The Heart of Bangladesh Concert An unparalleled opportunity to sample the best of traditional music and dance from Bangladesh with over thirty of the country's most inspiring artists coming together for the first time. The concert features: the Bauls of Bangladesh, with leading singers Kangalini Sufia, Aklima and Rab Fakir. Baul singers are the saffron-robed, itinerant musicians whose ecstatic singing puts them in direct contact with the divine and who are popular at village fairs throughout Bangladesh and West Bengal. the Chittagong Drummers: village artists who lead a dual life as professional fishermen and master drummers. These artists, led by Babul Kanti Jaladash were inspired by the great drummer Binoy Banshi, and are making their first international appearances in the Festival. Manipuri Dancers: like their counterparts in India, this group performs a unique form of classical dance, with exquisitely graceful movements which reflect both South Asian and South East Asian dance traditions. Murong dancers and musicians from the remote forest area of the Chittagong Hill Tracts. This is the only UK appearance by the group who have never before performed outside their region. They will present their tribal dances and music on a fantastic range of bamboo pipes, some of them an astonishing 8 ft long.

Photo: M.D. Main Uddin/ Drik Thu 15 July at 7.45pm Queen Elizabeth Hall on the South Bank, London SE1 Tube: Waterloo / Embankment / Charing Cross Tickets: £14 / £11.50 / £7.50 Box Office: 0171 960 4242 telephone credit card booking: £1 handling fee per transaction applies

The Soul of Bangladesh An evening of music and dance. With featured guest singers, as well as folk musicians and dancers from the different regions of Bangladesh. Leading artists from London's East End, the heart of the Bangladeshi community in the UK, will also perform.

Sat 17 July at 7.00pm prompt, doors open 6.00pm York Hall, Old Ford Road, London E2 Tube: Bethnal Green Tickets: £5.00 Box Office: via the Spitalfields Festival Ticket Hotline 0171 377 1362

The Rebel Poet: Kobi Nazrul Islam featuring Nilufer Yasmin with Lucy Rahman Renowned singer Nilufer Yasmin celebrates the birth centenary of poet and song-writer Kobi Nazrul Islam (1899 - 1976), Bangladesh's national poet. He inspired a new and virile nationalism in Bengali literature which gave voice to the independence movement and thus ultimately to the birth of Bangladesh in 1971. Nilufer Yasmin is the leading exponent of Nazrul songs in Bangladesh and describes herself as being infatuated with his work. For this special evening celebration, Nilufer Yasmin will be joined by singer Lucy Rahman. Songs will be sung in Bengali with readings in English. The singers will be accompanied by Firoze Khan, Gazi Abdul Hakim, Bishwajit Sarkar, and Delwar Hossain who will also be appearing at the Opening Celebrations, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Barbican and Cabot Hall. Sat 10 July at 7.30pm Curtain Theatre, Toynbee Hall, 28 Commercial Street, London E1 Tube: Aldgate East / Liverpool Street / Whitechapel Tickets:£5.00 Box Office: via the Spitalfields Festival Ticket Hotline 0171 377 1362 MORE

Photo: S.A. Sadeque