Returning to Vivid LIVE after their huge birthday bash in 2022, tastemakers Astral People bring us the musical riches of the Spice Trail, with a buzzy trio of cutting-edge artists blowing up around the world. Indian R&B and playback music sensation Sid Sriram, singer and rapper Priya Ragu and Punjabi polymath Raf-Saperra prepare to give the Concert Hall a taste of the South Asian diaspora in all its eclectic beauty. Plus, Kerfew party starters Munasib & Rakish will be on hand to add some funky flavour.

Astral People: Spice Trail is a new tasting platter for your palettes, bringing you music from across the diaspora with artists who have been exploring their identities by tapping into the sounds of their ancestors. The series will be an opportunity to celebrate the differences in sounds and culture from Bangladesh to Pakistan to Egypt, the Middle East and everywhere in between – and to celebrate the energy and electricity of the diasporic experience in the West.

Astral People
Since its formation in 2011, Astral People has become one of Australia’s most innovative artist management and international touring companies. Their roster of local artists includes Cosmo’s Midnight, Winston Surfshirt and Wave Racer, and they’ve toured in-demand international acts like Fred again…, 100 gecs, Stormzy, Arlo Parks and John Talabot. The label has also curated unforgettable events at Splendour in the Grass, Strawberry Fields and Vivid LIVE, where they’ve been a festival favourite for the past decade.

Sid Sriram
A multi-talented, genre-spanning R&B, soul and playback superstar who got his break working with Indian music giant A.R. Rahman and went on to perform in over 200 films, Indian-born and California-raised musician Sid Sriram forged his hybrid pop sound from his unique transcultural upbringing. Best known for his soulful soundtrack performances, Sriram’s music combines Indian Carnatic music, R&B, jazz, new age pop and alternative hypno-rock.

Priya Ragu
Multi-talented Tamil-Swiss singer and rapper Priya Ragu came to global attention with her distinct brand of “raguwavy”, a sonic tapestry that weaves together R&B, soul and vibrant electro beats with the traditional Tamil folk of her heritage. Her buzzy mixtape damshestamil (2021) and debut album Santhosam (2023) were hailed for their originality and next-generation sound.

Raf-Saperra
Mixing traditional Punjabi folk vocals with UK garage, drill and Afrobeat, South London native Raf-Saperra has become one of his country’s most-talked about exports since his 2020 debut, “Glassy Riddim”. Led by his garage anthem “N.L.S. (Nach Le Soniye)” (2022) and last year’s killer mixtape debut Ruff Around the Edges, Saperra’s bhangra bops have been rocking everywhere from Berghain to Glastonbury.