Pakistan’s single biggest music star, Atif Aslam, is not doing any shows in Pakistan at the moment contrary to random posters stating otherwise. Aslam confirmed as much to Instep from the UK.
When asked if he’s playing a show during the end of February or the beginning of March, Aslam corrected the misinformation and explained that he is the United Kingdom till the tour ends. “This is wrong information,” he said, “We are touring United Kingdom at the moment; it finishes on March 2nd.”
Atif Aslam went on, “We’re playing packed (and sold-out) shows everywhere; we’ve raised thousands of dollars for a charity in Pakistan. The weather is horrible, freezing, but the audience has been great throughout.”
The line-up of Atif Aslam has also gone through a change as well post season 12 of Coke Studio, which marked the return of Rohail Hyatt as producer.
It now includes, as Aslam confirmed, Baqir Abbas on flute, Amir Azhar on guitars, with Zain Ali, also on guitars. All of them featured on the last season of Coke Studio in which Atif Aslam featured prominently.
While the rest of the session players stay the same, Danish Khwaja, however, is not in the band anymore, confirmed Aslam. Change is good. And if anyone knows how to adapt, it is Atif Aslam who had a phenomenal run on Coke Studio 12, particularly with his collaboration with Banur’s Band’s on ‘Mubarik Mubarik’ and the solo ghazal ‘Aaye Kuch Abr’ in the finale episode.
Atif Aslam is set to return to Lahore after the UK tour; watch this space for more on the artist.