Short Bio
Himalayan Highway is an instrumental folk fusion band, weaving together Nepali folk music with American Bluegrass & Old-Time music. Formed in Kathmandu Nepal in 2022, Himalayan Highway members were inspired by the similarities between Nepali Folk music and bluegrass. Featuring Prince Nepali on sarangi, Zoe Levitt on mandolin, Anish Tamang on guitar, and Yuson Maharjan on percussion, Himalayan Highway puts a fresh spin on traditional folk tunes. The band recently hosted Nepal’s first Bluegrass Festival, has been spotlighted in the Kathmandu Post, and has been featured in Kathmandu at Jazzmandu, Moksh, and the Patan Museum. With their infectious harmonies and groovy beats, Himalayan Highway brings a unique and innovative collaboration to the contemporary global music scene.
Press
The Kathmandu-based band, Himalayan Highway, organized [Nepal’s first bluegrass] festival, and has been gigging around the Kathmandu Valley with their hot mix of Nepali and bluegrass tunes. They have been creating quite a buzz about the world of bluegrass in the region”
— Tara Linhardt, Bluegrass Today
Read the full article here.
“As they started playing together, they began melding their backgrounds in bluegrass and Nepali folk music. Levitt would play a bluegrass song on her mandolin, and the other members would list (and play) Nepali folk songs that matched the vibe.”
— Manushree Mahat, Kathmandu Post
Full article here.
“Inspired by unexpected similarities in the two traditions, the band’s members put a fresh spin on traditional tunes, with infectious harmonies and catchy beats that bring a unique new collaboration to the global music scene.”
— Nepali Times
Full article here.
“[Himalayan Highway] members bridge the musical distance between the Appalachian and Himalayan mountains. The members are united by their shared love for the music and the traditional instruments that produce the sound.” — Nepali Times
Full article here.
“[Himalayan Highway] is taking the two worlds and trying to fuse the music of those worlds that suggests a holistic approach to creating something unique — a bridge between American and Nepali traditional music. [Himaayan Highway] creates a sound that harmoniously combines American and Nepali traditional music, allowing for cultural conversation and appreciation not just with words but with sound.” — Jayaraj Danuwar, Himalayan Times
Full article here.
Long Bio
Hailing from Kathmandu, Nepal, Himalayan Highway (formerly Manaslu Blue) is a folk fusion band that is reimagining timeless melodies by melding the infectious harmonies of American Bluegrass & Old-Time with the vibrant sounds of Nepali Folk Music. Zoe Levitt, an American mandolinist, and Prince Nepali, a fourth-generation sarangi player, found an instant musical connection with their shared love of traditional music when they met in Kathmandu. Together, they formed HImalayan Highway to explore the surprising tonal similarities between Nepali and American folk music and the exciting possibilities generated by fusing these two genres from across the globe. With their infectious harmonies and groovy beats, Himalayan Highway brings a unique and innovative collaboration to the contemporary global music scene.
The band features Prince Nepali on sarangi, Zoe Levitt on mandolin, Anish Tamang on guitar, and Yuson Maharjan on percussion (dhime, madal, tabla, cymbal, and chimes). They made a splash in the Kathmandu music scene in the fall of 2022 when they received a tremendous response for their debut performance as the featured band at the Namlo Music Hub festival. Their subsequent concert at Moksh received rave reviews from both the Himalayan Times and the Nepali Times. The band is looking forward to sharing their captivating music with audiences worldwide and is excited to begin recording their debut album later this year.
Video
Audio
Photos
Hi-res versions available here.
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.
Booking
For booking inquiries, email us at himalayanhighwayband@gmail.com
Or message us on WhatsApp at +1 617 599 3859