Balladeste

Doors 7pm, live music 7.30pm 

This event has unreserved seating.

Balladeste - a long term collaboration between Preetha Narayanan (violin) and Tara Franks (cello) launch their new album 'Imprints' with a captivating immersive in-the-round performance, joined by some very special guests.

Richly textured instrumental music shaped by contemporary classical, Indian classical, baroque and folk, Balladeste's fourth album 'Imprints' is a work of quiet but striking intimacy built out of a practice they call "playing by listening": a decade-long practice of improvising with each other. What emerges is a post-classical record of tender beauty - one where listening isn't just a creative act, but in an attention-deficit economy, a subversive one too.

"Balladeste’s music is cinematic, meditative, intrepid. ...haunting compositions that transcend the limitations of two instruments" Songlines 2026

Since self-releasing their 2nd album Beyond Breath (2021), Balladeste's original co-written work has received critical acclaim (Songlines 4**** & Folk Radio ‘Pick of the Month’). They have performed nationally and internationally at varied festivals/venues including El Chopo Mexico City, CCB Lisbon, Barbican, Cafe Oto, Snape Maltings and Wilderness Festival. With highlight radio appearances including BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour, BBC Radio 3 In Tune and tracks played on Night Tracks, Breakfast with Elizabeth Alker, Soho Radio and NTS.

“an extraordinary and beautiful listening experience,” KLOF Mag

Balladeste have released three albums of original music to date and two collaboration EPs including an exciting recent release with singer-songwriter Ana Silvera - Difficult Loves (2026) and Beyond Breath re-work EP featuring the work of revered artists from the contemporary & jazz music scene; Alexandra Hamilton-Ayres, Midori Hirano, The Vernon Spring & Anna Phoebe.

For this performance Tara and Preetha will be joined by guest artists:‍
Fred Thomas - viella, percussion, bass
‍Tullis Rennie - Electronics
‍Debasmita Bhattacharya - Sarod
‍Lucine Musaelian - viola da gamba

The night will open with a set from Gabriel Prokofiev - renowned London-based composer, producer, DJ and founder of Nonclassical. Composing music that both embraces and challenges western classical traditions, Gabriel has emerged at the forefront of a new approach to classical music in the UK at the beginning of the 21st century.

www.balladeste.co.uk @balladeste

Stone Nest is an arts organisation and performance venue in the heart of London's West End, bringing exceptional and experimental art to a wide audience. A hidden gem nestled amidst the bright lights of theatreland, it offers a platform for bold, visionary artists and a space where audiences can encounter an eclectic programme of contemporary performance.

*Stone Nest is an old building and unfortunately cannot currently accommodate electric wheelchairs. We can accommodate manually operated wheelchairs at ground floor level via a temporary ramp; please email info@stonenest.org to let us know that you are a wheelchair user when booking and whether a companion will be accompanying you, and we will arrange a Companion ticket for you.