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L. Shankar
Presented by Arts at the Armory at Arts at the Armory, SomervilleSeptember 17, 2026
L. Shankar is a violinist, vocalist, and composer whose career has redefined what Indian classical music can sound like on a global stage. Born in Madras into a family of musicians—his father V. Lakshminarayana was a celebrated Carnatic vocalist and violinist—Shankar began vocal training at age two and gave his first solo concert at seven. He went on to earn a doctorate in ethnomusicology from Wesleyan University, where he connected with jazz musicians including Ornette...
[more+]L. Shankar is a violinist, vocalist, and composer whose career has redefined what Indian classical music can sound like on a global stage. Born in Madras into a family of musicians—his father V. Lakshminarayana was a celebrated Carnatic vocalist and violinist—Shankar began vocal training at age two and gave his first solo concert at seven. He went on to earn a doctorate in ethnomusicology from Wesleyan University, where he connected with jazz musicians including Ornette Coleman and John McLaughlin.
L. Shankar is known for inventing the double violin—a stereophonic double-necked electric violin; he debuted the instrument in 1981 on Phil Collins’ solo album (Face Value) and on his own album (Who’s to Know). He has released over 20 albums and dozens of unique and legendary collaborations including many recordings and tours with artists like Peter Gabriel, PIL, Talking Heads, Yoko Ono, Echo and The Bunnyman, among others.
Shankar will perform his original Indian classical ragas and compositions along with a handful of classic Shakti pieces. He will be accompanied by an all star duo of percussion, including fellow Grammy-winning Shakti family member Selvaganesh Vinayakram and one of the top tabla players of his generation, Amit Kavthekar.
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Admission
Tickets: $45 advance / $50 day of show. General Admission seating. Tickets purchased for L. Shankar are non-refundable. All sales are final. We strive to be a welcoming, accessible community arts space. We are delighted to be a part of Mass Cultural Council’s Card to Culture program. Arts at the Armory will offer 10 free tickets (max of 2 free tickets per person) to EBT, WIC and ConnectCareholders for each Spotlight Series performance. Please contact elyse@artsatthearmory.org for more information.
(617) 718-2191
info@artsatthearmory.org
