Khumariyaan

With its propulsive, furious sound, Khumariyaan has reawakened the live music scene in Peshawar, Pakistan, the ancient crossroads through the Khyber Pass whose contemporary culture is under attack from within and from without.

Built around traditional instruments, the lute-like Pashtoon rubab is the meeting point for this hyper-folk jam quartet. It intertwines with the djembe-like zerbaghali and Pushtoon sitar. Underpinning these instruments with driving acoustic guitars, Khumariyaan’s rolling pulse and richly layered sound builds to frenzied intensity. It’s an addictive and accessible pleasure that’s ushering in a new era for this region’s eclipsed music.