Grammy-winning Pakistani-American singer Arooj Aftab is set to make her BBC Proms debut this summer in a performance at London’s Royal Albert Hall. The concert, scheduled for July 29, will feature orchestral arrangements of music from across Aftab’s discography, including selections from her albums Bird Under Water (2015), Vulture Prince (2021), and Night Reign (2024).
Aftab announced the concert on Instagram on Tuesday, inviting fans to join her for the event: “Listen, you have to come to BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall with me. Get tickets without thinking. We will present selected tunes, the good sh*t from Bird, Vulture Prince and Night. The great Ibrahim Maalouf will be there with his own full set the same day. I am beyond crazed for this one, and so proud and ecstatic to share this iconic experience with you.”
The performance will be conducted by Jules Buckley, known for his work bridging contemporary music and classical performance. The BBC Symphony Orchestra will provide the symphonic foundation for Aftab’s genre-defying sound, which blends jazz, folk, blues, and South Asian classical influences.
Aftab will be joined on stage by her longtime collaborators: Greek bassist Petros Klampanis and American guitarist Gyan Riley. Also appearing is celebrated French-Lebanese trumpeter Maalouf, who will perform his own solo set before joining Aftab’s ensemble. Known for his eclectic sound combining Latin American, Middle Eastern, and electronic influences, Maalouf describes music as “limitless”, a sentiment echoed in the cross-genre spirit of the evening’s lineup.
The Royal Albert Hall’s official programme describes Aftab as “breaking new ground with her captivating, eclectic melting-pot of influences.” Her Proms debut promises a new dimension to her work, reinterpreted through full symphonic arrangements.
The July 29 performance is part of the wider 2025 Proms season, which includes 86 concerts across venues in London, Gateshead, Bristol, Bradford, Belfast, and Sunderland. Also confirmed for this year’s edition are performances by St Vincent, Angelique Kidjo, and one-handed pianist Nicholas McCarthy.
Aftab’s appearance at the Proms marks a significant milestone in her expanding international career, offering audiences a rare opportunity to hear her signature sound on an orchestral scale. Tickets are currently available via the Royal Albert Hall website.
