East meets West at Nyack concert

Sherjan Ahmad, a Pakistani American singer-songwriter who fuses Sufi traditions with contemporary rock, will be making a rare concert appearance in Nyack in February.

Ahmad describes the concert as “a night where East meets West — where the mesmerizing rhythms of traditional Sufi music blend with the raw energy of rock to create a truly unique sound.”

His Feb. 22 concert at Club Andromeda is expected to draw fans of rock’n’roll and world music, as well as anyone open to a new cultural and musical experience.

Ahmad, son of internationally known guitarist Salman Ahmad, founder of the multimillion-selling Sufi rock band Junoon, was born in Pakistan and moved to Tappan when he was 8 years old.

While attending Tappan Zee High School, Ahmad formed the band The Bestills, with whom he performed at a Unity Concert he organized in 2017.

Ahmad graduated from Purchase College with a degree in political science, then followed his passion for music into a career that has included performances at the Great American Music Hall, The Bowery Electric, Wembley Arena, and the United Nations General Assembly. His collaborations include performances and recordings with Jason Mraz and Peter Gabriel.

He was featured as a guest guitarist on Pakistan’s music television series Coke Studio Season 10, contributing to performances alongside popular Pakistani artists such as Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Junoon.

At the Nyack concert, Ahmad will be joined by drummer Taylor Simpson, who has performed for numerous Broadway shows, and bassist Imraan Ahmad Khan. Brian O’Connell, a multi-instrumentalist and bassist for Junoon, will join the band for a featured performance.

Ahmad’s debut album, Jaan, includes the song Chaen, which was featured in BBC Radio’s Weekly Top 5 Charts.

Sufi Rock Concert

• When: Saturday, Feb. 22
• Doors open at 8 p.m.
• Where: Club Andromeda, 142 Main St., Suite 102, Nyack
• Admission: $20
• Click here to order tickets
• Visit sherjanahmad.com for more information and to explore his music.