MUMBAI: The British Council's Soundpad Project is back this year as it brings together folk acts Laura Marling and Mumford & Sons to collaborate with Indian folk musicians, from 10 - 19 December 2009.

Laura Marling and Mumford & Sons would be touring India across cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Kolkata. While Laura will collaborate with Papon, Mumford & Sons will jam with The Dharohar Project.

For those who don't know, Laura Marling is a folk singer-songwriter from Hampshire, England and has toured with a number of well-known indie artists in the UK and beyond, including Adam Green and Jamie T, who invited her on tour with him in 2006 after he attended her second-ever gig. In addition, her debut album Alas, I Cannot Swim was released on 4 February 2008 and was nominated for the 2008 Mercury Prize. As far as Mumford & Sons go, they are a folk n roll band from London and have won the Best Band at the 3rd Annual Balcony TV Music Video Awards in Dublin on 3 July 2009.

Since the last year, Soundpad has created a platform to encourage the exchange of ideas, culture and musical influences between artists in the UK and India. The first in this series saw legendary music producer John Leckie record and release four Indian bands (Swarathma, Medusa, Advaita and Indigo Children) on the very successful Soundpad album, which was followed by a tour in the UK and India, including performances at Great Escape festival in Brighton. This tour is also supported by the Red Bull Music Academy. Kick starting its program to support music from India, Red Bull Music Academy Radio will be recording and promoting this collaboration in over 100 countries, with free web streaming at redbullmusicacademyradio.com.

One of the most special performances on this tour is a fund raiser concert for The YP Foundation, a youth led and run non-profit based in Delhi. The gig at the Habitat Centre on the 10th of December will see performances from all four collaborating acts; the first time the artists will be seen together on one stage. Proceeds from the concert will support 1,000 young people at The YP Foundation to conduct over 40 public programmes on understanding HIV/AIDS, Gender and Sexuality, Promoting Independent Music, Exploring Film, Life Skills and Mental Health and Education and Healthcare or Street Children.

Tour Schedule

10th December 2009 – Delhi – India Habitat Centre (Fundraiser: The YP Foundation)

11th December 2009 – Pune – High Spirits

12th December 2009 – Mumbai – Bandra Amphitheatre

17th December 2009 – Bangalore – Kyra

18th December 2009 – Hyderabad – Live

19th December 2009 – Kolkata – Someplace Else