MEDIA RELEASE: Van Diemen’s Band and Ensemble Kaboul conclude Where Everything is Music national tour with record audiences and landmark recording
MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
13 October, 2025
Van Diemen’s Band and Ensemble Kaboul conclude Where Everything is Music national tour with record audiences and landmark recording
Van Diemen’s Band’s most ambitious self-presented project to date has come to a close, with the Where Everything is Music national tour reaching a total audience of 2,157 across five cities, and marking a new chapter in the ensemble’s artistic evolution.
Across two weeks, the project encompassed five major concerts—at Melbourne Recital Centre, UKARIA Cultural Centre, Brisbane Powerhouse, Leichhardt Town Hall, and Theatre Royal (nipaluna/Hobart)—alongside four days of recording at Frying Pan Studios. With sold-out performances in Sydney and at UKARIA, and near-capacity houses in Hobart and Melbourne, this tour set a new benchmark for Van Diemen’s Band’s national reach and audience engagement, including the ensemble’s largest-ever Hobart attendance.
More than 268 (pre-orders for the forthcoming recording have already been received, signalling sustained enthusiasm for the project’s unique cross-cultural sound world. The tour was made possible through the support of Creative Australia, Arts Tasmania, Pro Helvetia Switzerland, and 110+ donors via the organisation’s Plus1 matched funding campaign.
Artistic Director Julia Fredersdorff reflected on the importance of the collaboration and the extraordinary artistry of Ensemble Kaboul:
“It was an absolute honour to perform and record with the Ensemble Kaboul on such a meaningful project. Their knowledge of music, technical mastery and humility inspired us all, and their commitment to the circulation and preservation of the music of Afghanistan is profoundly important, especially given it is being suppressed under the current regime.”
Beyond its musical achievements, the tour represents a strategic milestone for Van Diemen’s Band. It exemplifies the ensemble’s capacity to deliver projects that merge rigorous historical research with deeply emotive and accessible performance, reaffirming its position at the forefront of Australian early music innovation. The collaboration also underlines the role of festivals like Mona Foma as vital incubators of creative partnerships: without Mona Foma’s 2023 commissioning support, the artistic connection with Ensemble Kaboul would never have taken shape.
From five different harpsichords to five sold-out venues, Where Everything is Music has embodied the power of collaboration, authenticity, and cultural dialogue—demonstrating that music can be political without being strident, and transformative without borders.
About the Artists
Ensemble Kaboul
Ensemble Kaboul explores the Persian music of Afghanistan, working like musical archaeologists to rediscover buried themes and lost motifs from a once-flourishing artistic tradition. Drawing on the rich heritage of the Persian musical family, the ensemble brings together musicians such as Khaled Arman (rubab), Siar Hashimi (tabla, percussion, vocals), and Masud Hashimi (zerbaghali), whose artistry revives a shared musical memory and offers audiences a rare window into a deeply layered sound world.
Khaled Arman, a virtuoso master of the Afghan rubab and one of Afghanistan's most celebrated musicians, has revolutionized cross-cultural musical dialogue by masterfully introducing the instrument to Persian, Indian, and European traditions. His distinguished collaborations with world-renowned artists including Jordi Savall and Quatuor Barbaroque showcase his exceptional artistry and international acclaim.
Siar Hashimi, a master tabla virtuoso who began his musical journey in Kabul at age four, has refined his extraordinary skills through intensive training in India and Germany under legendary masters including Zakir Hussain. His comprehensive mastery extends across traditional Afghan percussion including zerbaghali, dolak, and daf, establishing him as one of the foremost percussionists of his generation.
Masud Hashimi is recognised as one of the most creative percussionists in the Afghan music industry. Beginning his training at age three, he has studied with renowned Afghan and European instructors and performed at international festivals around the world. Masud is a celebrated figure across the Afghan diaspora in Europe and the US, known for his captivating stage presence and rhythmic flair.
Van Diemen’s Band
Described as “Australia’s Baroque supergroup”, Van Diemen’s Band is based in the wild and unspoiled island state of lutruwita/Tasmania. Founded in 2016 by violinist Julia Fredersdorff, the ensemble explores the creativity and expressiveness of the baroque while deferring to historical sources on style and instrumentation. It brings together some of the country’s finest early music specialists, with experience performing in renowned international groups including Les Arts Florissants, Il Pomo d’Oro, Ensemble Pygmalion, The English Concert, and the Academy of Ancient Music.
With a bold, historically informed approach, VDB brings fresh energy to music of the 17th and 18th centuries—whether performing as an intimate chamber group or a full Baroque orchestra. Recent collaborations include projects with French conductor Martin Gester, Ensemble Kaboul, and Tasmanian mandolinist Luke Plumb, as well as the evocative music video Song of the Birds.
The ensemble has performed at Ten Days on the Island, Mona Foma, and Dark Mofo, toured nationally with Musica Viva Australia and internationally with Chamber Music New Zealand, and recorded for ABC Classic and Swedish label BIS. Van Diemen’s Band also presents a popular Lunchbox Concert Series across Tasmania and leads education and community programs that connect deeply with local audiences.
Media Contact: Samuel Cairnduff
RESONATE Communications
samuel.j.cairnduff@gmail.com | 0401 396 755
ENDS
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