Asim Azhar invites Lahore's Surtaal Kids Band to open his tour

Young musicians to perform alongside the singer in Faisalabad, Lahore and Islamabad

Singer Asim Azhar announced a special opening act for his upcoming Asim Ali Tour, inviting young performers from Lahore’s Surtaal Music Academy to join him at concerts across Pakistan.

The Surtaal Kids Band will accompany Azhar at three stops on the Pakistan leg of his tour: Faisalabad on November 6, Lahore on November 7 and Islamabad on November 8. The concerts will mark the children's first public performances on such a major platform.

The announcement came through a collaborative Instagram post featuring Azhar and the academy, in which the young musicians expressed their excitement about performing alongside the singer.

“Surtaal Kids Band is coming to the Asim Ali Tour! 6th Nov | FAISALABAD | 7th | LAHORE | 8th Nov ko | ISLAMABAD with @asimazhar Bhai. See You There!” the academy wrote in its announcement.

In the accompanying video, Azhar is seen sitting among the children as he explains what prompted him to invite them to perform at his concerts. “The kids invited me here with so much love that I thought I should return the gesture by giving them an opportunity to perform as the opening act of my Asim Ali Tour,” he said.

The interaction then turns into a musical moment, with the children performing a rendition of Azhar’s hit song Jo Tu Na Mila to showcase their vocal abilities. The singer also joins them, making the visit even more memorable for the young performers.

 

 

 

 

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Based in Lahore, Surtaal Music Academy has been attracting attention on social media for its young musicians' impressive renditions of traditional and contemporary music.

Established in 2016 by music educator Zia-ul-Haq, the academy aims to make structured music education accessible to children, particularly those from underprivileged backgrounds. It provides free music lessons and trains more than 100 students in vocals and various musical instruments, helping them develop their abilities and gain opportunities to perform.

The students recently went viral for their soulful rendition of the popular song Alfaaz, which they performed alongside Norwegian singer and dancer William Gamborg during his visit to the academy. The performance received widespread appreciation on social media, with viewers praising the children's command of Qawwali and affectionately referring to them as the “little Nusrats”.

The performance brought wider attention to the academy and its young musicians, highlighting the talent emerging from its classrooms and the opportunities that can help young artists reach wider audiences.

Now, with their upcoming appearances alongside Azhar, the children are set to take another significant step in their musical journey. Their inclusion in the tour offers them an opportunity to perform before larger audiences while highlighting how established artists can help create space for the next generation of Pakistani musical talent.