trap' (2003), 'Music for Crocodiles' (2005) and '33 1/3' (2007), each charting a personal relationship with musical history and her own role as a conduit where musical oceans meet. Each album is a big vision that retains its freshness and uniqueness for years to come. —Shoaib Ahmed