Bhangra Liberation Orchestra

The Bhangra Liberation Orchestra makes rebellious and joyful music to fortify our hearts on and off the dancefloor. Rooted in the genres of bhangra, qawwali, Afrobeat, and jazz, BLO draws from Punjabi ancestral wisdom with a heavy dose of musical improvisation to deliver a clear message of love, unity, and liberation in these times of rising authoritarianism and attacks on the marginalized. Anthemic brassy melodies intersect with angular guitar lines, hype dhol beats, and ecstatic vocals in Punjabi, English, and Spanish.

Based in New York City, BLO is made up of an all-star lineup of veteran musicians who have toured globally in bands like Red Baraat, Antibalas, Bright Eyes, Joe Russo’s Selcouth Quartet, Hazmat Modine, and Dispatch.

Sonny Singh on trumpet, dhol, and vocals

Miwi La Lupa on bass trumpet, keys, and vocals

Jonathan Goldberger on guitar

Nikhil Yerawadekar on bass and vocals

Varun Das on drumset