Mehfil Tour 2026 opened its Karachi chapter at the Arts Council of Pakistan on May 8, bringing together Hunza folk traditions and contemporary Pakistani music in the first show of a three-city national tour.
Curated by producer Zulfiqar Jabbar Khan, known as Xulfi, and musician Sherry Khattak, the concert featured the LLMC Ensemble from Hunza performing alongside singer Farhan Saeed and Call The Band.
The LLMC Ensemble, trained at the Leif Larsen Music Centre in Hunza, performed with traditional instruments including the Dadang, Chitrali Sitar, Xhiggini, rubab and flute to reinterpret contemporary Pakistani songs and regional folk music.
The setlist included traditional compositions such as “Ashurjan” and “Ya Qurban” alongside popular tracks including “Aadat,” “Sab Bhula Ke,” “Laari Chooti,” “Tu Jhoom” and “Halka Halka Suroor.” The concert closed with a rendition of “Qataghani.”
Speaking after the performance, Xulfi said the project aimed to create a shared space where “different musical worlds” could meet through reinterpretations of familiar songs using regional instruments and musical traditions.
Organisers said the Mehfil Tour will continue later this month with performances scheduled in Islamabad and Lahore. Ticket sales for the Karachi opening sold out in multiple categories before the event, according to organisers.
Tickets for the remaining concerts are available through Ticket Wala, priced from Rs4,000 to Rs15,000, depending on the package tier and meet-and-greet access.
