Short Bio
Himalayan Highway, a folk fusion band from Kathmandu, Nepal, blends American Bluegrass and Old-time music with Nepali folk traditions. Recipients of an IBMA Foundation 2024 Arnold Shultz grant, the band hosted the 2023 Kathmandu Bluegrass Festival, been spotlighted in the Kathmandu Post, and has appeared throughout the Kathmandu Valley, including at the Echoes in the Valley and Jazzmandu festivals. With their infectious harmonies and groovy beats, Himalayan Highway brings a unique and innovative collaboration to the contemporary global roots scene.
Press
“A hot mix of Nepali and bluegrass tunes that’s creating quite a buzz.” — Bluegrass Today
“A fresh spin on traditional tunes, with infectious harmonies and catchy beats.” — Nepali Times
“A for cultural conversation not just with words but with sound.” — Himalayan Times
Tennessee blues
sweet nell & bajho khetma
nothing at all
sani sani & nellie kane
Workshops
Himalayan Highway offers enganging workshops on Nepali folk music, bluegrass & old-time, and the band’s unique approach to fusing these two genres. Himalayan Highway members are experienced music educators — Yuson Maharjan holds a masters in tabla performance and teaches full-time at the Modern Indian School, Prince Nepali has traveled the globe sharing the Nepali sarangi and teaches music at the Kevin Rohan Memorial Foundation, Nepal’s first Waldorf school, Zoe Levitt has taught around the globe and is a Kids Academy Instructor at the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, and Anish Tamang teaches private classes in audio production and piano.
Long Bio
Himalayan Highway, formed in Kathmandu, Nepal in 2022, is an instrumental folk fusion band that blends Nepali folk music with American Bluegrass and Old-Time traditions. The group came together when American mandolinist Zoe Levitt and Nepali sarangi player Prince Nepali met in Kathmandu and discovered their shared passion for traditional music. Joined by Anish Tamang on guitar and Yuson Maharjan on percussion, the band explores the surprising tonal and rhythmic similarities between these seemingly distant musical cultures.
Since their formation, Himalayan Highway has been an active part of Kathmandu's vibrant music scene, performing at local venues and major festivals including Jazzmandu and Echoes in the Valley, and hosting Nepal's first Bluegrass Festival. Their journey has been one of cultural exchange and musical exploration, bringing the sounds of the Appalachian mountains to the Himalayas and vice versa. Their upcoming EP, supported by a grant from the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Foundation's Arnold Shultz fund, aims to capture this unique fusion of sounds. Through their music, Himalayan Highway hopes to showcase the universal language of folk traditions and the beauty that emerges when diverse musical cultures intertwine.
Booking
For booking inquiries, email us at himalayanhighwayband@gmail.com