Calling SXSW! Here come Karma Sheen

Hindustani Classical Psychedelic Rockers heading to SXSW March 2026

Dare you take yourself back to the immediate post-pandemic period?  The emotional toll, the losses, the systemic shock of lockdown, everyone doing what they knew was for the best for everyone?  I don’t want to drag it all back up, but what I do want to remind you about is how life returned and moments when you felt that first hug from a friend, shook hands, (or maybe fist-bumped) someone you were being introduced to, maybe a hug of welcome or on parting?

I remember being close to tears, or tears spilling many times over as social contacts were re-established and I became acquainted with new faces within arms’ reach, not just blinking through an online video conference network.  I remember going to the Walnut Tree Shades, which is squeezed into the alleyway that is Old Post Office Court in Norwich and the elation of being in a crowded pub relishing live music.  The Norfolk Blues Society sessions were a joy, which is where I first saw and heard then teenage Ross Stewart driving a thrilling jam, leading an impromptu collection of talented old lags, telling them what was going to be happening and when as he blew the brimming pub away with his intepretations of Hendrix, Prince and Clapton.  The Walnut Tree Shades and its live music scene was the elixir that cured me (mostly) of the lockdowns.

 

I invited my second brother into the city from his remote market town to share some of the magic one night.  We went to the Walnut Tree Shades and the expectations of exciting music and a buzzing atmosphere were disappointed.  I had hyped the venue and the atmosphere to such an extent that that evening’s band would have had to be the reincarnation of Bowie, Jimi and Elvis to have hit all the notes.  The aged punk band bawling out rusty covers, (let’s be frank, they were murdering the New Wave classics), was not what we had hoped. Norwich, being a happening place, must have had an alternative gig somewhere.  It turned out there was, thankfully. 

 

We tramped up the slope of Timber Hill and followed the staircase up into the rafters of the Voodoo Daddy’s Showroom.  Being tall I find it is polite to stand against a wall so as not block the view of others.  My brother is taller still, so we found a spot near the small bar counter at the back of the loft space which was absolutely rammed with young people dressed in what to me looked like hippy couture-wear, (vintage).  The place was steaming hot and there was a level of excitement in that room that I had not truly felt since Iggy Pop played Barbarella’s in Birmingham in 1979, when I would have been the age of most of the audience at Voodoos that night.

Karma Sheen raising the roof - August 2022

The band about to hit the stage had only played in Norwich once before at The Last Pub Standing on King Street.  It was a bit of a trek for the five members of Karma Sheen from east London, but to suddenly be faced with sell-out crowd at the city’s hippest venue was a wondrous relief for them.  What you need to know about this band was rather than being phased by the press of people, their leader Sameer Khan held the room in his palm, Rodrigo on the sitar and theremin beamed, Grisha on bass was the most lively bass player you might ever see, (that is until you see Tex Kennedy of Floral Image), with Noah magnificent on drums and Amad shining on rhythm guitar, the band were up for the challenge. 

 

The old gag, ‘You don’t have to be mad to work here, but it helps’ could be the motto for the crowd who usually frequented Voodoo Daddy’s Showroom on Timber Hill in the early 2020s.  Well on this night, they went crazy, including Long Tall Dom crowd surfing, the first crowd surfer for Karma Sheen apparently.  It was a thrilling night and by the curfew the place was steaming and the walls were sweat soaked. 

 

From this night, I swear one of the best gigs I have ever attended, Karma Sheen have ploughed on, selling out gigs in their own locale, such as at The Victoria, then headlining at the iconic 100 Club on Oxford Street (another sold out show).  With drummer Arun replacing Noah, who surprisingly left to pursue solo musical interests after another sensational show in Ipswich as part of the Brighten The Corners Festival, the band are heading to the worldwide showcase event SXSW that is held in Austin, Texas 12^th March / 18^th March, 2026.

 

This is a great opportunity for the wider music industry to tap into something that is very special, having been somewhat slow to pick up on the quality, spirit and unique energy of this band.  How it takes this long for the big wigs of The Biz to find out what is happening can be surprising when we get to hear some pretty dull stuff being currently promoted.  Karma Sheen are a unique sound and have never failed to kickstart an audience, whether opening for W.I.T.C.H. on a European tour, or headlining their own shows. 

Karma Sheen, Bringing the love to Basel, November, 2025

I asked Sameer Khan, the princely leader of the Karma Sheen band how the opportunity came about:

"It was a band effort involving a lot of hard (and very enjoyable) work gigging, building a supportive family of followers whose enthusiasm and love for what we do attracted attention from key people in the creative arts and music world. As a band, to a man, we  believe in the music we are producing and that belief in our principles gives us the faith needed to keep pushing on."      

 

I was lucky enough to witness Karma Sheen open for W.I.T.C.H. at Strøm in Munich on 7^th November, 2025.  This was a gig when they had not been mentioned as the opening act, not mentioned anywhere, not the posters, not the webpage, not on Instagram, not even above the door.  When Karma Sheen took the stage, the venue was packed for W.I.T.C.H. and nobody in that crowd had ever heard of the openers.  Well, that Munich mob just loved them.  It was amazing to see everyone get into the performance and were W.I.T.C.H. not such a unique band in their own right as creators of Zamrock, Karma Sheen would have been an impossible act to follow.  In Ipswich, I saw punters drift away from a headliner, because they were already sated by what they had experienced having seen Joshua Idehen and then an explosive set from Karma Sheen.

Un-announced but smashing it to Strøm, Munich, November, 2025

Sameer reflected on touring with W.I.T.C.H. in November 2025:

"It was genuinely tiring.  Berlin, Basel, Munich, London by road and Channel tunnel was a lot of miles for four shows, but it was one of the most inspiring and exciting times ever for us.

The W.I.T.C.H. tour taught us so much. It is important to stay connected to the artists you are supporting and vital to understand how to present yourself to the audience, the venue management and crew, the engineers, and even our driver.  Helping W.I.T.C.H. set up their gear, even when it was not our job, just being able to help them contributed to great collective energy for the performances to follow each evening. Having that shared spirit brought about a groovy vibe to the whole trip."      

 

Oh! I have forgotten to describe what they sound like.  If I say, Hindustani Classical Psychedelic Rock, you might get a good idea, but you won’t have heard anything like it before.  It is a great blend, that perhaps could only have been cooked up in somewhere as beautifully cosmopolitan as 21^st Century London. It makes me proud and grateful to live in the UK.

The SXSW invitation and the opportunity to play at a number of showcase events will be a step into exciting new territory for Karma Sheen and they have some new material to unleash on their industry audiences.  The band now has enough material to be able to mix their set list to meet the ambience of a venue and vibe of an audience, which is another reason why going to a series of Karma Sheen gigs is such a great experience. You never get a formulaic run through of their work, you always get a heart-felt genuine, tailor-made performance for the night.  Their musical repertoire, the improvisations they create mid-song and the sheer musicality of each player are things which add sheen to this band.  

 

Karma Sheen work with management company EBB Music, who have the dynamic and tenacious Polly Miles as their booking agent.  Polly has sorted some gigs in the UK for the band before they head off to Texas and SXSW, at the following venues:

30^th January, 2026      The Lanes, Bristol                               Tickets

31^st January, 2026       The Tin Music & Arts, Coventry       Tickets

1^st February, 2026       Le Pub, Newport, Gwent                   Tickets

7^th March, 2026          The Old Blue Last, London                 Tickets

I wish the band well for their trip to Austin, Texas and hope to report back when they return home.

Spencer Ide

22nd January, 2026