Quinnipiac University to Host Baraat Brass Band, ‘Butter Chicken"

Press release

HAMDEN, Conn. – Quinnipiac University will host the band, “Butter Chicken,” in concert at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 27 in the Clarence L. Buckman Theater on Quinnipiac’s Mount Carmel campus, 275 Mount Carmel Ave.

The event, which is open to the public, is part of Quinnipiac’s Frank J. Natale Concert Series. Tickets, $10 for general admission and $5 for seniors and those with Quinnipiac identification, can be purchased by clicking here.

“Butter Chicken” is a baraat brass band, named for the tradition of the groom's procession at a South Asian wedding. Baraat bands bring excitement, celebration and tradition together with a complement of wind instruments and the double-headed dhol, a drum long associated with rambunctious bhangra beats and other forms of South Asian folk music.

“Butter Chicken” explores South Asian cultural practices in music to study how to blend the sounds of traditional South Asian music with musical genres that are more modern and American. The ensemble plays with a wide range of emotions, from introspective and meditative to upbeat dance music.

Their concert celebrates the festival of Holi, an annual spring celebration of color and rebirth. Featuring traditional tunes such as "Rang Barse" and Bollywood hits like "Tenu Leke," the band explores the crossroads of musical post-colonialism and improvisational community.

In their first full season, “Butter Chicken” performed at the Global Peace Picnic and South Asia Institute. In 2022, the band was awarded a 2022 IAP Grant from the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), leading to collaborations with Rahul Sharma and Maninder Singh from Funkadesi.

The Frank J. Natale Music Series brings talented performers from a variety of musical backgrounds, including jazz, classical and contemporary music styles, to the Mount Carmel Campus each year.