Citadelic festival 2026 

MAY 29 - 18H

Nicolas Mortelmans is a sitar player and multi-instrumentalist from Antwerp. In 2010, he bought his first sitar and travelled to India, where he fell in love with the instrument’s mystical sounds and immersed himself completely in its study. Over the following seven years, he returned to India every winter to study in the traditional way with several sitar masters. Since 2017, he has been trained by the world-renowned Anoushka Shankar.

Nicolas sees music as a universal language capable of bridging cultures and transcending words, a universal force that goes beyond the limits of rational thought. Through his music, he seeks to create a sense of unity that connects us to the essence of existence: an endless search for the deepest sounds of the soul that can expand our consciousness.

Improvisation is an essential element of his sitar playing, connecting both musician and listener to the present moment. In each composition, he explores the instrument in a different way. Nicolas builds a bridge between his love for Indian music and his roots in Western genres such as electronic music, jazz, and rock. Tarang Poddar is a tabla player, percussionist, and teacher known for his versatile approach to rhythm and intercultural music. Originally from Ahmedabad, he trained in the Hindustani classical tradition under respected gurus, building a strong technical and artistic foundation.

Tarang Poddar is a tabla virtuoso with a deep mastery of classical Indian music. Now based in Rotterdam, he is involved in a wide variety of projects and tours extensively around the world.

The music of Nicolas Mortelmans and Tarang Poddar is rooted in classical Indian music, while remaining open to influences from other musical styles. Through extensive improvisation and experimentation, they continuously push the boundaries of the genre.

OTHER CONCERTS MAY 29

with the marvelous support of De Vlaamse Gemeenschap and de Stad Gent