WOMAD

DJ Ritu and The Asian Equation

From United Kingdom

Last year, WOMAD featured a number of acts from Britain's Asian underground, including multi-instrumentalist and composer Nitin Sawhney, tabla player Talvin Singh and his Anokha DJs, and the ear-splitting drums of the Dhol Foundation. This year, some of these acts and other guests appear under the banner of the Asian Equation, a multi-level show guided by DJ Ritu.DJ Ritu is a key figure on the club scene, having played at the Ministry of Sound, the Jazz Café, Dingwalls and other prestige venues. She has also played a vital role in the development of Outcaste Records, the prime label for the development of Asian music in the UK (it was Ritu who signed Nitin Sawnhey to Outcaste). She's toured with Fun^Da^Mental, Transglobal Underground and Earthtribe (all of whom have played at Rivermead), bringing the new Asian fusion sound to venues across the country.An Asian Equation show has DJ Ritu's set at its heart, with other artists working live around it, improvising and adding cross-beats. The Rivermead set will feature rapper Scorpio The Nemesis, along with guitar, tabla, violin, vocals and dance. For soundscapes from the cutting edge of the UK underground, look no further.