PUTNEY-Mehrnam Rastegari, who opened last year's Bandwagon summer series with retro-Mediterranean surf ensemble Habbina Habbina, returns to Putney on Friday, April 18, at 7:30 p.m. at Next Stage, 15 Kimball Hill.
Rastegari is a Persian musician, award-winning film score composer, singer, violinist, and virtuoso Kamancheh player. Renowned for pushing the boundaries of Persian music, she "blends traditional sounds with rock and modern fusion elements, offering fresh interpretations that resonate with global audiences," according to her website.
Rastegari's international career includes performances at events, such as the 2024 Bill Gates Goalkeepers, where she shared the stage with Grammy Award-winning artist Jon Batiste, and she has participated in GlobalFest; the Secret Planet APAP showcase; and the Ragas Live Festival.
She has also recorded music with the Center for Traditional Music and Dance in New York City and has competed in events like the International Competition named after Tlep Aspantaiuly.
A graduate of the Global Musicians Workshop, Rastegari has collaborated extensively with the World Music Institute on projects such as performances, interviews, and podcasts.
Rastegari has composed scores for over 10 feature films, theater productions, and award-winning short films. She also contributed as a violinist to the music track "Mirage" for the video game Assassin's Creed.
Additionally, Rastegari is a member of the New York Arabic Orchestra and has had the honor of performing at the United Nations Headquarters.
A passionate advocate for cultural exchange, Rastegari mentors young musicians from Iran, Azerbaijan, and Turkey.
Rastegari, who is based in New York City, is the founder of the Mehrnam Rastegari Traditional Persian Band, where she continues to perform and innovate. She is also the creative force behind Chogan, a Middle Eastern rock band that performs her compositions and re-imagined folk music.
Rastegari will be joined by bassist Panagiotis Andreou and drummer Dani Danor for this performance.
Tickets are $20 advance, $25 at the door, and $10 for the livestream, available at nextstagearts.org.
This Arts item was submitted to The Commons.