Michael Messer's Mitra

About

Michael Messer's Mitra is a unique musical trio of blues slide guitar, Hindustani slide guitar, vocals and tabla rhythms.
Mitra (pronounced 'Meetra') is a trio comprising British blues innovator and slide guitarist, Michael Messer, Hindustani slide guitar maestro from India, Manish Pingle, and London-based tabla master, Gurdain Singh Rayatt.

This is more than another meeting of musicians from different cultures, this is a band with a successful album and its own unique sound - "an exhilarating and highly accessible fusion of blues and Hindustani classical music" - With vocals, slide guitars and tabla, these three musicians, each at the top of their game create a fascinating musical journey, running from the banks of the Mississippi, via London and Mumbai to the Ganges delta.

Their debut album, Call of The Blues, released in 2016 was immediately picked up by the blues, folk and world music media, getting radio airplay and press coverage in more than 50 countries and hitting \#1 in the iTunes blues chart. Since the release of the album, Michael Messer's Mitra have done seven successful UK tours, including shows at London's Bush Hall and Green Note. UK festival appearances include Musicport, Shrewsbury Folk, Shambala, and many of the UK's leading venues.Call of The Blues continues to be played worldwide on radio and in the UK on Jazz FM and the BBC, including a live BBC Radio 2 session on Cerys Matthews Blues Show and airplay on BBC Radio 2 The Folk Show and Cerys Matthews on BBC 6Music

Michael Messer's Mitra - nominated in the 'Best Group of 2017' category in the 'Songlines Music Awards' eFestivals review RED ROOSTER 2023 ....Things got even better when Michael Messer’s Mitra took to the stage, mashing up western and Hindustani sounds to truly mesmerising effect. Easily one of the best performances of the weekend, or indeed any weekend.

Thank you Michael, Manish and Gurdain for an incredible evening of music…..Michael Messer's Mitra were truly one of the highlights of the 2023 MASALA FESTIVAL!! Vikas Kumar MBE - Director of Masala Festival & GemArts