Saturday, August 9, 2025
7:30 PM

Aki Kumar left his native home in Mumbai, India for the United States with the intention of working as a software engineer. Then he discovered the sounds of the blues, and his life changed dramatically.

A masterful harmonica player, soulful vocalist, band-leader, drummer and producer, Kumar is a man of many talents and one of the most prolific artists in the SF Bay Area today. He has successfully blended retro Indian music into his presentation, making for a unique, electrifying, multi-cultural mash-up that sounds like no one else, yet never loses touch with the inspiration it draws from the blues. A veteran of the San Jose music scene for two decades, Kumar was hailed as “…King of ‘Bollywood blues’ music” by SJ Mercury News (2022) and received the Metro Silicon Valley Gold Award for Best Band (2024).

Kumar’s “Little Village” releases “Aki Goes To Bollywood” (2016) and “Hindi Man Blues” (2018) are considered ground-breaking albums that have garnered international critical acclaim. In 2020, Kumar made major news with the world-wide launch of his album “Dilruba” on Sony Music. In 2021, Little Village released Kumar’s uplifting reggae-inspired single “Zindagi” (Life).

Aki Kumar has made multiple appearances at The Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, San Jose Jazz & SF Jazz Festivals, and has been featured on PRI “The World,” KQED Arts and CBS Bay Area. He has toured extensively over the years, including in Europe, Scandinavia, Russia, Australia, India and South America.

Doors open 7:00 PM, shows start promptly, please arrive on time.
Please note:

• Refreshments will be served before the show and through the end of intermission and can be consumed inside the hall. Refreshments are not served after intermission. Please return bottles, cups, and cans to the refreshment window before returning to your seat.
• Per our ABC licensing requirements alcohol must be always kept inside the hall. No outside wine and beer are allowed.
• We have increased our hall ventilation. Dress warmly on a cold day.

*Member Price is for current members only. Membership status will be confirmed and if necessary, the ticket price will be adjusted upon arrival at check-in, before seating.