Mehdi Rostami x Illarra

Presented by Small World Music

From our Incubator Program to Centre Stage!

Join us for a double-bill performance as Mehdi Rostami and Illarra combine their fresh sounds and new artistic perspectives to grace the city’s music scene.

About the Artists:

Mehdi Rostami

By exploring the connections and shared roots between Iranian and Indian music, Mehdi Rostami presents a duet concert that embraces freedom in rhythm and melody. Each performance is unique, shaped by improvisation, offering the audience a one-of-a-kind experience. Expect a solo setar performance, occasionally accompanied by vocals.

Born in Kermanshah, Iran, Mehdi Rostami, started learning setar at the age of six. He pursued advanced studies with Ostad Mohammadreza Lotfi and took master classes with Hossein Alizadeh and Kayhan Kalhor. He has worked in several collaborative projects in the UK, working with musicians from different cultures such as Maya Yousef, Tara Jaff, and Gilad Atzmon. “Melodic Circles” was his first official international release through ARC Music in 2016, accompanied by Adib Rostami.

Illarra

Through a musical journey of realization, struggle, and liberation, Illarra explores the experience of a man who rediscovers his forgotten capacity for love—one that was forbidden in the world he grew up in. Each song navigates a stage of this journey, offering an emotional and immersive experience: Mohal (Impossible), Rihal (Departure), and Wesal (Reunion). With each performance shaped by emotion and storytelling, the audience can expect a deeply personal and moving experience.

Toronto based singer-songwriter, lllarra is deeply invested in folklore, traditional Arabian rhythms, and the soulfulness of Sufi music. He has been working on rearranging and reimagining those cultural songs to introduce these pieces to the local scene. Recently, he has explored a fusion of Arabic jazz and flamenco, blending these styles in harmony within Toronto’s diverse musical landscape. As a vocalist, he has performed on stages across the world, from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait to Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and Vancouver.

Doors open 7:00 PM

The 2025 Small World Music Series is sponsored by TD Bank Group through the TD Ready Commitment and funded by the Government of Canada, Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, and the City of Toronto through the Toronto Arts Council.