Sahul Sakti is an improvisation ensemble who draws on its members' post-classical, Brazilian, Asia-Pacific, jazz, and experimental music influences to create a sound that is rooted in friendship, imagination, and a deep exploration of acoustic possibilities. This project is inspired by the great global fusion ensembles such as Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Ensemble, Shakti, Dr. L Subramaniam, L. Shenkar, Nigel Kennedy, Mestre Acordeon, and the Mahavishnu Orchestra.

The group uses its base in Brazilian and Indo-Malay rhythms to explore many themes - creative freedom, the interplay between melody and rhythm, the individual beauty and full sonic potential of our instruments, the richness of our individual personal and musical experiences, the connection between movement and music, and the bringing together of two dance martial arts dance forms (capoeira (Brazil) and pencak silat (Indonesia and Malaysia).

Sahul Sakti’s music is free-ranging. It could be soundscapey, ambient, meditative. It could be jazz that is reminiscent of John Coltrane, Don Cherry, Sun Ra, and Alice Coltrane. It could remind one of beautiful folk tunes from the African continent. And it could be a high energy Brazilian samba. We Sahul Saktians say, ‘Welcome the unknown’.

Sahul Sakti has performed at venues like The Tote, the Bar 303, the Black Spark Cultural Centre, and Cafe Gummo.

We Sahul Saktians conceptualised this series as recent global events in early November made us feel that the world in 2025 - and beyond - is set to become even stranger and more troubled. We may never make sense of it all. We realised that with its particular configuration, Sahul Sakti is in a unique position to be a platform that celebrates friendship, peace, community, music, movement, cultural expression, imagination, and unity. 

In Part 1 'Sahul Sakti with the capoeira and pencak silat community' gig (Sunday 8 December, Mr. Boogie Man Bar), we explore the themes of resistance, community, and friendship, as well as the commonalities between different martial arts, musical, and cultural worlds. We are delighted to welcome Capoeira ACDP Australia, and the capoeira and pencak silat community, as our special guests. 

Part 2 Sahul Sakti - Unity (Friday 13 December, Shopfront 740, 740 High St Thornbury) is where we celebrate unity. It is a message of hope, peace, and friendship. A reminder that no matter what, there is music that can bring us solace. It is music that can reach across divides, bring us together, and find new common understandings.

We warmly welcome our special guests, the master percussionist David Bullock (Paul Kidney Experience, Modern Gong Ritual, Meridian) and Arthur Karanikas, to be our opening act.

What do rock, jazz, capoeira (an Afro-Brazilian dance martial art and cultural expression), and pencak silat (an Indo-Malay dance martial arts form) all have in common?

Seemingly vastly different, the common threads running between all these cultural forms are that they are about community and resistance. We are delighted to welcome Capoeira ACDP Australia, capoeira schools, and the pencak silat community as we explore these commonalities through different martial arts, musical, and cultural worlds.

Join us for a beautiful evening of song, martial arts, and music from one of Melbourne's most exciting music groups!

Check out our video showing what went down last year when we collaborated with the capoeira and pencak silat community 

About Part 2 - Sahul Sakti: Unity 

Shopfront 740 | 740 High Street, Thornbury | Friday 13 Dec 2024 | 7.30pm 

Part 2 'Sahul Sakti - Unity' is where we celebrate unity. It is a message of hope, peace, and friendship. A reminder that no matter what, there is music that can bring us solace. It is music that can reach across divides, bring us together, and find new common understandings.

We warmly welcome our special guests, the master percussionist David Bullock (Paul Kidney Experience, Modern Gong Ritual, Meridian) and Arthur Karanikas, to be our opening act.

We thank Shopfront 740 for hosting our event.

$10 entry, non-alchoholic drinks and snacks available for purchase. 

About David Bullock

David Bullock has been playing percussion, including gongs, for over 40 years. In that time he has been involved with many different bands, ranging from experimental and improvisational to industrial, punk, dance and beyond. He presently plays with Modern Gong Ritual, the Paul Kidney Experience and Meridian. He is also known from many other bands (including cult Sydney act Kiss My Poodles Donkey). He has been involved as well in providing music for theatre, dance, and film.

About Shopfront 740, our venue

ShopFront740, a vibrant artist-run gallery and creative space nestled in the heart of Thornbury on bustling High Street, Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung biik.

Founded and operated by artists+musicians Tahlia Palmer and James Macleod, who also call the building home, Shopfront740 is a space for art, culture and community building, with a dash of non-exploitative commerce.