Rajasthani Gypsy Folk meets Beatboxing
Barmer Boys are the next generation of performers that carry forward the centuries-old musical traditions of the Manganiyars and are leading examples of contemporary Rajasthani folk and Sufi music. The band’s versatility of styles and bubbling energy infuses each performance - from soulful Sufi kalaams to uplifting wedding and celebratory songs, songs of love and remembrance, to boisterous jams with beat-boxing and live DJ sets.
The group made their international debut in 2014 with shows at Roskilde Festival ’14, Borneo World Music Expo ’14, a US debut with a coast-to-coast tour in April ’14, and have been wooing audiences on television screens, cinema halls and festivals in India including MTV CokeStudio Season 3, NH7 Weekender ‘14, IIT Mood Indigo ’14 and Jaipur Literature Festival ’15.
2015 featured the group making their Canadian debut at the 2015 Winnipeg Folk Festival and Flaunt Festival in Toronto, and a European tour with concerts in The Netherlands at Music Meeting, Nijmegen, in Spain at the Handmade Festival (Santiago de Compostela, Galicia), in Germany at Mother India Festival (HKW Berlin), and Denmark (Distortion Festival in Copenhagen, Musikbibliotek in Odense).
Barmer Boys turn up the heat this winter with sold out shows in Delhi, their Hong Kong debut at Clockenflap Music and Arts Festival, and voted “the discovery of the season” at the Ziro Festival of Music in Arunachal Pradesh, India.
Kesariya, 2017, Amarrass RecordsLimited edition hand-cut vinyl, made in India! Features custom album artwork, with each LP individually hand-cut and etched!
At Home, 2012, Amarrass RecordsSingle take recordings at home in Ramsar, Rajasthan --- Featured on Season 3 of Coke Studio on MTV India, Barmer Boys represent the next generation of folk from India. Folk with attitude. 21st Century folk.
Live at Amarrass Desert Music Festival 2011"Incandescent Sufi voices that incite ecstacy" - **** Songlines
"Latitudes: The Global Music You Must Hear In June" - NPR Music, June 30, 2015
"Creating a maximum groove with minimal means" - MixedWorldMusic.com, May 2015
"Barmer Boys steal the show.. with their unique folk tunes, truly stood out at the festival” - IBNLive at NH7Weekender Festival, Nov 2014
“Mangey Khan’s voice needs to be heard to be believed” - Hindustan Times, Feb 2012
"The music rose above the repetitive tunes we hear in today’s clamorous folk market and was like a whiff of fresh air" - Indian Express, Nov 2012
"Definitely near the top of my list of personal all-time favorite radio sessions" - Robert Weisberg, Transpacific Sound Paradise, WFMU 91.1FM Listen
Excerpts from the Barmer Boys performance at Roskilde Festival 2014.. Gloria Stage on July 3, 2014 at Roskilde, Denmark. Barmer Boys are led by Manga 'Mangey' Khan (vocals, harmonium), Rais Khan (khartaal, morchang, bhapang, beatboxing) and Magada Khan (dholak).
Barmer Boys sing Mast Qalandar at the Feito A Man Festival in Santiago de Compostela on August 5, 2015. www.amarrass.com. (c) 2015 Amarrass Records
Barmer Boys perform the Meera bhajan Ranaji, live at Moseley Folk Festival in Birmingham, UK on 3rd September 2016. (c) 2016 Amarrass Records. www.amarrass.com
Barmer Boys perform 'Jeero' (Cumin seed) at Into The Wilderness Gathering, Lewes, England on 28th August 2016.
A new composition by Barmer Boys 'Alaap in 16 Beats', practice session at Tony's Casa in Madrid, Spain. August 1, 2015.
From their debut album "At Home: Barmer Boys" released December 2012 on Amarrass Records.
Hum Bhi Jaaney, performed by Barmer Boys on day two of the Amarrass Desert Music Festival on December 2, 2012 in New Delhi, India.
Bole to Mitho Lage (loosely translates to when you speak, it is sweet... ) - Barmer Boys. Folk with attitude. 21st Century folk! Featuring Mangey Khan on vocals and harmonium, Rais Khan on bhapang, Bhungar Khan on khartaal, and Barkat Khan on dholak
Hum Bhi Jaaney, performed by the Barmer Boys at the Amarrass Desert Music Festival on December 1, 2012 in New Delhi, India. The group is led by singer Mangey Khan (also on the harmonium) with Rais Khan (morchang, bhapang and beatboxing), Bhungar Khan (khartaal) and Barkat Khan (dholak)
Mangey Khan sings Pir Murshid Haiyad Ka Kalaam at his home in Ramsar, district Barmer in Rajasthan
BARMER BOYS Rais Khan (morchang), Bhungar Khan (khartal) and Mangu Khan (dholak) at the Amarrass Desert Music Festival
The Desert Festival Jam with Vieux Farka Toure, Madou Diabate, Rais Khan, Bhungar Khan, Mangu Khan, Lakha Khan - November 26-27, 2011 at Siri Fort, New Delhi, India
Vieux Farka Toure and Rais Khan (morchang), Bhungar Khan (khartaal) of the Barmer Boys jam in the HIT95 Studios in Delhi, India leading up to the 2011 Amarrass Desert Music Festival
Kurja (bird) - Barmer Boys and DJ Spincycle at the terrace sessions with Amarrass Records, March 2014. www.amarrass.com Kurja is the name for a migratory bird (crane) found in the region. Barmer Boys are Manga 'Mangey' Khan (vocals, harmonium), Raisk Khan (khartaal), Magada Khan (dholak); DJ Spincycle is Ankur Malhotra (turntables, digital sampler, electronics)