From world-class music to the Holi Festival of Colours, GemArts – the award-winning arts development organisation – will be lighting up Tyneside this Spring with a programme that’s packing real heat.

GemArts continues to go from strength to strength and – as ever – their Spring programme is as colourful as it as diverse. First up – and screening as part of the International Women’s Day Celebrations – is Run Kalyani (Friday 6 March, Tyneside Cinema). This poetic and realist drama about duties, dreams and desire, takes you into the world of a young cook. Hailed as a ground-breaking film that has heralded l’cinema feminine in India, Run Kalyani explores women’s lives in a nuanced manner with sparse dialogue and evocative music, including the first ever Indian Bolero! Directed by Geetha J, the film has won numerous awards at international film festivals.

The next of the ever-popular Riverside Ragas series brings together two of India’s most revered maestros for a rare duet: sitar virtuoso Ustad Shahid Parvez and bamboo flute (bansuri) maestro Shashank Subramanyam (Friday 13 March, The Glasshouse). This performance is a significant cultural event, marking a seamless confluence of India’s two primary classical traditions. Ustad Shahid Parvez represents the rich, meditative depth of the Hindustani (North Indian) tradition, while Shashank Subramanyam, a former child prodigy, brings the intricate rhythmic complexity and lyrical flair of the Carnatic (South Indian) tradition. Together, they create a “dialogue” between the resonant, plucked strings of the sitar and the ethereal, fluid breath of the bamboo flute. To elevate the evening further, the maestros will be accompanied by two world-class percussionists: Kousic Sen on the tabla and Phalgun Parupalli on the mridangam. Set in the acoustically stunning Sage Two, this concert offers more than just a performance; it is an immersive journey through India’s timeless heritage. Whether you are a lifelong devotee of ragas or a curious newcomer, the spontaneous brilliance and technical mastery on display will make for an unforgettable night on the Tyne.

Next up is one of the real highlights of the Spring programme, the exuberant GemArts x Baltic: Holi Festival of Colours (pictured - Saturday 14 March, Baltic and Baltic Square). This free event will give you the chance to paint the town – literally. This is the north-east’s premier celebration of the Hindi festival of Holi, marking the arrival of spring, love, and new beginnings. The festival is a sensory explosion, blending traditional South Asian culture with contemporary art. This year sees the introduction of the brand-new ‘Holi on the Tyne’ stage at Baltic Square, which will feature a packed line-up of world class performances. These will include live music (DJ sets from Spice FM and Shai Guy spinning Bollywood and Bhangra bangers, backed by the thunderous Rhythmix Dholies), dance and performance (high energy sets from Juggy D, Bombay Baja Brass Band and various Kathak and Bollywood dance groups), and creative workshops (artist-led sessions, henna stations, and family-friendly hula hooping and circus/play skills). There will also be an appearance from Delilah the Elephant (courtesy of puppet maestros Moving Parts Arts) and street food galore. The day will culminate in the legendary mass colour throw at 3pm. Participants gather on the riverside to toss vibrant powder pigment into the air, creating a kaleidoscopic cloud against the backdrop of the Tyne. (Note: Wear white or old clothes you don’t mind getting messy! Please leave your own powder and backpacks at home; the festival provides safe, eco-friendly pigment for all participants. And while the event is free and open to all faiths (or none), booking is essential, particularly for the colour throw which often sells out.)

The Riverside Ragas again return with Confluence (Friday 24 April, The Glasshouse). This will see three accomplished and versatile musicians come together to present an intimate Indian classical set with a contemporary twist. These are

Preetha Narayanan (violin), Giuliano Modarelli (guitar), and Harkiret Singh Bahra (tabla) who will be playing lush melodies, intricate rhythms, heavy grooves and free-wheeling improvisations. And the Riverside Ragas will continue apace with An Evening of Ghazals with Tauseef Akhtar (Friday 22 May, The Glasshouse). Here you will be able to experience the timeless beauty of ghazals in a soulful concert led by singer Tauseef Akhtar, one of the most celebrated and refined voices of the genre today. Known for his emotive depth and classical finesse, Tauseef Akhtar brings poetry to life through music, honouring tradition while offering a fresh artistic perspective. And looking forward to June, GemArts’ reach spreads down to Middlesbrough when they hold a Classic Café event featuring Akash Parekar and Janan Sathiendran (Sunday 7 June, Middlesbrough Town Hall). Parekar has emerged as one of the most exciting talents among a new generation of British-born sitar players, while Sathiendran is a dynamic tabla player whose artistry is shaped by deep training in both Hindustani and Carnatic traditions.

More information on all the above, including ticket details etc, can be gleaned by visiting: gemarts.org