DoBaRe: Poetry & Music
Join us on Saturday 17 January 2026 at Rich Mix, London for an evening with DoBaRe, an acclaimed live act weaving together poetry, music and personal storytelling in an intimate and deeply moving performance.
Founded by Khatereh Hakimi and Ehsan Goodarzi, DoBaRe creates music rooted in lived experience and lyrical expression, moving seamlessly between song, spoken word and melody to offer a rare and immersive encounter.
This event organised by Vaak Collective at Rich Mix London.
Supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.
Persian Jazz Night 2025: A Night of Contemporary Iranian Jazz
Join us at Rich Mix, London on Saturday 22 November for the second edition of Persian Jazz Night, part of the London Jazz Festival. Organised by Vaak Collective, the evening brings together contemporary jazz and Iranian cultural influences in a vibrant live programme.
The night features a performance by the Arin Keshishi Quintet, presenting a distinctive sound shaped by cross-cultural collaboration and contemporary jazz practice, with an international line-up of musicians from Europe and Iran.
Line-up: Arin Keshishi (Bass), Delaram Kafashzadeh (Voice), Roberto Nieva (Alto Saxophone), Xavi Torres (Piano), Shayan Fathi (Drums)
Kayhan Kalhor & Rembrandt Trio: A Fusion of Persian Classical and Jazz
Join us on Friday 14 November 2025 at Cadogan Hall for an evening of musical dialogue across cultures, presented as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival. Organised by Vaak Collective, the performance brings together Persian kamancheh virtuoso Kayhan Kalhor and the acclaimed Rembrandt Trio in a rare collaboration.
The programme features a distinctive range of instruments, including a modern copy of a 1790 fortepiano, a 1650 violone, and the “Whisper Kit”, a unique percussion setup combining instruments from different cultures and eras.
Marjan Farsad: Music, Art & Storytelling
Following her sold-out London debut, Vaak Collective, in collaboration with ArtStage, presents Marjan Farsad with a full band on Saturday 10 May 2025 at Kings Place.
The evening brings together selections from her latest albums alongside beloved earlier works, accompanied by visuals and animations created by Marjan Farsad herself. The result is an immersive audio-visual performance that extends her distinctive approach to storytelling.
Sounds of Southern Iran: An Evening with Damahi and Majid Salari
Join us on 7 March at Queen Elizabeth Hall for a live performance by Iranian band Damahi, organised by Vaak Collective. Joined by vocalist Majid Salari from southern Iran, the group brings an electrifying set shaped by diverse musical influences.
Known for their genre-blending approach, Damahi combines southern Iranian folk traditions with elements of jazz, rock, reggae, flamenco, Afrobeat, Latin, funk and Indian music. Formed in 2014, the band features Dara Daraee (bass), Hamzeh Yeganeh (keys and benjou), Ebrahim Alavi (guitar and oud), and Reza Koolaghani (vocals).
A Reunion to Remember: 127 Returns to the Stage in London
Join us on 25 January 2025 at Rich Mix, London for a special reunion concert by 127, organised by Vaak Collective. One of Iran’s pioneering alternative bands, 127 returns to the stage with its original line-up for the first time in years.
Formed in Tehran in 2001, the band is known for blending Persian lyrics with Western musical influences, shaping a distinctive sound that has resonated across generations. Their return marks a rare opportunity to experience a defining voice of Iran’s independent music scene live once again.